28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

— Romans 8:28-30

16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

20 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

If you ever felt like your past disqualifies you from being used by God, Paul’s life shows us that God‘s grace is greater than our failures and that He has a unique plan for each of us if we are willing to trust Him. When Paul wrote Romans, He wasn’t writing as an outsider. He understood the struggles of the human heart, the desire to live a righteous life and the challenge of balancing law and grace is in insights. Those who have lived both sides and know the burden of trying to earn God‘s approval through works knows how precious the freedom of accepting God‘s grace through faith is!

Paul’s journey from Tarsus to Damascus and from enemy of Christ to apostle is as relevant as ever. It’s a story that invites each of us to experience our own transformation. Let’s look to the grace of the Lord Jesus for leaving behind our old ways in order that we step into the life God has prepared for us that enables Him to send us to carry out His divine and glorious plan.