I have a 4 year old grandson – Simon – that is quite a character. He has the ability to immerse himself in things totally. He gets a lot of joy out of just being a kid. His wide range of facial expressions crack me up. But he can also be a little pill at times. On a recent trip, we were on a hiking trail with him, his sister and his parents. At one point, he was tired of hiking and started whining, complaining and misbehaving. His dad told the rest of us to go ahead so he and Simon could have a “conversation.”  They caught up to us a few minutes later. Simon was not happy, but was behaving himself better after their “conversation.”

Later that day, at the dinner table, Simon was acting up a bit again, and his dad asked, “Do you and I have to have another conversation?” Simon looked down and said in a whiny voice that was loud enough for everyone to hear, “I hate conversations!”

Can you relate? None of us likes to have our misbehavior pointed out to us. The Law shows us our sin, and we don’t like to hear that we have done wrong. But when we are whining and complaining and misbehaving, we need to have that “conversation” with God. We go astray over and over again. We need the clear word of God’s Law to show us our failures, our shortcomings, our misbehavior. We need to be made conscious of  our sin.

Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Having been convicted of our sin, we can appreciate just how wonderful the Gospel message is. The law prepares us to hear the Good News of Jesus as our Savior.

Romans 3:21–28  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Lord, thank you for being the loving Father that has the “conversations” with me that I need to hear. Not only do you point out my sin, but you also point out my Savior. Keep my eyes focused on Him. In His name I pray. Amen.