Romans 16:17-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
Some people just like to cause problems, to bring up debates, to stir up an argument. We all know these type of people, and in the church we struggle to deal with them, because we think we're supposed to be nice to everyone.
Well, being nice isn't the goal -- to be a loving community, we occasionally need to confront behaviors. We do this lovingly, with utmost concern about maintaining the community and focusing on Christ at the center, rather than worrying about egos or proving someone right or wrong. It's not about me or you -- it's about the sake of the community, and so we stand up to behaviors that tear down, and together we let the Holy Spirit lead us forward, into a more abundant future, following the narrow path of discipleship that asks much of us, but also gives far more in return.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Romans 16:1-16
Romans 16:1-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
I think the thing to take away from this long list of greetings is that the church, to Paul, is a lot of individual relationships that are bound together by the love of Christ. We aren't some nameless group that gathers in anonymity -- we know each other, and we are known, and we are responsible for each other. You matter. I matter. Each and every one of us matters as an individual.
Augustine tells us that God loves each of us as if there was only one to love. You infinitely matter to God, and so we should focus on one another, loving individually, building relationships, and letting the church be a place where we are known, that we may be built up and sent out to proclaim the Gospel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I think the thing to take away from this long list of greetings is that the church, to Paul, is a lot of individual relationships that are bound together by the love of Christ. We aren't some nameless group that gathers in anonymity -- we know each other, and we are known, and we are responsible for each other. You matter. I matter. Each and every one of us matters as an individual.
Augustine tells us that God loves each of us as if there was only one to love. You infinitely matter to God, and so we should focus on one another, loving individually, building relationships, and letting the church be a place where we are known, that we may be built up and sent out to proclaim the Gospel.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Romans 15:22-33
Romans 15:22-33
English Standard Version (ESV)
Plans. We all make them. Paul was planning on traveling to Spain, and on his way he was going to stop in Rome. Romans is written as Paul's introductory letter -- he wanted to introduce his theology before he visited the church there.
We don't know if Paul ever made it to Spain. It's likely that his life concluded in Rome, but no one is sure. What we know is that he sought to glorify God in all he did, always looking forward but more importantly, looking up to God and then looking around to the people around him.
I make lots of plans. You make them. They're important -- without them, we'd be in trouble.
But don't let your plans get in the way of enjoying God's gift of the present, and don't become so wedded to your plans you forget that our very lives dependent on the free gift of grace. As we make our plans, may we remember to look up to God, and look around at the people God has placed around us, rather than getting caught up looking ahead in anticipation or backward in regret.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Plans. We all make them. Paul was planning on traveling to Spain, and on his way he was going to stop in Rome. Romans is written as Paul's introductory letter -- he wanted to introduce his theology before he visited the church there.
We don't know if Paul ever made it to Spain. It's likely that his life concluded in Rome, but no one is sure. What we know is that he sought to glorify God in all he did, always looking forward but more importantly, looking up to God and then looking around to the people around him.
I make lots of plans. You make them. They're important -- without them, we'd be in trouble.
But don't let your plans get in the way of enjoying God's gift of the present, and don't become so wedded to your plans you forget that our very lives dependent on the free gift of grace. As we make our plans, may we remember to look up to God, and look around at the people God has placed around us, rather than getting caught up looking ahead in anticipation or backward in regret.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Romans 15:14-21
Romans 15:14-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
Imagine living your life, as Paul chooses to live his, speaking of nothing other than what God has done for you.
First of all, you'd have to have a very small ego, because you'd have to be willing to set aside the notion that it is you who is at the center of the meaning of life. That's hard for me, to wrap my mind around the notion that I am not the most important thing.
Before that, you'd have to have a full awareness of all that God has done for you. You'd have to be amazed and awed that God freely chose to deliver you from sin and death and grant you life eternal, even though you were not worthy.
This latter fact would drive the former, right? An appropriate sense of awe for God and his mercy would motivate us to invest more time and energy in sharing the Good News of the Gospel.
So may we focus on Christ and his saving work, and may we, in the process, be delivered from our self-centeredness, that our lives may be about Christ at work in us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Imagine living your life, as Paul chooses to live his, speaking of nothing other than what God has done for you.
First of all, you'd have to have a very small ego, because you'd have to be willing to set aside the notion that it is you who is at the center of the meaning of life. That's hard for me, to wrap my mind around the notion that I am not the most important thing.
Before that, you'd have to have a full awareness of all that God has done for you. You'd have to be amazed and awed that God freely chose to deliver you from sin and death and grant you life eternal, even though you were not worthy.
This latter fact would drive the former, right? An appropriate sense of awe for God and his mercy would motivate us to invest more time and energy in sharing the Good News of the Gospel.
So may we focus on Christ and his saving work, and may we, in the process, be delivered from our self-centeredness, that our lives may be about Christ at work in us.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Romans 15:7-13
Romans 15:7-13
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Often in church, we focus on the vertical relationship between ourselves and God. We want to be sure that we are seeking that relationship first, and we tend to ignore the other vital aspect of church, the horizontal relationship.
Paul lifts it up as very important here -- we honor God in the way we serve, love and accept one another. Christ came to serve, and so we also should serve, because in doing so we imitate Christ, and by imitating him we honor him and invite others to come to know him better.
So let us continue to focus on the vertical aspect of Christianity, but may we not ignore the horizontal aspect that calls us into relationship with our neighbors.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Often in church, we focus on the vertical relationship between ourselves and God. We want to be sure that we are seeking that relationship first, and we tend to ignore the other vital aspect of church, the horizontal relationship.
Paul lifts it up as very important here -- we honor God in the way we serve, love and accept one another. Christ came to serve, and so we also should serve, because in doing so we imitate Christ, and by imitating him we honor him and invite others to come to know him better.
So let us continue to focus on the vertical aspect of Christianity, but may we not ignore the horizontal aspect that calls us into relationship with our neighbors.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Romans 15:1-6
Romans 15:1-6
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Paul's trying to bind together a community that is struggling with threats both internal and external. He's encouraging them to bear with one another, even at times when we are trying each other's patience. He's reminding us to hold on to hope, even in the face of insults and difficulties, for Christ enables us to persevere. We do all things through Christ's strength, and when we lose sight of that, we strive to just make it on our own, without worrying about the community.
However, when we focus on Christ, we forget our own anxieties, and this frees us up to serve and love our neighbors and our enemies. When we love Christ more than ourselves, we aren't worried about whether we are good enough... we're worried whether others have come to know the amazing and life-changing love of God.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Paul's trying to bind together a community that is struggling with threats both internal and external. He's encouraging them to bear with one another, even at times when we are trying each other's patience. He's reminding us to hold on to hope, even in the face of insults and difficulties, for Christ enables us to persevere. We do all things through Christ's strength, and when we lose sight of that, we strive to just make it on our own, without worrying about the community.
However, when we focus on Christ, we forget our own anxieties, and this frees us up to serve and love our neighbors and our enemies. When we love Christ more than ourselves, we aren't worried about whether we are good enough... we're worried whether others have come to know the amazing and life-changing love of God.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Romans 14:20-23
Romans 14:20-23
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
It's interesting to think about Paul's exhortation to keep your beliefs about small things between you and God. Imagine what would happen if we heeded these words and only allowed the larger things to lead us to speak out, keeping our beliefs and questions and arguments about small things between ourselves and God.
I'm not sure exactly where the line is drawn, but it should give us pause when we speak out -- are we doing so to glorify God and bring others to Christ, or are we simply judging for the sake of creating an argument or making a point?
Everything we do should be done in love, and it should be done for the purpose of pointing others towards the grace, love, mercy and purity of Christ. May we think carefully on that before jumping in.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
It's interesting to think about Paul's exhortation to keep your beliefs about small things between you and God. Imagine what would happen if we heeded these words and only allowed the larger things to lead us to speak out, keeping our beliefs and questions and arguments about small things between ourselves and God.
I'm not sure exactly where the line is drawn, but it should give us pause when we speak out -- are we doing so to glorify God and bring others to Christ, or are we simply judging for the sake of creating an argument or making a point?
Everything we do should be done in love, and it should be done for the purpose of pointing others towards the grace, love, mercy and purity of Christ. May we think carefully on that before jumping in.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Romans 14:13-19
Romans 14:13-19
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Pride is a difficult thing to live with -- we get so focused on ourselves, on our own needs, wants and desires. Often, pride leads us to defend our actions, and we're so focused on the implications for ourselves that we fail to see the way we are affecting people around us. Pride clouds our ability to see the impact of our actions on others.
In response, Paul is telling us to focus on others first, and then, once we are guided by love, to consider ourselves. Put others first, he says, and we'll learn to live in peace, because we will weigh our words and actions and live in such a way that we cultivate an atmosphere of peace and harmony through our selflessness.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Pride is a difficult thing to live with -- we get so focused on ourselves, on our own needs, wants and desires. Often, pride leads us to defend our actions, and we're so focused on the implications for ourselves that we fail to see the way we are affecting people around us. Pride clouds our ability to see the impact of our actions on others.
In response, Paul is telling us to focus on others first, and then, once we are guided by love, to consider ourselves. Put others first, he says, and we'll learn to live in peace, because we will weigh our words and actions and live in such a way that we cultivate an atmosphere of peace and harmony through our selflessness.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Romans 14:5-12
Romans 14:5-12
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Big picture thinking. Paul is trying to lift our eyes from the petty things that sometimes occupy us, sapping our strength and our energy and our desires to move forward. It's easy to get caught up in debates about small things. It's much harder to recognize them for what they are and move past them, finding ways to honor God in our differences while seeking the bigger picture of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. In the end, we come before God as we are, and we depend on him for redemption and rescue. That matters. May we live like it is the most important thing.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Big picture thinking. Paul is trying to lift our eyes from the petty things that sometimes occupy us, sapping our strength and our energy and our desires to move forward. It's easy to get caught up in debates about small things. It's much harder to recognize them for what they are and move past them, finding ways to honor God in our differences while seeking the bigger picture of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. In the end, we come before God as we are, and we depend on him for redemption and rescue. That matters. May we live like it is the most important thing.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Romans 14:1-4
Romans 14:1-4
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
This is similar to the parable of the weeds and the wheat. The most important thing is to form a body of believers around the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. Beyond that, we need to be careful about the passion with which we define that community, because we can become overzealous about particular issues that God may not be as passionate about. Scripture is clear that we need to confess Christ as Savior, but we need to be gracious and patient, trusting that God is at work in each and every life, and the more grace we display the more likely each and all of us are to take another step down the path toward discipleship.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
This is similar to the parable of the weeds and the wheat. The most important thing is to form a body of believers around the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. Beyond that, we need to be careful about the passion with which we define that community, because we can become overzealous about particular issues that God may not be as passionate about. Scripture is clear that we need to confess Christ as Savior, but we need to be gracious and patient, trusting that God is at work in each and every life, and the more grace we display the more likely each and all of us are to take another step down the path toward discipleship.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:8-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
Well, Paul puts it out there plainly -- all we have to do is love one another.
Now if everyone else would just cooperate and make it easy for us to love them....
Pure love, the love of Jesus Christ, is capable of loving even when the object of love is seemingly doing everything possible to avoid being lovable. Humans were busy nailing Jesus to the cross, and he was forgiving them, loving them, serving them. This is pure love.
So when we go out into the world, we are to strive to love. It is done in small acts as a conscious choice, moment by moment, person by person. It takes a lifetime to live into this type of love, and we have to keep looking to Christ as our model, letting the Holy Spirit guide and direct our words and actions, so that we might follow his example.
We have to give up the notion that we come first. Let us love and serve with joy and gratitude today.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Well, Paul puts it out there plainly -- all we have to do is love one another.
Now if everyone else would just cooperate and make it easy for us to love them....
Pure love, the love of Jesus Christ, is capable of loving even when the object of love is seemingly doing everything possible to avoid being lovable. Humans were busy nailing Jesus to the cross, and he was forgiving them, loving them, serving them. This is pure love.
So when we go out into the world, we are to strive to love. It is done in small acts as a conscious choice, moment by moment, person by person. It takes a lifetime to live into this type of love, and we have to keep looking to Christ as our model, letting the Holy Spirit guide and direct our words and actions, so that we might follow his example.
We have to give up the notion that we come first. Let us love and serve with joy and gratitude today.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Romans 13:1-7
Romans 13:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's tough to figure out just how to live in society as a Christian. Paul is trying to advise these new Christians on their role, and he avoids telling them to throw off the shackles of the Roman empire altogether. They need to be responsible citizens, not seeking to overthrow Rome by resistance in a day, but rather starting a movement based on the selfless love of Christ that would overtake the world.
I'd argue we're still a part of that movement, trying to figure out how to be responsible citizens while still living according to the love of Christ. It isn't easy, and there are tough questions we have to wrestle with, but we are called to follow Christ while participating in society, helping reform it while being part of it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's tough to figure out just how to live in society as a Christian. Paul is trying to advise these new Christians on their role, and he avoids telling them to throw off the shackles of the Roman empire altogether. They need to be responsible citizens, not seeking to overthrow Rome by resistance in a day, but rather starting a movement based on the selfless love of Christ that would overtake the world.
I'd argue we're still a part of that movement, trying to figure out how to be responsible citizens while still living according to the love of Christ. It isn't easy, and there are tough questions we have to wrestle with, but we are called to follow Christ while participating in society, helping reform it while being part of it.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Romans 12:14-21
Romans 12:14-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
Have you ever tried to explain baseball to someone? There are so many rules -- every time you think you have it mastered, you realize you forgot some little detail. Football is the same way -- there are countless penalties, and even after watching it for years I see things I've never seen before. Imagine trying to give guidelines to lead someone through every ethical dilemma they might face in their lives -- it would be impossible to capture it all.
Paul is trying to guide the church in Rome to live faithfully, but he knows he can't capture everything. So what he does instead is paint a big picture, one that describes the overall shape of the Christian life, and he trusts that if they are truly seeking to live as Christians, that they can figure the details out according to the big items. Love one another. Be kind to your enemies (it will frustrate them more than seeking retribution, Paul tells us). Be humble. Seek peace.
Paul paints us a big picture, and we are called to fill in the details, trusting in God to lead us day by day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Have you ever tried to explain baseball to someone? There are so many rules -- every time you think you have it mastered, you realize you forgot some little detail. Football is the same way -- there are countless penalties, and even after watching it for years I see things I've never seen before. Imagine trying to give guidelines to lead someone through every ethical dilemma they might face in their lives -- it would be impossible to capture it all.
Paul is trying to guide the church in Rome to live faithfully, but he knows he can't capture everything. So what he does instead is paint a big picture, one that describes the overall shape of the Christian life, and he trusts that if they are truly seeking to live as Christians, that they can figure the details out according to the big items. Love one another. Be kind to your enemies (it will frustrate them more than seeking retribution, Paul tells us). Be humble. Seek peace.
Paul paints us a big picture, and we are called to fill in the details, trusting in God to lead us day by day.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Romans 12:9-13
Romans 12:9-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think these commands could keep you busy for a while? So often, we're focused on the negative aspects of what Scripture commands, and we forget about all the challenges the Bible offers up -- there are enough to keep us all busy for the rest of our lives. Do you love all with affection? Do you strive to outdo someone in showing honor? Do you not rest in your zeal for honoring God, always looking for every possible opportunity to serve God? Does your hope drive you to rejoice? Do you give to those in need?
It's a lot, and none of us get it completely right. We all have room to grow, and yet we are each challenged to reach a little farther, to do a little more. God calls us into a life of discipleship, and it's never easy, but we are to encourage one another to rise to the challenge and strive for the abundant life that serves and loves one another and, in so doing, honors God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think these commands could keep you busy for a while? So often, we're focused on the negative aspects of what Scripture commands, and we forget about all the challenges the Bible offers up -- there are enough to keep us all busy for the rest of our lives. Do you love all with affection? Do you strive to outdo someone in showing honor? Do you not rest in your zeal for honoring God, always looking for every possible opportunity to serve God? Does your hope drive you to rejoice? Do you give to those in need?
It's a lot, and none of us get it completely right. We all have room to grow, and yet we are each challenged to reach a little farther, to do a little more. God calls us into a life of discipleship, and it's never easy, but we are to encourage one another to rise to the challenge and strive for the abundant life that serves and loves one another and, in so doing, honors God.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Romans 12:3-8
Romans 12:3-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
Every now and again you hear of a team member demanding special treatment -- they've started to believe that they are the most important member of the team, and feel that they should be compensated as such. They've started to think that they are owed something more due to their special talents. It happens in the church, too.
Here, Paul is telling us that we need to remember to be humble, for what we have we received from God, and we received it for a purpose -- not for our own glory, but for the use of God in building his church. God loves us, but he doesn't single some of us out to be better than the rest. Instead, each of us is a puzzle piece with different attributes that is meant to fit together in the building of the Kingdom. We are unique and special and different, but that, in no way, entitles us to special treatment. Let us serve with humility, grateful for the gifts we received.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Every now and again you hear of a team member demanding special treatment -- they've started to believe that they are the most important member of the team, and feel that they should be compensated as such. They've started to think that they are owed something more due to their special talents. It happens in the church, too.
Here, Paul is telling us that we need to remember to be humble, for what we have we received from God, and we received it for a purpose -- not for our own glory, but for the use of God in building his church. God loves us, but he doesn't single some of us out to be better than the rest. Instead, each of us is a puzzle piece with different attributes that is meant to fit together in the building of the Kingdom. We are unique and special and different, but that, in no way, entitles us to special treatment. Let us serve with humility, grateful for the gifts we received.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
As they say, the problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar.
These two verses are packed with meaning, and if you studied just these verses for a month, you would find no shortage of depth. In summary, Paul is calling us to live in such a way where we are giving ourselves completely to God, pouring ourselves out for his greater glory, willing to give up all we are for the honor of God. I don't know that we think like this very often -- it sounds challenging and costly, and we easily forget all that God has given us and only think about what it might cost us.
Paul goes on, telling us that God should change the way we think. If we are Christians, every thought should be captive to the will of God, so that we glorify him in all we do, honoring and praising him in public and private moments. It's all about God.
If we strive for this, we will find the life that truly is life, the abundant life that comes from God alone.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
As they say, the problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar.
These two verses are packed with meaning, and if you studied just these verses for a month, you would find no shortage of depth. In summary, Paul is calling us to live in such a way where we are giving ourselves completely to God, pouring ourselves out for his greater glory, willing to give up all we are for the honor of God. I don't know that we think like this very often -- it sounds challenging and costly, and we easily forget all that God has given us and only think about what it might cost us.
Paul goes on, telling us that God should change the way we think. If we are Christians, every thought should be captive to the will of God, so that we glorify him in all we do, honoring and praising him in public and private moments. It's all about God.
If we strive for this, we will find the life that truly is life, the abundant life that comes from God alone.
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