DATE POSTED
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 5:9-11 (NLT): ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Romans 5 reminds us of one of the greatest blessings available to every believer: through Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemned sinners standing at a distance from God, but forgiven children welcomed into a restored relationship with Him.

Therefore, from this reminder, it is evident right from the opening verses of today’s Scripture, the incredible grace of God. Although we have fallen short of His expectations and have strayed from His teachings, God did not abandon us in our sin. Instead, through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, He made a way for us to be justified and restored into a right relationship with Himself.

The Bible remains the world’s best-selling book, yet many who own a copy rarely open its pages or allow its truths to shape their lives. Nevertheless, God’s Word clearly points us to the hope found in Christ. And this should be the primary input for our heart. Paul reminds us that through the blood Jesus shed on the cross, our sins can be forgiven, and we can be saved from God’s condemnation.

However, it is important to remember that this gift is not automatically received by every person. John 3:16-17 tells us that God gave His Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Earlier in Romans chapter 5, Paul reminds us that it is through faith that we are made right or justified before God. Salvation is God’s gift, but it must be accepted through faith in His Son.

Consider the relationship between a husband and wife. Before marriage, they may have been strangers. But once married under God’s ordinance, they spend their lives learning about one another, growing closer, and seeking to please each other. So it is with God. Through Jesus Christ, we are brought into a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. We become recipients of His grace, mercy, and love.

Because of this relationship, we should desire to draw closer to Him every day through prayer, reading His Word, meditating on His truth, and following His guidance. The more we fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, the more His character will be reflected in our lives. If Jesus truly reigns within our hearts, His presence will become evident in our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. The total output from our heart.

This is where today’s theme becomes especially important: your input will determine your output. When God’s Word becomes your daily input, Christlike living becomes your output. The things that consume our hearts inevitably shape our lives.

I love the sentiment shared by Paul in verse 11 when he tells us that we can rejoice in our relationship with God. Not because we have somehow achieved perfection, but because Jesus Christ has reconciled us to the Father. Imagine the excitement of becoming friends with someone greatly respected or influential. We naturally want to talk about them and share our joy with others.

How much greater should our joy be when we consider that the King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator of the universe, and Savior of our souls has made a way for us to become friends of God? What an amazing privilege! Through Christ, we have been welcomed into a relationship that will last for all eternity.

Today’s Challenge

Who is your closest friend? Who occupies most of your thoughts? Who do you talk about most often?

Take a moment today to evaluate the input filling your heart and mind. Is it drawing you closer to Christ, or pulling your attention elsewhere? The evidence will often be seen in your output: your words, attitudes, choices, and priorities.

God has given believers the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and direct them each day. Listen carefully to His leadership. Fill your heart with God’s Word and watch as the life of Christ shines through you.

PRAYER
Father God, thank You for loving us even when we were consumed in sin. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to shed His blood so that we might be forgiven, justified, and restored into a right relationship with You. Help us, in our input, to fill our hearts and minds with Your Word each day so that, in our output, our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions reflect the presence of Christ within us. Through the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, draw us closer to You and help us rejoice in the privilege of being called Your friend. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!