The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Monday, January 10, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for the Good News of Jesus! Thank You for sharing it among the prophets of old, so that the people of Israel would know that you would never ultimately abandon them. Thank You for sending Jesus, as a descendant of David, according to Your prophecies, but also as a descendant of YOU-through the Holy Spirit. I will never fully understand HOW you are one God in three persons, but I praise You that You are! I pray that You will live in me fully today, that Your Holy Spirit will empower me to know Your truth and to live it, that Jesus, the Son, will pour His grace upon me that my faith may grow and I may have the boldness to share the Good News with friends, family and even strangers. I pray, O God, my Heavenly Father, that I will always know the joy of Your mercy, which is poured upon me anew each day. Glorify Yourself in my life today that everything I think, say and do, will bring You joy. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:1-7
1This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. 4And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. 5Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
6You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on God’s Word
Since the Romans were largely Gentiles, it may not have mattered a great deal to them that Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection were predicted in the Jewish Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, so why do you think at the very outset of the letter Paul takes the time and energy to rehearse this synopsis of the “Good News,” and anchors it in Israel’s Scriptures?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What does today’s Scripture teach us about the Scriptures themselves?
What does today’s Scripture teach us about Jesus?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
What does today’s Scripture tell us about God’s purpose for us? (Again, be as specific as you can!)
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
What does today’s Scripture teach us about the necessity of learning Scripture? What are you going to do TODAY to learn a specific verse or verses of Scripture?
What role does Jesus play in your day-to-day life according to today’s reading? How are you going to “stay close” to Jesus today?
Take a moment right now and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and to live in you today…
Thoughts - Slave and Apostle!
When we think of “good news” many things may pop into our minds, but when it comes to Jesus Christ the phrase “Good News” means something quite specific. As I always say there is no “Good News” unless we know the BAD news. The bad news is that even though we were created in the image of God, we turned away from God. It started with Adam and Eve, and because of their rebellious spirit, all human beings start live in a position of being “dead” in sin. That’s the bad news. While babies seem cute and innocent, the reality is that each one will grow into a willful sinner. If that was the end of it then life itself would be bad news. But God was unwilling for His most precious creation to remain in a state of perpetual sin. First, He instituted the Mosaic Law and system of animal sacrifices, so that sin could be atoned—that is made right. Still humans rebelled. Finally, God sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to make things right. Jesus lived a perfect life, and then did the unimaginable—He sacrificed His perfect life on the cross in our place. His sinless sacrifice opened the door to heaven for us all. In fact, anyone who will receive the salvation Jesus offers is forgiven and the death penalty is commuted! That’s the Good News. That’s actually the BEST news ever heard by the human ear. God became a man, so that we could become one with God! May we take advantage of that reality today and always, that new life may be ours NOW and FOREVER!!!
This Week’s Memory Verse:
They will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name. Romans 1:5b