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.