The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for making Your existence so abundantly clear to us! Thank You for creating such and amazing universe, and for creating us as the “pinnacle” of Your creative work. I praise You for being the one , true and living God, and for including us in Your great plan of creation, redemption and salvation. As I study Your word today, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit that I may both understand and live it in my life. Use me to draw others to Yourself. Show me how to form my thoughts, words and actions in such a way that they will draw attention away from me and to You. Give me a boldness that can only come from Your Spirit to stand up for You in every situation. I give myself and this day to You and pray that You will multiply the impact and influence I have in building Your coming Kingdom. This I pray in the strong name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:18-20
Romans 1:18-20 NLT
18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. 19For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
Romans 1:18-20 NIV*
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Reflecting on God’s Word
Look at Romans 1:20 in both the New Living Translation and the New International Version. As you read the Scripture what is the major truth that “jumps” out at you? Reflect on that truth for a while, and consider why Paul made that one of the focus points as he wrote to a group of Christians he had never met.
Which of God’s personal traits, such as His eternal power and divine nature are the most important to you? Why?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Look at Romans 1:20 in both the NLT and the NIV. What are the similarities and differences in the two translations?
What does Paul mean when he says that we are without excuse since we have “clearly seen” God eternal power and divine nature in what God has made?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
What does Romans 1:20 tell us about God’s purpose for our lives?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Take a few minutes and consider what is the most “impressive” aspect of God’s creation that you have seen personally (Perhaps the Grand Canyon, or an ocean, or whatever it is that is most impressive about God’s creation.) How can reflecting on this aspect of God’s creation help to deepen your faith?
What would you say is the most important application of Romans 1:20 in your life right now? What are you going to do about it?
Thoughts - Without Excuse!
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that while we may not know everything there is to know about God, God has definitely given us enough information about Himself to leave us without excuse when it comes to believing in Him. We live in age of “reason” and “skepticism. People think that seeing is believing, and that unless there is a reasonable argument based on “facts” regarding a matter that it is either a myth or a lie. The reality is that God doesn’t fit the generally accepted pattern for existence based on the ability to touch or feel Him or to sense His presence through any scientifically accepted recording equipment. Even so, Paul tells us that we are without excuse when it comes to believing in God or not. Why? Because all we really have to do is look around and we can see God’s creation. Paul subscribed to the reasonable belief that when we see a “creation” there must have been a “creator.” No one drives past a beautiful home and says, “I wonder how that got here? It must have simply appeared out of nothing. It’s amazing how simple the evidence for a Creator really is when you stop to think about! While scientific theories abound that describe how the universe came into existence—all of which up until recently avoided discussion of God, are based on the assumption that you can take nothing+nothing add random chance and Valhalla! You get a universe and all it contains. Easier by far to read Paul’s words and nod our heads in affirmation—Yes, God created all this for blessing, and so that He could share His love with us.
While all kinds of excuses are made by folks about why they don’t accept or believe in God, Paul’s words are still true: we are without excuse!!!
This Week’s Memory Verse:
They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. Romans 1:19