Mar. 31st, 2010
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is a familiar verse for those of us who have been Christians for awhile. Part of the Romans Road to salvation which includes: Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory; and Rom. 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners. And Rom. 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Following the logic and instruction of these related passages, a person can rightly become a Christian. It seems rather simple really…is it? I wonder why so many want to make it so hard to be a believer. I wonder why for some there are all these additional rules and commands, and rituals, and “man-made” traditions that are added to the simple truth that all we really need to do is believe and confess. I’m troubled by my own past where I laid on myself and others stricter regulations for my behavior (and theirs) than seems to be required. Maybe I’m just getting older, maybe I’m slow to finally figure some things out…but it seems to me that believing in Jesus has set me free from a lot of “Church” or “”Christian”” junk that’s not really part of the equation.
I’m grateful to serve and be loved by a gracious bunch of folks who together are learning that our freedom in Christ is a very real thing. We don’t have to control everyone’s behavior, or use it to determine if someone is “in” or “out”. We don’t have to judge based on outward appearances, or “righteous” behavior. Heck, we don’t have to judge at all. We simply need to help each other as together we journey to Jesus.
God, I’m grateful for the teaching and training of my past that has enabled me to join you on this Romans Road to salvation. Help me continue to figure out what that means. Help me to make it easier for others to join me and you.

Mar. 29th, 2010
Rom. 5:17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will life in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
This morning I was struck with the thought that we inherited sin from Adam, and became sinners even before the law was written. I’ve often said: “we are sinners by nature (through Adam), we are sinners by choice (our personal will), and we are sinners (unfortunately) by habit – not being willing to sin just once!” That being said, we are all also recipients of God’s wonderful grace, as the scripture above reminds us. As much as I appreciate the wonderful grace of God, there is an almost Universalist sense, or universalism in this chapter – making it sound like “all have sinned – and all are forgiven.” The key came to me in this verse: …for all who receive it...
As much as I believe God has been at work in our world and in our lives long before we ever give a conscious thought to acknowledging or accepting God’s work; there is still a point of decision, a moment of action that must accompany this good work of God and make it effective for our individual lives. I know that all human beings must at some point “receive” the life, forgiveness, and grace of God. God has certainly extended it to all people, but obviously all people have not received or acted on this truth.
So, Lord, today, again, I want to receive your grace for my life. Cover my sin with your righteousness, carry away my guilt and dis-ease because of my unfaithfulness. Help me to accept and be grateful for your marvelous gift, and help me life a gracious life today.

Mar. 25th, 2010
Rom. 4:7-8 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

This whole chapter is a continuation of the discussion of Chapter 3; dealing with faith, the law, Abraham etc. In the middle we find this gem of a verse. Read it again. I have known that joy – and I’ve lost that joy. It seems every time I repeat a sin I’ve committed before, or invent some new one; my joy then becomes dependant on confessing my sin(s) again, and asking for forgiveness, again, and receiving that forgiveness over some period of time...again. Oh, I know it’s granted immediately, but it takes me some time to figure out, and remember, again, that I’ve been forgiven. I wish I could break this cycle.
Is this just my problem? Is this the never ending struggle of our humanity? Does this mean I’m not “perfect” or “sanctified”, or even saved? I wrestle with all those questions, along with the temptations and sins that so easily beset me. I fail more than I succeed, and yet, looking over the canvas of my life; I know I belong to God, I know I love Jesus, I treasure the opportunity to exercise my gifts in a calling that serves God and helps people. I know that the course of my life is God; but why does sin still dominate me so often?
Today, I pray for that joy, what ever I have to do to receive it...or do nothing at all. I need it!

Mar. 24th, 2010
Rom. 3:30-31 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Last weekend while attending a retreat of my men’s group I was introduced to a new book…and a new thought. The book is titled The Naked Gospel and is written by a Pastor/Professor from Texas named Andrew Farley. I can’t wait to get some of the other items off my plate so I can read the book. From our discussions the basis premise of the book is that when Jesus died and ascended to heaven he instituted the New Covenant, nullifying or better, fulfilling and completing the Old Covenant. According to our discussion, the OT Law no longer has any effect in the life of the modern day believer.
I’ve wrestled with this question for years, and had settled my “theology” of the law with this statement: “The OT law is still in effect and necessary for believers to follow EXCEPT where it has been superseded by the life, teaching and example of Jesus Christ”. I think I may have to revisit and possibly revise that statement pending the reading, digestion and further discussion of Farley’s book.
This verse seems to address the question at least on the surface, and I look forward to figuring out how to reconcile the verse with the premise of the book. It raises a larger question for me today however; how do we incorporate new truth into our lives? For many of us, we’ve come to believe what we believe, and we believe it strongly for the most part. When as part of our maturation process we become convinced that what we believed was wrong or false, do we dig in our heals and defend to the death what we thought we believed, or do we make room in our “box” for new truth – even new understandings of God?
I hope that today I’m able to always hold what I believe in faithful but skeptical suspicion. I know I’m not smart enough to know, understand or believe the whole council of God. Lord help me to make room in my belief box for any new truth (as long as it’s Your truth) that you might send my way today.

Mar. 23, 2010
Rom. 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
There is more meat to digest in chapter one, but I am tired of reading the same chapter. I know I should have broached the subject of homosexuality in verse 26-28 in chapter one, but I’m not sure this format easily lends itself to the depth that discussion would require, and I’m too tired of the arguments to enter them again in this space. So, on to chapter two.
Paul begins by reminding us that we dare not condemn anyone, because our sin is just as bad, and when we judge another, we judge ourselves. He speaks of God’s judgment, and punishment. And then ends this paragraph with the above verse: Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
I have loved this verse for a long time. In fact I memorized it years ago from the KJV where it says: The goodness of God leads men to repentance. That thought still inspires me. With all the judgment, punishment, intolerance, disapproval, abandonment, shame, deception, maliciousness, and gossip mentioned in chapters one and two…isn’t it interesting that its ultimately God’s goodness that will lead us to God?
I know in my early days I thought it my job to save the world, and the best means to do so was to convince ‘sinners’ (like they were something different than me) that hell was such a bad place they better turn to Jesus. I spent many guilt-filled hours ‘witnessing’ to the Good News by convincing people how ‘bad’ they were and that they should fear a god-less eternity. I even tried scaring people into heaven by describing the traumatic eternity of hell. I then came to this verse, and God began to change my ways.
I still think many Christians subscribe to this fear-motivation for winning souls, and we’d probably be more effective, be less guilty, be more biblically accurate; if we just described how good God is, how gracious God has been to us, how much God loves us. Yes, there are certain consequences for our wrong actions; but it’s not the fear of those consequences that compels us heavenward…it is the goodness of God that forgives those actions. I want to major on Gods goodness today.