Romans 16
New Hope Daily SOAP: Romans 16
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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Romans 16:1-7, I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
The final chapter of Romans has this beautiful section of greetings to the people that Paul has worked with and encountered in his ministry. I only included a portion of the greetings because they are quite long but I love how this was obviously a letter for regular people. This was not a letter intended for religious scholars. Rather, Paul sent it to people he cared about in an effort to help them in their own lives and ministries.
Another interesting note is that out of twenty-six people who are listed as special workers in ministry, nine are women. This is especially impressive because Rome was a male-dominated society and women had little, if any, social and legal standing. But in the church, things were different. There is also a variety when it comes to the names: some of Jewish, some are Latin, and many are Greek. While I'm sure the early church had its issues, it appears to be a diverse mix of men and women, from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Essentially, it was a great picture of the Kingdom of God.
God's Kingdom is universal, with people from all races, cultures, and stations in life. In God's Kingdom, men and women serve alongside each other. It's a place in which every single human life has value and no one is better than another. God's values are actively at work: love, justice, mercy, righteousness, hope, and freedom for the oppressed. Somewhere in the history of the church, it got off track. The church became less Kingdom-focused and more about growing the institution. It began to resemble the culture around it. Certain people were excluded, corruption crept in, sin invaded. It's hard to read a church history text because it seems so far from the church Paul was trying to establish.
But all is not lost. God's mercies are new every day! As a church, we can pray and strive to be a better picture of God's Kingdom. In fact, my on-going prayer for New Hope is that we will become a multiplying congregation - multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational. I pray that we will be the kind of place where people from all walks of life find a place of belonging, a place to be nurtured and loved. I hope you will join me in this prayer.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, we are grateful for the apostle Paul and his amazing work and writings. Thank you especially for the book of Romans and the many things we have learned over the past two weeks. As we close our study of this letter to the church at Rome, we lift up our own church, New Hope. We pray that you will instill a burden within us for those who don't yet know Jesus in our community. I pray that you will open doors for us to be stretched and grow. Lord, we seek to be a church who reaches new people for you, a multiplying church, that looks more like your Kingdom. We pray all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Romans 15
New Hope Daily SOAP: Romans 15
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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Romans 15:30-33, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
We can tell that Paul is beginning to close his letter. He shares his plans to head to Jerusalem and then to Rome on his way to Spain (we don't think Paul actually made it there) and he implores the Christ-followers in Rome to pray for him. Paul knew a trip to Jerusalem would be dangerous. There were plenty of people there who wanted to see him executed for his work as a Christian missionary.
Paul asks his Roman brothers and sisters to join him in the struggle by praying to God on his behalf. The ESV uses the phrase "strive together" with him in prayer, and the term comes from the Greek word for agonize. I think this is one of the gifts of the Christian walk, when the body of Christ gathers and agonizes together, to pray for a specific person or situation. While our solitary prayers are important, there is something that happens when we raise up our voices together. We know that we know that we know that we aren't alone. We are lifted up, encouraged, and empowered to keep going.
Who is it who needs to know you are praying for them today?
Let's pray...We thank you for Christian brothers and sisters who lift us up in prayer during the most difficult periods of our lives. Reveal to us who needs our prayers of support and encouragement today. I pray that they may feel empowered by our prayers and that you will work mightily in their lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Romans 14
New Hope Daily SOAP: Romans 14
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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Romans 14:1-4, Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
It is unclear exactly who Paul is speaking of in this chapter. Who were the "weak" and "strong" Christians in Rome? It's possible that the weak Christians were Jewish believers who still felt strongly about dietary restrictions connected to faith but that has not been verified. What is clear is that Paul doesn't judge either group but merely comes down on the side of unity.
The Christian church is one that includes all kinds of people, from all walks of life, from countless cultural traditions, with all kinds of personalities and dispositions. We are brothers and sisters and we are all part of God's family. But just like other normal human families, these differences can lead to conflict and disagreement. Paul's writing in this chapter demonstrates that these disagreements, over what we might describe as seemingly minor stuff, have been around since the beginning of the church. Paul is saying to accept one another and try to not judge one another for those differences of opinion.
An example: Many of you remember our mission trips to the Dominican Republic. The church in the DR has very different ideas about what's acceptable and not acceptable for Christians than we do in the United States. In many of their churches, women sit on one side and men on the other. Alcohol is forbidden, as is dancing outside of church. I have some pretty strong opinions about all of these things. But Paul is saying not to get too caught up in these disagreements. Accept your brother or sister with the different view and don't fall into judgment. What's most important is what unites us.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, we struggle with judgment. We judge the people around us, we judge Christians from other traditions, and we judge the brothers and sisters in our own church! Forgive us, Lord. Help us to see people as you see them. Help us love people as you love them. In Your Name, Amen.
Romans 13
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Romans 13:13-14, Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us, changing us from the inside out. We become new people and that change should be obvious in how we treat people, the words we speak, and how we behave.
Paul is getting at this truth. He makes the point that because the day of salvation has come, we should behave accordingly. We should experience salvation to its fullest now as we will experience salvation in its fullness in the future when Jesus returns. There is an urgency to this. We aren't supposed to sit around, eat bonbons, and think, "One day I'll get my act together." Rather, the time is now. Not only do we never know what the future holds, but we also know to whom we belong and who we represent. Of course, we will mess up here and there, but overall, our speech and actions should reflect mature Christ-followers, people who are striving for a life characterized by holiness. This isn't legalistic but comes from a true desire to look more like Jesus.
Let's pray...Lord, I want to live out this amazing gift of salvation to the fullest. Help me remember who and whose I am. Help my thoughts, words, and actions reflect you rather than the world. This is hard, Lord, and I am weak. More of you and less of me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Romans 12
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Romans 12:1-2, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Just so you know, Romans 12 is probably my favorite Scripture! It is so powerful.
Paul is saying that because of this amazing gift of salvation, those who receive it should be truly committed to God. Christ-followers should dedicate their whole life in service to Jesus Christ, become living sacrifices. This would have had significant meaning to Paul's audience, as the sacrificial system was still alive and well. But unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, Christ-followers voluntary offer their living bodies, every part of their existence, to the work of Jesus in the world. They make Jesus not simply their savior but also their Lord. Doing this is the kind of worship that God finds right and pleasing. We might call this surrendering everything to King Jesus.
This clearly separates us from the surrounding culture. Living for Jesus rather than ourselves or things of this world is unusual. People notice. Paul urges the Romans to not fit so well into their culture but experience life change as Jesus transforms their thinking. Faith isn't just about the heart and emotions but also about the mind. God wants to change our way of thinking so that we better reflect Jesus.
Do we fit into our culture? Be honest with yourself. Do your neighbors, coworkers, and other acquaintances know that you belong to Jesus? Is your thinking more influenced by Scripture and the things of God or the national news, politics, and Social Media? How easy it is to simply blend right into the culture around us. Paul's words to the Romans certainly ring true for us today.
Let's pray...Almighty God, we need you. Lord, we want to walk closely with you, we want our minds to be transformed, but so often we slip quietly into our culture. Lord, give us the courage and the desire to stand out. We belong to you. Lord, help us learn how to give you our whole lives. Everything we have is yours. Amen.
Romans 11
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Romans 11:13-15, I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Paul is stating that because Israel rejected the Gospel, the Gentiles had the opportunity to receive it. Interestingly, Paul says that the salvation of the Gentiles was meant to instill a desire in the Jews for the same amazing gift. But that didn't necessarily happen. At the same time, the Gentiles really didn't do anything to make the Jews jealous of this gift. Think about it, Gentile Christians throughout the centuries have had the opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with Jews, to demonstrate the abundant life that comes by walking closely with Jesus. While that may have happened occasionally, more often we see Jews treated with persecution, oppression, and violence.
Let's pray...God, over and over again, people bearing your name have messed up. Who are we kidding? We mess up all the time. Lord, help us do better. Instill in us the desire to share your amazing gift of grace with others. Today, we pray a special prayer for the Jews. One person at a time, may they see the grace of Christ at work in their world. We pray for salvation and life change. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Romans 10
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Romans 10:14-15, How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Yesterday, we talked about salvation for the Jews. Throughout chapter 10, Paul continues this discussion, even emphasizing his own anguish that the Jews reject the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul makes several important points: salvation is available to all, the gospel is universal and for all people, evangelism is essential, and Israel has been unresponsive to the Good News of the gospel. The chapter is filled with Old Testament Scripture references emphasizing how Israel had the opportunity to hear the Gospel but continually rejected it. It is, of course, ultimately up to God whether or not he chooses to show mercy to them.
I mentioned yesterday that I struggle with this. I’ve finally found peace with these three statements, which I hold together tightly:
1. We need to actively and intentionally share the Gospel message with the Jews.
2. We serve a God who is totally holy but also just, merciful, and loving.
3. God’s not done with any of us yet and his prevenient grace is always at work.
Now I want to switch gears for just a moment. In today’s focus verses, Paul is speaking to the necessity of evangelism. For him, it was critical that the Jews knew about Jesus Christ. But if we read Acts and Paul’s other letters, we can see that Paul preached the Gospel to the Jews and the Gentiles with equal fervor. But the miracle of Scripture is that it transcends time, culture, and place. These Scripture verses are just as applicable to us today! There are many people around us, in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools, that need to know about the hope that comes from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. People are struggling and hurting. They need to know that there is a different way of doing life.
What does that have to do with you and me? Well, it means we need to be sharing our faith with others. It means building relationships with people outside the church, consistently praying for them, and asking God for openings to share about Jesus. I promise you, if you pray for an opening, God will provide it.
Let’s pray…Lord, Put a burden in my heart for those people who don’t yet know you. Give me the desire and motivation to share my faith with those people you put in my path. Provide openings, Lord, that naturally lend themselves to telling people about Jesus. Help me trust you that you will give me the right words at the right time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 9
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Romans 9:30-33, What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
This was a bit of a difficult chapter for me. In chapter 9, Paul has been making the argument that God’s promise to Israel has not failed. Rather, Israel has failed God by not obeying his word and recognizing God’s plan and purpose found throughout the Old Testament. Because of their stubborn refusal to acknowledge that salvation is by faith rather than works, it is Israel’s own fault that they are excluded from God’s new people.
Does this mean that the Jews will not be saved? I grew up believing that the Jews are God’s chosen people and thus, there must be some pathway for them to reach heaven. But this Scripture certainly bucks up against such a teaching. Paul spends a lot of time outlining Old Testament prophecy which basically states that only a remnant will be saved. Then why, Paul asks, are we surprised that more Jews are not accepting righteousness by faith?
More on this tomorrow…
Let’s pray…Lord God, there is much in your word that we don’t understand. We pray that your Holy Spirit meets us on the pages of Scripture so that we can glean what you need us to know. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 8
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Romans 8:27-29, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This is one of those chapters that is so filled with important concepts and doctrine, it is almost impossible to choose a specific text. Please be sure to read the whole of chapter 8 because I am just brushing the surface today.
Paul has been talking about what in means to live life in the Spirit, a life guided by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us. This is opposed to a life ruled by the law or a life ruled by the flesh, or the things of the world. In verses 16-17, Paul speaks about how the Holy Spirit is the one who gives us assurance that we are children of God. At the time, the people to whom Paul is speaking were experiencing severe persecution for their faith. Neither the Roman authorities nor the Jewish ruling class thought highly of the newly formed Christian communities. Paul speaks directly to this by saying that if God calls us to share in Jesus’ suffering, he also allows us to share in his glory. Besides knowing that we are God’s children, how else might we share in his glory?
This leads into today’s focus Scripture verses. Even when our circumstances are dire (and they were for many of Paul’s listeners), the Spirit helps us. Sometimes things seem so dark, difficult, or confusing, that we don’t even know what to pray. The Spirit knows this, knows us, and knows the will of God. Thus, the Holy Spirit will intercede for us on our behalf. That means the Spirit of God will advocate on our behalf, essentially become our mediator, praying for us in accordance with God’s will.
Because of that, we can trust that all the things that happen to us, all our life events (good, bad, or indifferent) will somehow work together for good for those who love Jesus. That does not mean that all things will work the way we want them. That does not mean that everything will go our way. That does not mean that everything we pray for will come to pass. What it means is that God promises to take the mess of our lives, the hardships, the crummy circumstances (those in our control and out of our control) and make some good come out of it. It may take years to see the good; in fact, it often takes perspective before we see the hand of God at work.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, thank you. Help us see your hand in our lives. Give us insight into how your promises have been fulfilled. We love you and trust you. Amen.
Romans 7
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Romans 7:19-20, For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
There is a spiritual struggle that goes on within us. As believers, we have died to sin but we are still tempted by it. Paul is stating this struggle well. We know what we want to do – we want to live as children of God. But we continue to do the things that are opposed to that. Galatians 5:17 expresses this, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
As human beings, we have to constantly be aware of sin sneaking into our lives. While there isn’t a sure proof way to prevent this, there are certain things we can do to fight against it. If we are growing closer to Jesus through regular prayer, study, meditation, service, and sincere accountability with others, then we will be more aware of when sin rears its ugly head. We will be more apt to notice the angry outburst, apathy toward a person that’s hurting, our pride and arrogance, a lustful thought, or a dishonest comment, because the Holy Spirit will convict us and we will be paying attention.
Let’s pray…Lord, help us be more like you. We are flawed and weak but you are strong. When we fall short, convict us so that we can learn and grow. More of you, less of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 6
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Romans 6:1-2, What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Paul has been discussing God’s extravagant grace. But in this chapter, he seems to be responding to some dissenters, people who are pushing back against salvation by grace alone. If God’s grace is freely offered to everyone, then won’t people take advantage of that and go on sinning? Put another way, won’t people sin as much as they want knowing that they can be forgiven because of God’s offer of grace?
Paul’s answer is clear: NO! Those who have received this free gift of grace are not only saved by it but also enter into the process of sanctification. We are no longer bound to sin; it no longer has a hold on us. Rather, the grace offered through Jesus is what has a hold on us! That changes everything.
Let’s go back to Paul for a moment. He writes in verses 11-14, In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
As believers, we have died to sin. That means that sin doesn’t have control over our lives anymore but rather Jesus does! It’s our connection to a life-giving Savior that now is the primary force in our lives. Because of that, we have the power to resist sin. That doesn’t mean we won’t sin (we all mess up) but we gradually sin less and less as we begin to reflect Jesus more and more.
I think it’s also important to mention that as we experience more of Jesus’ grace, our motivations and desires change. We are new people. We aren’t so engrossed with the things of the world but more focused on the things of God’s Kingdom. This isn’t because we are such awesome people, we aren’t. It’s the work of God’s sanctifying grace in our lives. We get to cooperate with God as his Spirit changes our hearts.
Let’s pray…God, we thank you for the gift of your amazing grace. As we seek to reflect more of you in our lives, help us to recognize the power within us to resist sin. Your spirit lives within us and that makes all the difference. We are dead to sin and alive in you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 5
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Romans 5:1-5, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Paul begins this chapter with a list of statements, which are all positive consequences, of becoming justified through faith or receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. Now, we can have peace with God. We can boast in the hope of God. We can rejoice in our sufferings because those pressures and hardships will produce perseverance. (Perseverance is the persistence we develop as we deal with struggles.) Developing perseverance will develop our character and character leads to hope.
Wow! What a chain of events. Some of you might be reading this and say, "But I don't want to have to go through suffering and hardships in order to produce perseverance and character!" But think about your life. We can know that as human beings living in a broken world, hardships are going to happen. I'm sure you have already experienced your share. As people of faith, we can know that we know that we aren't dealing with these struggles alone. God is with us and God is at work within us, filling us with his peace (Paul speaks of this peace not just here but in many of his letters). Maybe you've experienced it. It's the peace that passes all understanding, that only makes sense connected to Jesus. Have you ever been in a really, really hard situation and you felt totally at peace even though the situation was crummy and the outcome uncertain? That's God's peace at work.
In the midst of these kinds of circumstances, God does something within his people, strengthens us spiritually and grows our character, allowing us to persevere. When we persevere, we experience hope. What's our hope based in? God's love. We don't give up because we know that God's love never gives up. It is always present, always at work, always right there with us. God's love means we will never be alone, that we can rejoice in the midst of tribulation, and that we know that this world isn't all there is. I'll take that.
Let's pray...Thank you for the peace that only comes with a relationship with you, Lord Jesus. In the midst of struggles, help us remember that you are with us, working in us, and that your love never gives up. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Romans 4
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Romans 4:18-24, Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
This is an interesting chapter. Paul clearly wants his Jewish listeners to know that justification by faith is not a new concept, but there is actually a precedent in the Old Testament. He wants his Gentile listeners to know that they have a rich spiritual heritage when they believe in Jesus, as the Old Testament attests to this salvation. Paul highlights Abraham and David, two great men of faith, to demonstrate that even under the old covenant, people were saved by faith rather than by works.
Let's take a closer look at our focus verses for today. It's a somewhat long passage but all of it is important. Paul discusses Abraham's faith. Abraham believed, against all hope and even though it was a crazy thought, that he would become a father in his old age and even become the father of many nations. Sarah was something like 100 years old. This was not a reasonable thing to believe! Despite some mishaps along the way (think Hagar and Ishmael), Abraham had faith that God would do what God said he would do. It was Abraham's faith, rather than his adherence to the law (works), that God credited him as righteous. It is also our faith, specifically our faith in Jesus Christ and belief that he died for our sins and was resurrected, that God credits us as righteous. To be righteous means to be in right standing with God.
Let's be clear. We are not righteous at all on our own merit. Rather, because of Jesus, we are credited as righteous. We essentially get to hang on Jesus' righteousness coattails and I am so very glad for it!
Let's pray...Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice and for allowing us to be credited as righteous. Because of you, Jesus, we can experience abundant life with God, knowing that God is always with us and that nothing gets in the way. We are so grateful. In Jesus' Mighty and Powerful Name, Amen.
Romans 3
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Romans 3:23-24, ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
In this chapter, Paul continues to discuss the sinfulness of human beings. No one is righteous, no matter one's religious upbringing (Jew vs. non-Jew), occupation, or station in life; every single person is a sinner. It sounds a bit hopeless but Paul is leading up to something very important. Yes, all people are sinners and all people fall short of God's standard BUT we can be saved through the gift of grace that comes with believing in Jesus Christ.
It's pretty incredible really. We are all a broken mess. We are born inclined to sin and this sinfulness creates a barrier between God and us. But Jesus' sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins. What in the world does that mean? When Jesus died on the cross, our sins and the sins of all humanity died up there with him. If you think back to the Old Testament sacrificial system, Jesus was the final, perfect sacrifice. As God himself, Jesus was holy and totally without sin. He gave his life to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. His death on the cross created a bridge between God and us. No more barrier. If we have said yes to Jesus, then when God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but rather Jesus' sacrifice. The blood of Jesus essentially covers us or atones for us. Now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are free to walk hand in hand with a holy God.
And we did nothing to earn this or deserve it. As Paul writes, it was a gift of grace. Grace is God's unmerited, amazing love that is freely given to all those who believe. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me..."
Let's pray...God, your grace is truly amazing. We know that we are a sinful mess and yet you sent Jesus to die in our place. We are grateful and in awe of your love. Help us, as we overflow with your grace and love, to share it with those around us. Give us opportunities TODAY to share your love in ways that make a difference to the people we encounter. We love you, Lord. Amen.
Romans 2
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Romans 2:28-29, A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Through the end of chapter one and most of chapter two, Paul points out the sinfulness of humanity and the righteousness of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, each person will have a day of reckoning, in which they will stand before God.
But then, Paul's words take a turn as they are directed specifically at Jewish listeners. He doesn't mince words. The Jewish audience may think they are better than the Gentiles because of circumcision and the law, but truly actions speak louder than words. What good is the law if they don't obey it? Paul accuses the Jews of judging the Gentiles for not doing things "right" but really they should be judging themselves. Their faith was superficial and all about outward appearances, so they look good in front of other human beings, not God. What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.
What's going on in your heart right now? Unfortunately, it is too easy for us to make faith about a list of things that make us look good to others: attending church regularly, serving and volunteering, being part of a small group or Bible study, making moral choices, being a good person, you get the idea. But if our heart isn't right with God, all those good things are worthless. What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.
Let's pray...God, forgive me for my judgment of others and my desire to impress the world. All that matters is what you think of me. God, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I want to know you better and be a better reflection of your love, Jesus. In your name, Amen.
Romans 1
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Romans 1:14-17, I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Today, we are beginning our journey through one of the most impactful books of the Bible, Paul's letter to the Romans. One of my favorites, much of our Christian doctrine is rooted in this book. My own experience in Romans is that sometimes I need to read a chapter more than once to understand its meaning. Don't be discouraged if that is the case for you too. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your reading and reveal what God wants you to know in each chapter. Remember, I will just focus on a few verses each day but every single chapter is filled with a great deal of substance. Be sure to read the whole chapter so you don't miss anything and you have a fuller context of what Paul is saying to the Romans and what God is saying to you and me.
Romans is actually written in the form a letter. Paul starts by identifying himself: he is a servant of Christ, an apostle, and one who is set apart for the Gospel. He is writing to a church in Rome that he did not establish and has not yet visited. He wants to be clear from the beginning who he is and what he believes. He is clear that the purpose of his writing is Jesus. Really, it’s all about Jesus Christ, and we will see that theme woven throughout the entirety of Romans. It’s certainly a good reminder for us – it is simply all about Jesus. We get quite distracted but Jesus is what matters.
In our focus verses today, we are highlighting verses 14-17. What I love about these Scripture verses is how clear Paul is about his purpose, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take a look at some of the statements that Paul makes:
-I am obligated to both Greeks and non-Greeks, to those who are wise and foolish
-I am eager to preach the Gospel to those in Rome
-I am not ashamed of the Gospel
I can’t help but stop here for a moment. Paul is crystal clear about his purpose. He knows who and whose he is and that defines every other aspect of his life. He is a person sent to share the Good News to all people, he is looking forward to preaching Jesus to the people of Rome, and he is totally unashamed, unembarrassed, and ready to be a minister of the Gospel. What are your thoughts about this? We live in a time and culture in which people are hesitant to share their faith, worried about people’s reactions, and content to just leave things be. Paul was anything but content. He felt obligated, eager, and totally unashamed!
Spend some time in prayer asking God to speak to you, specifically what God wants you to learn from Paul and our new study of Romans. Ask God to open your heart and mind to new concepts and challenges.
Let’s pray…God, we ask that you stretch us. We want to learn, grow, and become more fully devoted followers of you. Help us learn more about our faith and how to share it. While we may get distracted, we know that really it’s all about Jesus. Amen.
Exodus 40
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Exodus 40:34-38, Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
We have finally made it to the final chapter of the book of Exodus! Good job, everyone!!! In today’s chapter, we find Moses and the Israelites setting up the tabernacle. All they had constructed now needed to find its proper place. Once all was in place, the Scripture says that “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The presence of the Lord was a cloud by day. At night, there was fire in the cloud so it could easily be seen. When the Israelites saw the cloud move, they knew it was time to pick up and move. When the cloud stayed in place, they knew to stay in place as well.
The cloud was visible manifestation of an invisible God. In a hot, sunny, arid climate, God’s presence was a sign of both comforting shade and divine authority, right in their midst. How do we see the presence of God in our midst today? Think about the last week, how have you seen the living God at work in your daily experiences, in your interactions with others, in your prayer and study time, or in times of worship? While God may not show up as a visible cloud, God is here with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I would love to hear about how you have experienced God’s glory. Send me an email with your “glory sightings” – vicki@findnewhope.com.
Let’s pray…God, we thank you that your presence is always with us. Help us see your glory daily, help us pay attention to how you are at work in our lives, and help us always be ready to respond to your promptings. We love you. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Exodus 39
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Exodus 39:42-43, The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
The work on the tabernacle was demanding and required carrying out very specific, detailed instructions from the Lord. None of us would have blamed the Israelites if they hadn’t been able to complete a portion of the construction. Afterall, they were working with donated materials and labor in the middle of a desert wilderness! Yet, they got it all done. They were now ready to worship God properly and live out their part of the covenant relationship with God. The groundwork had been completed. So Moses blessed the people.
What does it mean to offer a blessing? God actually gave Moses instructions on how to bless the covenant community in Numbers 6:22-27,
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
As a pastor, I’ve been asked to bless new homes, new marriages, and new babies. In our context, these blessings are typically to ask God to bless these people and new experiences. We aren’t asking that no negative things occur, but that God does send his grace, goodness, and peace into their lives.
Let’s pray…Holy God, bless each person who is reading this text. May they experience your grace, goodness, and peace today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Exodus 38
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Exodus 38:8, They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
This chapter continues the instructions for building various elements of the tabernacle – the altar for burnt offerings, the wash basin, and the courtyard. Again, there are many details included, down to the specific amount of gold, silver, and bronze, donated by the community.
There is one line in these instructions that I find really interesting, verse 8, which describes the making of the bronze wash basin. Ironically, it would be really easy to simply read it and not think too deeply about it, as it seems to get such a small mention among the more wordy descriptions of the burnt offering altar and the courtyard.
The wash basin needed to be made from a finer quality bronze since it was in a prominent location. Where does one find fine quality, consistently even bronze in the middle of the desert? Apparently from the mirrors of the women. The mirrors would have required a higher quality bronze that was polished very well, in order to produce a reflection.
And then there is a mention that the mirrors were given by those women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Just this one little line but really important! There were ladies who served God by standing by the tent of meeting and taking care of the needs of the priests. They may have washed dishes and utensils, done laundry, or cleaned up the courtyard, but their quiet dedication and service was essential to the running of the tabernacle. They are mentioned once again in I Samuel 2:22 (in reference to the evil committed by Samuel’s sons).
This immediately makes me think of the countless women who have quietly served in churches for centuries, doing the mundane but necessary tasks of cleaning, sewing, washing, and cooking. Like the women at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they go unnamed and probably many times unnoticed. Yet, their dedication to God and service to Jesus’ church is extraordinary. Today, I thank God for all my sisters who have gone before me, serving God humbly and quietly, by doing the important but unglamorous tasks that keep the church running.
Let’s pray…God, we thank you for all the people, women and men, who have served your church, doing the necessary but mundane tasks of cleaning, sewing, washing, cooking, repairing things, and mowing the lawn. How often we overlook their dedication and sacrifice but we know that YOU DO NOT. You see them, you know them, and you love them. Bless them, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Exodus 37
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Exodus 37:25-27, They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Most of this chapter includes instructions on how to make the ark, table, altar of incense, and the lampstands, which are repeated from previous chapters. Why the repeat? I'm not sure but I do think repetition helps us remember. I picture Moses needing to give the instructions on how to build these various things over and over and over again.
One aspect of these instructions that is worthy of some additional comments is the altar of incense. What was its purpose? From what I understand, the altar of incense was placed before the veil that divided the holy place from the most holy place (the holiest of holies). The smoke from the incense, along with the curtain, was supposed to prevent the priest who was working in the holy place to see the presence of God in the most holy place. These were essentially layers of protection, as the priest would have surely died if he saw God's presence.
This is kind of strange to us. Because of the Holy Spirit coming down in Acts 2 and indwelling believers, we always have the presence of God with us. I never feel like I need to be protected from God's presence. On the contrary, I feel protected by God's presence. But the people in Exodus were in a different place. God related to his people in a way that made sense at the time; in a way they knew and could understand. How grateful I am for living on this side of the cross. Because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we relate to God in a totally different way. Because of the Holy Spirit, God dwells with us in a very personal and real way. We don't need a curtain or incense, we can rest in his presence anywhere, anytime. How thankful I am!
Let's pray...God, thank you for allowing us to rest in your presence. Thank you for a personal and intimate relationship that means we can always know you are with us. Help us experience your mighty presence today in our lives! In Jesus' Name, Amen.