This time of year we think of the privilege of living in these United States of America, as we celebrate our independence. What an awesome gift is freedom of religion! How great is the sacrifice so many have made for our nation to preserve this freedom!
Paul teaches us to respect those in authority. We may not always agree with our leaders in a democracy but we can always respect the position. In our politically charged climate, we can always pray for our leaders. This is part of God's design as well. Here is the way Paul states this respect for those in authority in chapter 13.
"Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day 305...(Hosea 11; Isaiah 66)..."Comfort"
Isaiah is one of the longest books in the Bible. The second longest in number of chapters. As we end the reading, I was struck by the word of comfort in chapter 66. Isaiah, the Book, for the most part speaks in a harsher tone with consequences of a people who have gone astray. Chapter 40 makes a turn for the exiled people with the words..."comfort, comfort my people."
As Isaiah ends an endearing image is used of God comforting as a mother with a child. What a great mental picture for a people in exile. One message from this placement of comfort at the end is hopeful for all who are struggling or in personal exile. God will comfort in the end.
"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
Amen!
As Isaiah ends an endearing image is used of God comforting as a mother with a child. What a great mental picture for a people in exile. One message from this placement of comfort at the end is hopeful for all who are struggling or in personal exile. God will comfort in the end.
"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
Amen!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 304...(Hosea 9,10; Isaiah 65; Romans 12)..."Two of My Favorite Chapters"
What a day to read through the Bible! Two of my favorite chapters in the same day. Isaiah speaks of a "new day" for Israel.
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth."
What powerful images of a new beginning. A vibrancy of building homes, babies not dying, ending suffering, enemies getting along...on Mt. Zion. (Mt. Zion is an image for the Kingdom of God)
Paul also says so much in Romans 12. This whole chapter sounds like a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. How often have I recalled these words of overcoming evil with good. Is this not the strongest position for the Christian to not be weary of treating others well? What a lofty thought to aspire! Here is the passage...
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth."
What powerful images of a new beginning. A vibrancy of building homes, babies not dying, ending suffering, enemies getting along...on Mt. Zion. (Mt. Zion is an image for the Kingdom of God)
Paul also says so much in Romans 12. This whole chapter sounds like a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. How often have I recalled these words of overcoming evil with good. Is this not the strongest position for the Christian to not be weary of treating others well? What a lofty thought to aspire! Here is the passage...
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Day 303...(Hosea 7,8; Isaiah 64; Romans 11)..."God's Gifts and Call are Irrevocable"
Paul connects Israel and the Gospel in Romans 11. What a fascinating bridge between the Old and New Testaments. He is emphatic that disobedience leads to God's mercy and all of Israel can be saved. The remnant can be saved...
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
In one of the strongest statements, Paul says God's gifts and call are irrevocable...or cannot be undone. What a fabulous passage to ponder in ministry. We cannot undo what God can do. God is faithful and merciful. Here is the passage...
"for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
In one of the strongest statements, Paul says God's gifts and call are irrevocable...or cannot be undone. What a fabulous passage to ponder in ministry. We cannot undo what God can do. God is faithful and merciful. Here is the passage...
"for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Day 302...(Hosea 5,6; Isaiah 63; Romans 10)..."Salvation"
Paul explains salvation in Romans 10. This chapter is a tremendous part of our salvific tradition. Christ makes it possible to be saved. Confession of Christ is central in salvation. Here is the teaching from Romans 10 from the Message...
"This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"
I love the NIV phrase on Romans 10:9. I have quoted this to those desiring to be a Christian or seeking assurance...
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
"This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"
I love the NIV phrase on Romans 10:9. I have quoted this to those desiring to be a Christian or seeking assurance...
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Day 301...(Hosea 1,2,3,4; Isaiah 62; Romans 9)..."Would You Name Your Child Nobody?"
(Reading schedule is altered slightly as Job 41,42 were missed but given yesterday to compensate for the error...today the reading will be the first 4 chapters of Hosea.)
Names are important in the Bible. We read of symbolism in most names. Hosea begins with names of insult for Israel's disobedience. Like "No-Mercy" and "Nobody"! How would you like those names? Who would call their child Nobody? There will be some hope in this harsh message. Interestingly, Romans 9 picks up on this part of Hosea as well. Here is the passage from the Message...
I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I'll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, "You're nobody!" they're calling you "God's living children."
Is this not the truth for all people? In God, we are all somebody!
Names are important in the Bible. We read of symbolism in most names. Hosea begins with names of insult for Israel's disobedience. Like "No-Mercy" and "Nobody"! How would you like those names? Who would call their child Nobody? There will be some hope in this harsh message. Interestingly, Romans 9 picks up on this part of Hosea as well. Here is the passage from the Message...
I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I'll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, "You're nobody!" they're calling you "God's living children."
Is this not the truth for all people? In God, we are all somebody!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Day 300...(Job 41,42; Isaiah 61; Romans 8)..."Peace with the Unanswered Questions of Job"
We leave Job not answering all the theological questions. How appropriate that we also read Romans 8 and give us some perspective of God's faithfulness through suffering. Job does end with a blessed life after enduring the miserable years. The questions are not answered of suffering but peace comes in knowing God is with us through what we do not understand. Here are two passages that help make some sense of Job from Romans.
"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."
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Amen!
"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."
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Amen!
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