Who?

 Romans 8:34 "Who then is the one who condemns?"

Paul is explaining that because God sent his Son to die for us, there is nothing in this world that should worry us or cause us anxiety.  If the God of the universe cared for us enough to sacrifice his own Son on our behalf, why should we be rattled by any temporary troubles?

Scripture is so good and so timely!  I needed these beautiful words today.  The end of chapter 8 is amazing and I probably picked the least exciting verse from it.  But today, it hits home and is exactly what I needed to read.  

God thank you for being awesome.  When I fail you and forget you, you have been there for me.  Amen. 

Hope

Romans 8:24 "For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?"

Paul is talking about the hope that we have because of Jesus.  Our current situation and life is difficult, but we have a hope that one day we will be in heaven for all eternity and everything will be made right.  The kingdom will fully come.  It's here now, but not fully. We haven't yet experienced all that God has for us.  As Paul points out, who hopes for something they already have?  We don't yet have the full kingdom, but it's coming, so we hope!

It's easy to get down about things.  The older I get the more bleak life gets-illness, aging, etc.  Fortunately, I have this amazing hope that this life isn't all there is.  There's more!  And it gets better.  It gets way better.  I need that hope today.

Dear Lord, help me to trust in you and continually be reminded of the hope that we have because of you.  Amen. 

Death or Life, Flesh or Spirit?

Romans 8: 11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also giver life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."

Paul is describing the distinction between living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.  He says those live lives focused on the flesh are living lives of death.  Those who live according to the Spirit live lives of life.  And he implies that if the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us, we too can conquer death.

My uncle Curt passed away last night in his sleep.  I have not seen or spoken to him in many years, but I remember him being a good man.  He was patient and kind.  Death has a way of refocusing our priorities and forcing us to think of the things that really matter.  Am I focused on the flesh and death, or am I focused on the Spirit and life?  How can I live a life of the Spirit?

Dear Lord, help me focus on the Spirit and life today.  Amen. 

Great Intentions

Romans 7:18 "...For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry out."

Paul is discussing the stranglehold sin has on us. On our own, under our own power, we are helpless against sin.  Sin has our number and we truly are powerless against it.  We can try as hard as we can, but we still lose.  It is only through the grace of God and the power of Christ that we can overcome sin in our lives.  

What are the practical implications from this passage for me?  If I am powerless to keep from sin on my own., should I just quit trying?  Of course not.  That's not what Paul is saying.  I think what he is saying is that I need Christ far more than I ever think I do.  On my own, I'm gonna sin. I can't stop.  I have to allow the power of Christ to work in me.  I have to rely on him.  I have to meditate on him.  I have to give control of my life to him.  Only Christ in me can conquer sin.  But how exactly does that work???

Dear Jesus, please fill my life and keep me from sin today.  Amen.

Bound to Grace

Romans 7:6 "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."

Paul is speaking to those who know and have been following the Law.  He makes the case that since Christ has fulfilled the Law, they are no longer bound to keep it.  

If the Jews, who were given the Law, are no longer bound to keep the Law, than I certainly am not bound to the Law.  I am bound to Jesus and to grace and to love.  

Dear Jesus, help me to focus on you and your call to love my neighbors and enemies.  Amen.

Wages

 Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul is making the argument that we are no longer controlled by sin, but instead we are to be controlled by the Spirit. We are no longer "slaves to sin" but instead "slaves to righteousness."  If you live your life devoted to sin you will earn the reward for that sin-death.  But the reward for a life devoted to God is eternal life. 

What kind of wages do I want?  What kind of wages do I deserve?  Thanks to Jesus, I will not be compensated fairly.  In fact, I will be compensated very unfairly! I will be given a gift!  My gift is eternal life, even though I earned death.  That again is really good news!

Dear Lord, help me live a life as best I can, worthy of you.  Amen.

Dead to Sin

 Romans 6:11 "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

As Paul is explaining the gospel and the covenant of grace, one might be tempted to think sin is no big deal.  But Paul says that just as Christ died on the cross, we too have put to death our old lives.  We no longer should be mastered by sin.  

Sin exists and rules our world.  I will always struggle with sin to some degree.  But as a Christian, I should not be ruled by sin, known for sin, or allow sin to get any kind of a foothold in my life.  My life should be led by the Spirit and be a life filled with the fruits of the Spirit.  

Dear Lord, keep me from sin today.  When sin tries to worm its way into my life, help me resist.  Amen.

A Giant 180

 Romans 5:20 "...But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

Paul is comparing Adam to Christ a bit and explaining how sin entered the world through one man (Adam), but grace and forgiveness came to the world through another man (Jesus).  And if Adam's sin affected the whole world in such a powerful way, how much more will Christ's actions affect the world?  Surely Christ's sacrifice is more powerful than the actions of Adam.

The point in all of this, is the grace of God is so much bigger and more amazing than we think it is.  It's way better, and far more reaching than I think.  It's far superior to the way we talk about it.  How can I live in that grace?  How can I share this good news with someone who needs to hear it this week?  

Dear Jesus, thank you for taking what Adam did, reversing it, and giving us even more than we could ever deserve!  Amen. 

It Gets Even Better

 Romans 5:10 "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"

Paul says if we were saved from our sins through the death of Jesus, what amazing blessings will come our way from Jesus' life?  Likewise, if Jesus died for us while we were literally enemies of God, what will he do for us now that we are reconciled to God?  

This is all really quite amazing to think about and is in fact good news.  This is better than that, it's great news.  It's the gospel.  While I was still far from God, even an "enemy" of God, Jesus took my place.  Now I am called a friend of God, so the benefits coming my way will be even greater than salvation!!  And truly, I now have the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and the joy and peace that comes with a relationship with God.

Dear Lord, thank you for your graciousness and love toward me.  Amen.

By Faith

 Romans 4:13 "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith."

Paul says Abraham was not considered righteous because of his adherence to the law.  The law didn't even exist yet.  He wasn't considered righteous for being circumcised either.  He also wasn't given the promise due to his circumcision or adherence to any law.  His righteousness and the promise were both granted to him by faith.  They were gifts from God, not wages for good works or any achievements on the part of Abraham.

My righteousness (right standing with God) is not a result of impressive achievement.  I haven't jumped through any articular hoops or over any specific hurdles to deserve salvation and eternal life.  My forgiveness of sins and redemption are 100% a gift from God.  I simply receive this gift by faith...by trust...by belief.  I need to remember this when I am so often tempted to do more, try harder, be better and suffer more to earn God's favor.

Dear Lord, thank you, thank you.  I am wicked, sinful and a piece of garbage.  But you saved me.  In your eyes, I am clean.  Thank you.  Amen.

Good News

 Romans 3:25 "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished." 

Paul is explaining the redemptive plan God has for the world.  God sent his son Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world-past and present.  He did this to demonstrate his righteousness. 

Jesus' sacrifice didn't just cover up (atone) a few peoples sins.  It didn't just cover up the Jews sins or the Gentiles sins.  His sacrifice took care of ALL the sin in the world.  God truly is righteous.  He did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.  That is the gospel.  That is good news.  

Dear Jesus, thank you for this good news.  Help me remember this news every day and live it out.  Amen.

Cursing and Bitterness

 Romans 3:14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

Paul is quoting from various Hebrew scriptures to drive home his point that the whole world is sinful and no one is righteous.  He quotes Psalm 10:7 here which says that our mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

The world today seems filled with cursing and bitterness.  Everywhere you look someone is cursing someone else out or complaining about something.  How about me?  Is my speech marked by these qualities?

Dear Lord help me speak wholesomely and kindly about others.  Amen.

Entrusted

 Romans 3:2 "...the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God."

Paul has been making the claim that circumcision (the Law) does not save a person.  So, is there any value in being Jewish anymore? Paul says yes!  The Jews have been entrusted with God's word.  The Hebrew scriptures are God's word and are the Bible at this point in the mid first century.  The New Testament is still in the process of being written and assembled.

Much like ancient Jews, I too in a way am entrusted with God's word.  I have it.  I own several copies.  I have a digital version on my phone in dozens of translations I can access at anytime.  I have many verses memorized.  I have been entrusted with God's word and what am I doing with it?  Am I continually hiding it in my heart?  Am I teaching it and sharing it with others?  Am I striving to live it out daily?

Dear Lord, help me take your word more seriously.  Help me better learn it, teach it, and live it out.  Amen.

Of the Heart, by the Spirit

 Romans 2:29 "...circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit..."

Paul is giving it pretty good to some of the Judaizers claiming that they are hypocrites by not actually practicing what they preach.  He claims you aren't a Jew just because you are circumcised or because on the "outside" you are Jewish.  Being one of God's children comes from something on the inside...a circumcision of their hearts.

What is on the outside rarely matters.  I can look good and fake it with the best of them.  I know all the Christian customs, lingo, traditions, and motions.  I know when to stand up, sit down, bow my head, say Amen, and clap along. But none of that really concerns God.  He cares about what is on the inside of me.  What good is it if I show up to church each Sunday, know all the lyrics, and have all the scriptures used by the pastor that day memorized, but don't love people or forgive them or serve them?  Too much of my day is focused on externals.  I need to continually challenge my heart, my soul, and who I really am on the inside.  How can I become more like Jesus internally today? 

Dear Jesus, help me make sure the inside of my cup is clean and not just the outside.  Help me become more like you today.  Amen.

My Own Plank

 Romans 2:1 "...for at whatever point you judge another you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things."

Paul is criticizing the sinfulness of the Roman people and no doubt in first century Rome, there was sin everywhere.  But he seems to say they should not be judging others because they are all sinning-they are all doing the same things.  It's similar to Jesus teachings in Mark 7, that one ought to remove the plank in their own eye before pointing out the speck in their neighbors.  

Are we to judge others or not?  Christians disagree on this and as a true "Minnesota nice" kinda guy, I always come down on the side of not.  However I've heard over the years that we can and should judge each other within the church.  As church members and as a community we have a responsibility to hold each other accountable.  For those outside of the church/non-Christians, we should pump the brakes a bit and withhold our judgement.  I don't know? I think when I am able, I should gently and truthfully try to help people out with their sin or their stupidity!  But I must be primarily focused on my own self.  When I turn my focus on judging others firstly and lose concern for myself, I am in grave danger.

Lord, help me to see the planks in my own eye.  Help me deal with them and remove them before judging anyone else. Amen.

Gave Them Over

 Romans 1:24 "Therefore God gave them over..."

Paul is describing the state of mankind.  The world, on its own, left to itself, pursues evil.  In chapter one, speaking of mankind, Paul says three times that "God gave them over" to evil, sinful lifestyles.  God gave them over to...sexual immorality, shameful lusts, and depraved minds.  God didn't force anyone to sin, but mankind craved sin so much, God let them have their way.  

God will allow us to disobey him.  We are not puppets on strings controlled by him.  I can choose him or walk away.  I can live my life for him, or for something else.  God will allow it.  What I am living for?  What is God giving me over to?  What am I pursuing?  I hope I can pursue him with the days I have left, and not put God in the position of having to give me over to something.

Dear Jesus, help me follow you and you alone today.  Amen.

By Faith

 Romans 1:17 "A righteousness that is by faith."

Paul is introducing his letter to the Romans and clarifies what his mission and purpose is.  He has been called by God to spread the gospel to "Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and unwise."  He writes that he is not embarrassed or "ashamed" of the gospel as it provides salvation to all who believe.  He explains that this gospel of salvation and the righteousness within, is provided to us via faith.

In our hyper achievement focused society it often feels like our faith too should be achievement oriented.  I too often view my faith and spiritual life through a lens of what I have done and what I am doing.  Am I reading the Bible enough?  Am I attending church enough?  Am I serving or giving enough?  Faith boils down to a spiritual report card based on me and what I have done.  But that's not the way it works.  When I get into this mindset, I am missing the mark (which is the definition of sin btw).  Our righteousness and our relationship with God is through faith.  It's not through works.  It's not through what I am doing.  It's not through my spiritual report card.  It's faith.  Today I need to be reminded it is not about what I do but about what Jesus has done for me.

Dear Jesus, release me from the exhausting treadmill of trying to impress you and earn your favor.  Remind me how good you are and how good the gospel truly is.  Amen.