T(s)DD: Stubborn Weaklings

Romans 5:6-8 NIV

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Verclempt:  Yiddish for choked with emotion. Derives from German. Pop culture reference via Saturday Night Live (SNL) as in...

"I'm verclempt. Talk amongst yourselves. Here. I'll give you a topic:  'Very strong' is neither 'very' nor 'strong.' Discuss."

We are weak; dependent. Weightlifter and weakling alike, go without sustenance and sleep for but 24 hours, same sluggish result.  Even those who abide by a moral code fall short.  Ultimately, eventually, we are, all alike: Weak.  Powerless.

In our weakness, our powerlessness, we call out to you, oh Lord. Thank you for dying for us, becoming weakness for us, saving us. For those who think themselves strong, Lord, may they come to grips with, and confess their vulnerability and need before they are beyond crying out to the Son Who Saves. Amen.

The (s) DD: Mental Exercise

Too cold for our morning jog (and there's an "air stagnation warning" in effect anyway) so I  went "running" with Dallas Willard this morning. But not without stretching extensively by reading Romans 5 over and over again in several versions.

He started out at a good trot, but I was with him. At first. By the third paragraph I was already mentally winded but determined. My gray matter needed the workout.

Amazingly, I actually kept pace with him through the Wesley quote (about half way) before I finally had to stop, doubled over; out of breath. 

But the insight I gained into Romans 5, and the real-world implications of having His Righteousness in us, was worth the strain and really got my blood flowing.

Romans 5:5 NIV

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

If you are up for a workout, do keep going until you see the bold, italicized phrase, "[life is] self-initiating, self-directing, self-sustaining activity," followed by conversation about "environment," and how spiritual formation is a matter of giving up our interaction with our "reverse trinitarian" environment of the world, the flesh and the devil. (Eph. 2:2-3) for interactions in and with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as our life-initiating, life-directing, life-sustaining environment.

If you are anything like me, this will be enough of a workout for at least one day!

Father, pour your love--your Righteous Life into us. May our life-initiating, life-directing, life-sustaining environment be you and you alone, oh Father and Son and Spirit. Amen.

http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=135

T(s)DD: Pacem

Romans 5:1-2 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Those of us who didn't grow up circa AD 90 somewhere within the sprawling borders of the Greco-Roman Empire owe a lot to Bible translators. All the same, I often wonder why New Testament translators, upon encountering a word more than once, render it differently.

I'm genuinely certain they know what they're doing.

All the same, I think it is helpful to know that "righteousness" and "justification" are pretty much the same word. God's righteousness... making us righteous by faith...peace with God. Has a certain symmetry.

Father, as I sit aside my Christmas tree, the word peace in these verses takes on the special meaning due it, owing to the season. Thank you that in the coming of your Son our "justification"--our "being made righteous" is set in motion, giving way to peace between you and I--you and us--through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: Timing

Ever do those “Reading Plans” set up in your favorite Bible app?  I’m generally not a big fan but have been energized by one of late centered around Christmas and Advent.  The Scripture today…

When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.

When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.  But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”

“What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.”  So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.  He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.  Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

Luke 1:57-66

Here’s the part of the comment (that encouraged this church planter’s heart this morning) written and provided by Carol McLeod of Just Joy Ministries: 

“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth ...” Certainly this “time” was not Elizabeth’s chosen time. God has a chosen time for prayers to be answered, for His mission to be accomplished and for miracles to take place. Do not for one second believe that God has forgotten you or that He has not heard your prayers. When God’s appointed time comes in its fullness, you will give birth to all that God has planned for you.

As a church we are praying of late that our time of fruitfulness is at last upon us.  (smile)

All in your Good Time, Lord.  May we pray with confidence that you hear, and that the question is not whether our prayer was answered, but whether in relying on you in prayer we grew closer to you and grew up into the person you would make of us in your Good Time.  

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: The Genuine Article

(Good thing I name this the "somewhat" Daily! My routine done got blowed up. Hopefully I'm back in the saddle.)

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Help me out here: How can Romans 4 possibly have the impact it is meant have in a culture where we are told on a daily basis that we are "eligible for an upgrade," are going to receive some purportedly priceless thing "absolutely free!", and have "WON! (Click Here)"? It's all a lie, of course, which by sheer volume dulls our senses to the truth.

So please pretend you haven't been duped and made a fool of by our over-marketed culture a thousand times just yesterday and try and read the following verses with a child-like trust:

Romans 4:4-5 NIV Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

This righteousness of God you need so desperately? It ain't a paycheck. You can't work hard enough to earn it. It isn't strictly free either. It's a matter of trust.

The marketing world has conditioned you; the game is always afoot. You know they only want you to believe it's really a win for you. "Save 5% by applying for a credit card (hopefully you'll forget to pay and we'll slap on a hefty late fee)."

So listen very carefully--ever-so-trustingly: You've got nothing this Righteous God needs. Your money's no good here. And this gift...is for real.

The (return of) Daily Devo: Step Away from the Whip!

We learned in Romans 1:16-17 that the Gospel of Christ is not something to be embarrassed about, that "the righteousness of God" is key, and that "the righteous will live by faith." But I didn't say enough about that last part to suit me. After all, a few hundred years ago the whole Reformation got started because of that last phrase.

When Martin Luther's understanding of God and humanity was such that he literally flogged himself-true story-on a regular basis to pay for his sinfulness, he entered into a detailed study of Romans preparing himself to teach it. Upon reading the more literal translation of this last phrase his life was changed forever. No longer would he do penance for sin to try and make himself righteous. The faith of Christ, he realized, is sufficient. "The one who by faith is righteous will live."

Once again--and likely not for the last time-we throw our sinful selves on your mercy, Righteous Father, and thank you that we live--forever--not on our own merits but by the sheer force and power of your righteousness. Your goodness declares us good when we surrender ourselves to Christ faithfully. Amen!