The Re-find project. Finding Truth by studying the source. So it would make sense that I start with Genesis (you know, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."). While that is Truth and it would be a good place to start. I wanted to start from a different book. One that I always found hard to swallow. I like to refer to Romans as the "suck book" because it isn't fun to go through it. It gets at all the things I don't want to. So why put it off and just start here. (Thinking: I can't wimp out on Day 1 otherwise I'll never get to Day 2)
So here we go. My reflections on Romans 1. ( I would love to know your thoughts too so please leave comments)
I remember why I refer to Romans as the "suck book". This passage was NOT pretty! Am I right? I like to think of Romans as a mix of wrath and mercy. However, to grow we have to endure growing pains. If there were a ever a book for it Romans would be it's name. It stings enough so that you are moved by Truth but later we will see it provides enough grace to ensure growth over time.
Paul, the one writing, talks of two things, those who live by faith and those who live by flesh. Yes, it's the faith vs. flesh debate but I promise that there are good things in store here. This passage hits hard but it is in no way to sound condemning. (If you feel like it's talking about you than that's a good thing! Keep reading on in Romans, it'll get better). However, God is very clear about following Him. He does want all or nothing. That is definitely reflected in this book.
Verses 18-32:
This is where the not so fun part begins. So lets start there and work our way backwards. Paul talks of God's wrath. This may sound a bit "King James loving, fire and brim stone" so let me explain. God's wrath is expressed for good reason since his power and divine nature are clearly revealed through the world he has made and yet He is rejected by all people. The world, and people in it, that He loves was in a sense being destroyed. Now imagine, or maybe you already have, that you had to watch someone you loved slowly slip away from you or continually hit you over and over again and shout "I don't care". Does that hurt?
They ignored God (v.21). They exchanged truth of God for a lie. They worshiped a creature rather than the Creator. Now I want you to change the "they" to "I". It's hard and trust me I didn't like to say it either. But I have. I have ignored God (and still do sometimes due to my own stubbornness). I have exchanged the truth for many lies. "If I just lose a this much I'll be happy", "If I can get that guy I'll know I'm beautiful", "If I could just get that internship or that job, I will know I've made it" or my personal everyday favorite; looking through Facebook and saying " I have x and y over that person". I would rather worship myself over the one who made me. (I may not have wanted to admit that but it's true because I am a sinful rotten person).
This is what made this passage so hard for me. Facing my reality without the idea of grace. Where's the "happily ever after"? I told you in the beginning that Romans was a book of wrath and mercy. Here is the wrath so where is the mercy? We'll get there.
In 18-on seems like it's condemning those who aren't followers of Christ but it's not. We were all once like this. Whether we have found faith or not we were all at one point like this. And for me, I'm still like this today! Find truth is a process, not a Step 1,2,3 program. The good part is that we don't have to do it alone. I'm glad you all are here along with me.
Today I am asking God to help me see my own broken image reflected in the pages of these passages so that I may re-find the Truth in Life.
These are just some of my reflections I could have gone on for hours more but I'd rather hear from you! What do you think?
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