Friday, January 27, 2012
Text: Romans 2:17-29
Reflection: Paul's point in this passage is not that the law, in and of itself, is worthless or meaningless. In fact, Paul will later argue quite the opposite. For while none of us earn the right to salvation by keeping the law, the law is critical because it reveals God's character, shows us how to please God in daily life, and leads us to realize what sin is. However, Paul also argues here that what matters most in the area of making a person a child of God is not keeping the law, but placing faith in Christ. The reason for this is because no person fully keeps the law at all times. Because this is true, if keeping the law were the standard to access to God's household the home would be empty. Rather, Jesus has kept the law on our behalf. In this way, God's just requirements of the law are kept while you and I gain access to the family by faith not in our keeping of the law but in Christ who kept it for us. So, there is no room for pride or boasting unless it is in boasting about the grace of our God. Now, that is something to boast about!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Kindness Over Judgment
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Text: Romans 2:1-16
Reflection: It's interesting to note that the heading for this section of scripture is God's righteous judgment. To some extent this is accurate as the passage no doubt talks about how God's judgment is accurate. But the main issue in this section is not really God's judgment of us, but rather his kindness and patience with us. (see verse 4) The whole point here is that we tend to pass judgment on others even though we ourselves have sinned in the same way as those whom we judge. Yet God, who is righteous and without sin, chooses to show kindeness and patience hoping to lead us toward confession and healing. For this reason we should think twice about judging other people. It seems to me that I have two choices when a person sins against me. First, I can judge them...and in doing so risk giving up God's patience as He is forced to also judge me. On the other hand, I can extend kindness and patience to them in the same way God has done for me. The question is will I imitate God or retaliate in anger. I'm thinking showing kindness is the way to go.
Text: Romans 2:1-16
Reflection: It's interesting to note that the heading for this section of scripture is God's righteous judgment. To some extent this is accurate as the passage no doubt talks about how God's judgment is accurate. But the main issue in this section is not really God's judgment of us, but rather his kindness and patience with us. (see verse 4) The whole point here is that we tend to pass judgment on others even though we ourselves have sinned in the same way as those whom we judge. Yet God, who is righteous and without sin, chooses to show kindeness and patience hoping to lead us toward confession and healing. For this reason we should think twice about judging other people. It seems to me that I have two choices when a person sins against me. First, I can judge them...and in doing so risk giving up God's patience as He is forced to also judge me. On the other hand, I can extend kindness and patience to them in the same way God has done for me. The question is will I imitate God or retaliate in anger. I'm thinking showing kindness is the way to go.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Evil In The World
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Text: Romans 1:18-32
Reflection: Sometimes its important to slow down and look closely at something so as not to misunderstand what is being done or said. That seems to be the case here in Romans 1 as Paul explains God's revealed and righteous wrath. Some time back, I read some comments about these verses suggesting that God's wrath against mankind is justified and that His direct actions against them was appropriate. While I would not disagree with the fact that God's judgments are always right, I do disagree with two wrong assumptions made by this author. First, God's wrath is not being poured out against people per se, but their wickedness. Notice that Paul is careful to say that God's wrath is not directed toward people, but toward "...the godlessness and wickedness of men..." As such, God is dealing with sinful actions rather than sinful people. Second, God does not directly do anything to these people. Notice that Paul says that God "...gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts..." In other words, God allowed men to harm themselves as they acted on their own evil desires. As such, God did not harm humanity. Human beings harmed themselves as they acted upon their own evil desires. So rather than blaming God for the evil in the world, perhaps I should look in the mirror and realize that the evil so prevalent is a result not of God's anger but my acting out my own evil desires.
Text: Romans 1:18-32
Reflection: Sometimes its important to slow down and look closely at something so as not to misunderstand what is being done or said. That seems to be the case here in Romans 1 as Paul explains God's revealed and righteous wrath. Some time back, I read some comments about these verses suggesting that God's wrath against mankind is justified and that His direct actions against them was appropriate. While I would not disagree with the fact that God's judgments are always right, I do disagree with two wrong assumptions made by this author. First, God's wrath is not being poured out against people per se, but their wickedness. Notice that Paul is careful to say that God's wrath is not directed toward people, but toward "...the godlessness and wickedness of men..." As such, God is dealing with sinful actions rather than sinful people. Second, God does not directly do anything to these people. Notice that Paul says that God "...gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts..." In other words, God allowed men to harm themselves as they acted on their own evil desires. As such, God did not harm humanity. Human beings harmed themselves as they acted upon their own evil desires. So rather than blaming God for the evil in the world, perhaps I should look in the mirror and realize that the evil so prevalent is a result not of God's anger but my acting out my own evil desires.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A Visible Faith
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Text: Romans 1:8-17
Reflection: It's interesting to note that Paul is thankful for the Roman Christians because of how their faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. As I think of this reality, it reminds me of several things that need to be true in regards to believers. First, we need to be people of faith. To have faith is to believe without doubt. It entails an inner conviction about the facts and reality of things. So Christians are to have unwavering faith in the gospel and person of Jesus. Second, our faith needs to be visible. The Roman believers lived in such a way that word of their faith spread throughout the world. They had a reputation to be people who believed in and lived for Jesus. Finally, I need to be thankful for rather than jealous of believers who gain a good reputation. When I hear of churches that are growing because of the visible faithfulness of their people I need to be thankful and celebrate rather than become jealous and irritated. I need to allow their faith to inspire me to act so that I too gain the reputation of being a believer and a doer. So as we enter the world today, let us make it evident that we are believers in Jesus.
Text: Romans 1:8-17
Reflection: It's interesting to note that Paul is thankful for the Roman Christians because of how their faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. As I think of this reality, it reminds me of several things that need to be true in regards to believers. First, we need to be people of faith. To have faith is to believe without doubt. It entails an inner conviction about the facts and reality of things. So Christians are to have unwavering faith in the gospel and person of Jesus. Second, our faith needs to be visible. The Roman believers lived in such a way that word of their faith spread throughout the world. They had a reputation to be people who believed in and lived for Jesus. Finally, I need to be thankful for rather than jealous of believers who gain a good reputation. When I hear of churches that are growing because of the visible faithfulness of their people I need to be thankful and celebrate rather than become jealous and irritated. I need to allow their faith to inspire me to act so that I too gain the reputation of being a believer and a doer. So as we enter the world today, let us make it evident that we are believers in Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)