In the first 11 chapters of this letter, Paul has explained all that God has done for us. Today, he begins recommending an appropriate response.
Romans 12
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Transform. I have to confess ... I love these two verses. They compose one of my favorite passages in the Story of God. I love how his response almost begins with a sigh ... “And so”. I love the fact that Paul “pleads” instead of commands. I love the way he defines “worship” ... surrendering our whole lives to God as a “living ... sacrifice”. I love the challenge to not “copy ... this world”. And most importantly for me, I love the hope that he offers ... the hope that God can “transform” me. I plead with you to reread it a couple of time. Then, offer a short, simple prayer, “Father, teach me how to worship you with my life ... show me how to avoid the life this world offers ... transform me.”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Him
In chapters 9 - 11, Paul works through some complicated material that discusses the past, present and future of Israel. He ends this section with an important conclusion.
Romans 11
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.
31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.
32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Him. Rick Warren opens his best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life” by simply saying ... “It’s not about you.” He may have received inspiration for that opening from verse 36. I’ll be honest, there is a lot that I don’t understand about God ... or His plan; but it gives me great comfort knowing that there are elements of God’s plan that even Paul found “impossible ... to understand” too. One of the more difficult aspects, of being a Jesus follower, is reconciling the fact that God doesn’t promise us (or honestly owe us) answers to all our questions. It comes with surrendering to Him as our Lord (or Director) of life. My prayer is that your search for understanding will land where Paul’s did ... “All glory to him forever!”
Romans 11
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.
31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.
32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Him. Rick Warren opens his best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life” by simply saying ... “It’s not about you.” He may have received inspiration for that opening from verse 36. I’ll be honest, there is a lot that I don’t understand about God ... or His plan; but it gives me great comfort knowing that there are elements of God’s plan that even Paul found “impossible ... to understand” too. One of the more difficult aspects, of being a Jesus follower, is reconciling the fact that God doesn’t promise us (or honestly owe us) answers to all our questions. It comes with surrendering to Him as our Lord (or Director) of life. My prayer is that your search for understanding will land where Paul’s did ... “All glory to him forever!”
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Nicknamed
Every Wednesday, we review the previous weekend’s message. This past weekend, I talked about the life of Barnabas and our need to encourage others. We looked at several scenes where he encouraged others ... Peter and James in Acts 9:26-27; Luke and Saul in Acts 11:19-26; and Mark in Acts 13:4-5,13; Acts 15:36-39 ... but I wanted to focus on the two verses that introduced him.
Acts 4
36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.
37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
Nicknamed. Every once in a while, it is good to step back and honestly evaluate our life. Here is a unique way to do it. If I surveyed the five people that knew you best, what one word would they use to summarize you ... to “nickname” you? For Barnabas, it was the word “encouragement”. What word would you want it to be? What do you need to do to maintain (change) that nickname?
Acts 4
36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.
37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
Nicknamed. Every once in a while, it is good to step back and honestly evaluate our life. Here is a unique way to do it. If I surveyed the five people that knew you best, what one word would they use to summarize you ... to “nickname” you? For Barnabas, it was the word “encouragement”. What word would you want it to be? What do you need to do to maintain (change) that nickname?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Hear
Yesterday, Paul revealed his heart. Today, he challenges our hearts ... our mouths ... our lives.
Romans 10
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.
6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth).
7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”
8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Hear. God left it up to us to share the most important message anyone will ever hear! There have been many times when I have wondered why God would leave such an important task in the hands and mouths of such flawed creatures; but I think it’s because the message (the “good news”) makes more sense when demonstrated. When other people can see God’s love and Jesus’ grace in our lives, the words of the message become more beautiful ... almost irresistible. It is when the words and the demonstration contradict themselves that people become confused. As Jesus followers, we have been asked to tell (check out Matthew 28:18-20); but we must make sure that the message has truly changed us before it can change anyone else.
Romans 10
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.
6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth).
7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”
8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Hear. God left it up to us to share the most important message anyone will ever hear! There have been many times when I have wondered why God would leave such an important task in the hands and mouths of such flawed creatures; but I think it’s because the message (the “good news”) makes more sense when demonstrated. When other people can see God’s love and Jesus’ grace in our lives, the words of the message become more beautiful ... almost irresistible. It is when the words and the demonstration contradict themselves that people become confused. As Jesus followers, we have been asked to tell (check out Matthew 28:18-20); but we must make sure that the message has truly changed us before it can change anyone else.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Heart
Last week, we finished up with Paul’s beautiful reminder about God’s love ... that nothing can separate us from it. His own remembrance of this love that he has experienced quickly moves him to sorrow as he considers loved ones that haven’t accepted God’s love ... Jesus' grace.
Romans 9
1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief
3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed - cut off from Christ! - if that would save them.
4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.
5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Heart. I was struck by Paul’s “bitter sorrow and unending grief”. I was moved by his heart ... his willingness to give up what he preaches about so passionately so someone else could experience God’s love and Jesus’ grace. It is a picture of Jesus’ heart and the heart God wants to form in us ... a heart that breaks for those that are “cut off from Christ”. My prayer for you (and me) is that God would break your heart.
Romans 9
1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief
3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed - cut off from Christ! - if that would save them.
4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.
5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Heart. I was struck by Paul’s “bitter sorrow and unending grief”. I was moved by his heart ... his willingness to give up what he preaches about so passionately so someone else could experience God’s love and Jesus’ grace. It is a picture of Jesus’ heart and the heart God wants to form in us ... a heart that breaks for those that are “cut off from Christ”. My prayer for you (and me) is that God would break your heart.
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