Romans is a book that always intimidates me—so it is no surprise that God would draw me into it by writing a devotional. As I unpacked this verse for myself, it occurred to me that I am intimidated by this message because, while I can comprehend it academically, my heart wrestles with its simplicity and my brain overcomplicates its truth.

One of the things I like to do when I am preparing to write a devotion is to read the passage in several translations. Sometimes, a different translation of the Bible will strike me and illuminate the message. One specific version I often look to in the YouVersion Bible App is called EASY. The EasyEnglish Bible is not a word-for-word translation. It is a meaning-for-meaning translation in simple English. For deep study, it isn’t a translation I recommend, but sometimes I need to pull myself from the academic study to hear what God is saying to me.

In the EASY translation, Romans 5:1 says, “So we see that God has accepted us as right because we believed in him. As a result, we are friends with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ as done for us.”

Could it really be so simple? I get to be friends with God just by believing what Jesus has done for me? It really is that simple. There are no conditions attached. I pray that you allow your heart to believe that as clearly as your brain does.

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. What truths from God’s Word are you overcomplicating?
2. What practices can you include in your relationship with God to hear the message He has for your heart?

Missions Prayer
Pray for Hope for the World Partner ministry The Point, a church reaching a university campus in Vancouver, BC. Pray for the pastor and his family, continued favor in the community, strong relationships with neighbors, and open hearts to the love of Christ.