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Category Archives: Romans

Romans 12:9-21

28 May

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[e] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[f] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”[g]
    says the Lord.

20 Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”[h]

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Dear God, I just wanted to stop before I get this day going and tell you that I need you. I thank you. I thank you for, well, everything. You are a good God. Oh so good. And I’m reminded of this through this passage. What a weird perspective of life Jesus authored for us as Christians. Everything here turns the world on its head. What would it look like if we really did this?

Father, help me to do this today. Maybe I should read this every day. If my enemies are hunger feed them? Okay. Wait for you to avenge me if there is something to avenge? Okay. Pray that you will bless those who persecute me? Okay. I will.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 28, 2024 in Romans

 

Romans 12:6-9

24 May

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans 12:6-9

Dear God, it was the “do it gladly” at the end of verse 9 that caught my eye this morning. Do it gladly. How many of us (and this definitely includes me) don’t do what we are called to do gladly? How many of us don’t live into our gifting gladly?

Leadership is one that kind of floats to the top here for me. First, I confess that I am one of those people who seems to fill the void if there is ever a leadership vacuum. For example, when I was only 27 I served on a jury and, even though I was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, person in the room, I ended up being a presiding juror (the word they used for foreman). It just kind of happens to me. And there are a lot of times when I find myself in a situation that needs leadership–that could use my leadership–but I am reluctant to do it because of the commitment. Will it require too much of me? Too much of my time? Like I don’t have mountains of time I waste every day. I’m not maxed out. I could give a little more. But when I am asked to do it, too many times I don’t do it gladly.

One of the things I really don’t do gladly that you call me to do is pray more–especially for others. I have a friend right now whose home and city were hit by a big storm. He has a lot of damage and no electricity. We texted about it, but it didn’t occur to me to pray for him about it until he said, pray for electricity to be restored. I thought, Oh, yeah. I should pray about that. There is a family in our town who tragically lost a child in an accident last Sunday. I’ve prayed for them a little, but I haven’t really, in a focused way. asked for you to just cover them in your Holy Spirit. To minister to them through your angels in the spiritual realm and your church and their friends in the physical realm. No, I don’t pray gladly.

Father, help me to embrace the gifts you’ve given me. I like to give. Help me to give gladly. I live to serve others. Help me to serve gladly. I have leadership gifts. Help me to lead, when appropriate, gladly. Help me to love my wife and family gladly. Help me to pray for all of them, my friends, my community, and my world gladly. Help me to carry your joy in my heart. Help me to do it all gladly so that I might experience the fruits of the Spirit you have for me, and I might take you to a world that is looking for you.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 24, 2024 in Romans

 

Romans 11:13-25

17 May

13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

Dear God, the first passage I noticed this morning was the first sentence in verse 25: “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves.” Then I started backing up to see what mystery Paul was referring to. Of course, it was about Gentiles feeling entitled and proud of themselves because they (we) are grafted in to your vine like the Jewish people are.

Pride in ourselves in an interesting thing. I certainly get it. I will pray to you. Ask you for things. Ask you to provide. Ask you to be with me when I speak. And then when it goes well, I am so ready to bask in the glory of it. Why is that? Why do I want or need this kind of praise–even if it’s only in my own eyes?

I’ve been sick the last 36 hours and it hasn’t been fun at all. And I have a lot to do. I also have a couple of challenging things to deal with and accomplish. I need your help to address them. Honestly, until I sat down and started praying like this right now, I hadn’t thought to really pray to you about it. But I really do need you. I need your guidance. I need your wisdom. I need to you prepare hearts to discuss what we are going to be discussing, including my heart. I need for you to use these struggles to make us better than we otherwise would be. I need you to forgive me for my selfishness. I’m so sorry.

Father, be with me today. Guide me. Strengthen me. Help me. And please be with my wife today and her health. She isn’t feeling great either. Oh, Lord, please wrap her body up and love her. Restore her to complete health. And thank you for all that you are doing in our lives that is good. While the hard things are difficult, the good is very good and I am so grateful to have it.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2024 in Romans

 

Romans 1:18-23

22 Apr

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:18-23

Dear God, when I first read the Bible Gateway verse of the day today (Romans 1:20), I started singing “How Great Thou Art” in my head. “Oh, Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars. I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my savior, God, to thee, ‘How great thou art. How great thou art.'”

Here’s what scares me to death: verse 21. “And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” Yeah, that terrifies me. Do I do that? Do I remake you in my own image? Do I justify my own actions or the actions of others to fit my own desires or sense of justice, and denigrate how you see everything? To I claim to be wise and yet allow myself to evolve into a fool?

I talked with a man a couple of nights ago at a party about the idols we all set up to put our certainty in besides you. I do it too. My bank account. My marriage. My children. My job. The government. The economy. The church. Whatever it might be, it can be easy to let any one of those things slowly take over my heart and attention. I am sorry for that.

Father, I am here this morning to do my best to worship you and you alone. To strive for the purity you have for me that you know is best for me. To repent for the things I do that fail you and myself (and others). Oh, Father, forgive me. Forgive me for any part of me that tries to fit you into the box that is most comfortable for me. I am your servant. Guide me today.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 22, 2024 in Romans

 

Romans 13:1-7

16 Apr

13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Romans 13:1-7

Dear God, I wonder why Paul threw this part into his letter to the Romans. In context with the end of chapter 12, this is part of a section where Paul is talking about loving your enemies and those who persecute you.

Yesterday was April 15, the deadline for making sure our federal taxes for the previous year are paid. I was at a Rotary meeting and people were complaining about paying taxes. I didn’t say anything, but I was wondering where their patriotism was. If they love their country like they say they do, why would they resent the idea that we have to pay something to live here? I see verse 6, and it makes me think of that.

But going back to the part about submitting to authorities, it is ironic that Paul was eventually killed by the authorities, as were all of the apostles besides John. Even Jesus. But Jesus agreed with Paul when he told Pilate that he wouldn’t have any authority over himself except what was given to him by you.

I was listening to a man talk yesterday about the New Testament and politics on the Voxology Podcast. How would Paul have had us act through his epistles. He said a lot that I liked, but one thing I will carry with me a long time is that he doesn’t understand how a Christian can identify as a Democrat or a Republican. Either label carries with it some things that are antithetical to you. We are Christians first. Then with each election we have a choice to make, but for me to pre-label myself as a Republican or a Democrat is in appropriate. I like that.

Father, at this point in my life, I am in a position where I don’t find myself having to stand up to any governmental authorities, but I do have authorities over me. At work, I have 14 board members. I have a wife to whom I am accountable. I have friends who hold me accountable. And I have people watching me all day every day who are looking to me to be an example of what it means to live a life submitted to you. So please help me to do that well. Help me to love you well. Help me to worship you and you only, serve others, and rest in your Holy Spirit. Oh, Holy Spirit, inspire me, comfort me, teach me, and love through me.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with that same Holy Spirit, my Paraclete,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 16, 2024 in Romans

 

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Romans 10:5-13

15 Apr

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is [b]based on law shall live [c]by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness [d]based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [e]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [g]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [h]disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:5-13

Dear God, I probably shouldn’t be talking about this yet because I just started it, but I began reading a book yesterday by Skye Jethani called What if Jesus was Serious about Heaven? It talks about some of our bad modern theology about heaven and how we might see the realm where you reside and where we go after death a little differently. Of course, I have my own thoughts as well–none of which I am confident enough to try to teach to anyone as truth.

But this is today’s passage from Bible Gateway (actually, it’s just verses 9 and 10, but I wanted to go ahead and put them in a little more context) so I will just sit with this and you for a bit.

When I was a senior in high school we got a new youth minister in our church and he made us memorize three passages: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:9-10. So whenever I see this passage it always makes me think of him and my senior year. That seems like so long ago now. I guess it will be 37 years ago this summer. They were important for us to be able to share our faith and help people understand that we were all sinners, the result of sin is death, but there is hope in eternal life with you through believing in Jesus.

Father, for a lot of my life, people were scaring me into faith with the threat of hell. That’s like a parent coercing love out of a child through threats of being cut off or something. I don’t think that’s what you want from us when it comes to our love for you. You don’t want me to be here because I’m afraid to not be here. You want me here because I long for you. I need you. I love you. Well, I can honestly tell you that that is why I am here this morning. You are the one essential in my life. You are the only thing that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are my only certainty. You are my God.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2024 in Romans

 

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Romans 3:19-26

13 Apr

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Romans 3:19-26

Dear God, there are a lot of great things about putting chapters, verses, and section headings in our modern Bibles, but there is one glaring weakness: context. Today’s verses for Bible Gateway were Romans 3:23-24, but I think verses 19-26 are important to capture the entire thought Paul was communicating.

I was watching an old sitcom last night from the 90s that my wife and I used to watch as newlyweds. It’s called Mad About You. It too was about newlyweds so it was really fun for us to relate to at the time. The episode I watched contained a line we both remember originally seeing and have used in the years since. In the scene, the husband and wife are arguing over something that he did that was clearly wrong, but she cannot get him to admit he was wrong. The closest he gets is saying, “This is not the most right I have ever been.” That’s the line we have used over the years. But in the end, he was just wrong.

We all are sometimes. Sometimes, we are all just wrong. Sometimes I am sinful. Sometimes I am selfish. Sometimes I will take advantage of someone else to benefit myself. I’m not going to get into the theology of this verse as it applies to other people, who is “saved” and who isn’t, etc. I’m just going to say this morning, for me, I need you. I need Jesus’s blood to cover me so that you won’t be able to see my sin. I need Jesus’s blood to cover me so I too can be free from my sin and move on. I need Jesus’s example so I can pursue a life of meaning that is based on the peace of knowing just how small I am and just how big you are. I need Jesus’s resurrection to give me the power to let go of my own agenda and embrace a life of loving you and serving others.

Father, first, I want to thank you for a good day yesterday. I felt very loved on a day when sometimes I feel a lot of self-pity. Thank you. Thank you for the people you’ve put around me. Thank you for your grace. Thank you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 13, 2024 in Romans

 

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Romans 5:6-11

08 Apr

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Romans 5:6-11

Dear God, am I really a friend of yours? That’s an incredible thought. But let me start back at the beginning.

I wonder how much of the timing of Jesus being born when he was was because of who was alive at the time. From Mary and Joseph to Peter, John, and Paul. These were all unique people who did remarkable things. When Paul says, “…just the right time…” I can’t help but wonder also about the other players in the story and how unique they were too. Even the bad actors such as Herod and Pilate.

Then there is the idea that you chose to wound a part of yourself, permanently scarred, for my reconciliation with you. Frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever fully grasp it or appreciate it. How could I? You’re so unfathomable. How could I ever really understand what it cost you, and then appreciate it adequately.

Finally, a friend of yours. You are my friend. I mean, it’s an unequal friendship to be sure. You are my God. I worship you. But I don’t worship you out of fear. I worship you out of love. I worship you out of gratitude. You’ve done so much to make it possible for me to be here praying to you. How could I not offer you my adoration?

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I worship you as my complete, Triune God. Thank you for what you have done for me and what you continue to do. You are my God. I am your servant. But I am also your friend. That is something that I can’t think of any other religion in the world can really claim. I’m probably wrong there, but the concept of you wounding and sacrificing a piece of yourself for us is certainly unique. Help me to live into that gift.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 8, 2024 in Romans

 

Lent Day 46

30 Mar

Dear God, before I get into today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer, I want to look at something the priest read yesterday when I attended a “Stations of the Cross” service at our local Catholic church. This is an excerpt from the 12th Station: 

My people, what have I done to you? 
Or in what have I offended you? 
Answer me. 
What more should I have done and did not do? 
I led you out of the land of Egypt, and you prepared a cross for me.
I opened the Red Sea before you, and you opened my side with a lance.
I gave you a royal scepter, and you give given me a crown of thorns.
With great power I lifted you up, and you have hung me upon a cross.
My people, what have I done to you, or in what have I offended you? 
Answer me.
(from the Reproaches of Good Friday)

There are shades of your speech to Job in this, but it’s very convicting for me because I know that if your time on earth had come now and not 2,000 years ago, I would be as guilty as any. I wouldn’t have gone to see you, so my attitude would have been more apathy that hatred, but I certainly would not have worshipped you or even defended you.

But there is a question that is asked here that people today could stand to answer: “What more should I have done and did not do? There are some example of human suffering I hate such as sex trafficking and war, but even those are manmade. What do I expect you to do to stop them? How do I expect you to intervene in our lives to smite the bad people and build up the good? Who is to say which side of the cutline from good and bad I would be on? You, of course. But my point is whenever I have stopped to think about how things should be different–how the Bible could be better or more clear and concise, how you should approach evil in the world, etc.–I have no idea. We are who we are as humans. Maybe I could take issue with how you created us in the first place, free will and all, but I cannot take issue with who you are and how you love us. What more should you do that you have not done?

Here are today’s passages. It’s interesting that there is no Gospel reading. Jesus is apart from us for the time being. Part of our God has died, sacrificed for me. Amazing

  • AM Psalms: 88, 95
  • PM Psalm: 27
  • Job 19:21-27a
  • Romans 8:1-11
  • Hebrews 4:1-16

Psalms 88, 95 – Once again, they are pairing the worship of Psalm 95 with a lament psalm. In this case, it is Psalm 88. My wife mentioned yesterday a sermon she heard saying that Jesus might have had Psalm 88 in mind as he walked his path yesterday. I would love to be able to see into Jesus’s mind that morning as he walked a brutal and terrible road.

Psalm 27 – “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” That’s what we are doing now as we wait for Jesus’s resurrection. It’s also kind of the word I was getting from you way back at the beginning of Lent: Patience. Wait. I will wait patiently, Father. I will not force my own timing or agenda. I will wait.

Job 19:21-27a – I almost wish they had left our verses 21-24 because those are words of Job I think you would take issue with. But the faith beyond his ignorance in verses 25-27 is beautiful: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Yes! Yes!

Romans 8:1-11 – “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Sprit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Oh, Father, bring my spirit your life through your Spirit. Live in me! Forgive me of my sin. Forgive the mess of my bodily temple. Thank you, Jesus, for making it possible for me to have the Holy Spirit in me.

Hebrews 4:1-16 – Lord, teach me what I am supposed to carry with me past this Lenten season. What should my time in scripture look like? Prayer? Service? Loving my family? Impact on my sphere of influence? In the case of this passage, Sabbath? Show me what to do. Reveal your truth to me.

Oh, Father, I offer this prayer to you in the name of Jesus, your son, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 30, 2024 in Hebrews, Job, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 39

23 Mar

Dear God, I heard some news this morning that distressed me. Are you calling me to some sort of action? Have you put me in a unique position to act? Oh, please guide me.

And I had an odd interaction yesterday that almost felt demonic. It left me frazzled, anxious, and frantic. Maybe it was your Holy Spirit whispering to me to reveal it to me, but I finally wondered if it wasn’t a demonic spirit who was messing with me after the person and I parted ways. Oh, Father, protect me from the powers and principalities of the enemy–Satan. Please protect me. Holy Spirit, flow through me. Please, Jesus, bring me your healing.

Here are todays passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 137, 144
  • PM Psalms: 42, 43
  • Jeremiah 31:27-37
  • John 11:28-44
  • Romans 11:25-36

Psalms 137, 144 – I almost want to stop here and spend all of my time in Psalm 137. It is so powerful. I’m going to assume this was written during the exile prophesied in Jeremiah. And I don’t know how trained the psalmist is in the prophesies of Jeremiah. I don’t know if he is specifically familiar with the instructions of yesterday’s passage from Jeremiah 29 (the one we take out of context and foolishly proclaim over our lives) about you knowing the plans you have for the Israelites during and after their exile/captivity. Did he know of the instructions to building houses and have children? There is so much lament here. And it’s deep. And it’s appropriate. I get it. I’m not saying that every one of them shouldn’t feel lament. Perhaps this was written after he had seen Jewish children dashed against the rocks. But there is also living to do. You are to be worshipped by your creation. Generations are to be continued. Life is to be lived regardless of the awful circumstances. I’ve never thought about combining this psalm with Jeremiah 29 before, but it’s actually quite beautiful to think about. And then we go to Psalm 144, which David wrote. praising you and submitting himself to a life lived for you. Beautiful.

Psalms 42, 43 – I like how these two psalms are both worshipful and despondent at the same time. I like the question, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” that is within each one. I feel that sometimes. I am with you. I am worshipping you. I love you. Why is my soul sometimes downcast. Then I remember my sorrows and I remember that it is okay to mourn. I would be a heartless beast to not mourn over some of the circumstances in my life. And I bring that mourning to you and you comfort me. And I live a pretty joyful life in the midst of it. But I confess there is always a constant sorrow. But that sorrow keeps me strongly tethered to you. If for no other reason, I am grateful for that. I am grateful to be humbled before others because of this sorrow. I am grateful that I can be a source of comfort to others because of my sorrow. And I am grateful for all of the joy in my life in the midst of my sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:27-37 – This is a great set up for the new covenant. It literally says in verse 31, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Thank you, Jesus! Oh, thank you!

John 11:28-44 – “Jesus wept.” Why did he weep? I don’t think it was over Lazarus (personal opinion). I think it was over the pain he saw everyone in. About 10 days ago, I was in a hospital room with a family shortly after they wife/mother had passed. While I knew the woman and was sad at her loss, my tears were fueled by the pain of her family and compassion for them. It’s amazing to think, God, that you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit truly love us as much as you do. Amazing.

Romans 11:25-36 – I just feel compelled to retype Paul’s doxology from verses 33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has know the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who as ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him area ll things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Paul referencing Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11).

Father, I offer all of my heart to you this morning. My prayers. For my wife. For my children. For my community. For my friends. For my extended family. For my country and for the world. Oh, Lord, God Almighty!

I pray all of this in Jesus, your son, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 23, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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