Aaron Hufty – Page 51 – The Everyday Prayer

Associational Salvation

Re:Verse reading–Romans 9:1-8, Romans 10:1-21 (day two)

“That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” 9:8

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 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; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 10:11-13

Have you ever encountered someone who, when speaking of their faith, refer to what their grandmother believed? Some people speak with nostalgia about how often someone in their family went to church, and how fervently they believed. In some, that is the extent of their faith. They hope to somehow glom on to the righteousness by association.

Paul warns about this kind of thinking. Don’t assume that because you have been born into a righteous family that you will be saved. Salvation does not come by heritage, but by the confession of each and every one. This can be particularly sobering when we look at our families. Have that conversation. Ask those questions. Their souls are worth the investment.

P=J

Re:Verse reading–Romans 8:18-39 (day two)

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” vs. 18

I was a Cross Country runner in high school. I loved it, particularly in the Fall when the hills around my hometown were ablaze with color. When I ran I came up with a formula that kept me motivated. P=J (Pain=Jingle) I knew that if I pushed myself, if I trained well and listened to my coach’s instructions it was likely that I would medal in each race. That medal would be proudly displayed on my letter jacket and jingle among the other medals. Silly? Yes. Effective? Also, yes.

Even when I didn’t know what I needed to do to improve as a runner, I could trust my coach to challenge me in the areas that needed improvement. The Holy Spirit does the same thing. Consider verse 26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that our words cannot express.”

Whatever challenge or trial we are currently enduring, we can rest assured that the glory that is to come will be worth every sacrifice. His glory is bigger than any pain we might endure.

Bold I Approach

Re:Verse reading–Romans 8:1-17 (day two) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…vs. 1

When I was a high school choir director I taught hundreds of students. I was a teacher many of their lives that saw them every day from their first day on campus as a freshmen to their graduation. It was very rewarding. Watching these young people grow was often challenging and always awkward. Students would routinely come into my office with much fear and trembling. I would often make them leave and come back in with a renewed sense of purpose. If they were to talk to me, I expected eye contact, manners, and a sense of self-worth. That wasn’t always easy. We weren’t equals, but I also wanted them to understand how to appropriately communicate with an adult.

Our faith journey isn’t too dissimilar. When we come before the lord, we are no longer defeated, empty, and without hope. We are filled with the power of Jesus, and he has covered us with his blood. The fourth verse of the hymn And Can It Be expresses this hope beautifully.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, thro’ Christ my own. Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Boldly approach, have no fear. The Lord has paid our ransom.

NOTHING!

Re: Verse reading–Romans 6 (day two)

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? vs. 21

In the margin of my bible next to this underlined verse I have written one word…NOTHING!

That is the sum total of what I have gained from the things in my life that distract me from God’s grace. When I look back at those things which would continue to cloud my vision were it not for the Holy Spirit, I marvel at why or how I let it cloud my vision in the first place. Where do those things/choices lead. Paul answers that question in verse 23 pretty clearly…death. So why do we allow them to continue to wage a war against all that we know to be true. If they only promise death where is the value? Perhaps this is how we should treat any stray thought or temptation. Pray that God give you the wisdom to recognize those things for what they really are…NOTHING.

We’re Not Worthy

Re:Verse reading–Romans 5:1-11 (day two) …how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! vs. 10

We’re not worthy. Really bad movie quote from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but the sentiment is accurate. This is especially true when you consider the first part of that verse. “For if, when we were God’s ENEMIES, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son,”.

It is sobering to think that we will not be worthy of our own power, but it is also freeing. There is no class system in this kind of government. This kind of justice levels the playing field for everyone. The “earning” of salvation has already been taken care of by Christ on the cross. Our call is to live under that authority. Everything that follows is an opportunity to show how God continues to work through our unworthiness.

Are you trying to prove how good you are? What if you’re not, but God is? What if, rather, you openly and continually gave thanks to God for loving you in spite of your brokenness. He loved you first, might as well meet him on his terms.

Stories and Promises

Re:Verse reading–Romans 4:1-25 (day two) ..yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. vs. 20-21

Stories and an unbelievable promise. These are the things that Abraham had available to him. Stories that he had heard of creation, the corruption of men and the flood. Nothing written, no law, no system of religion, and now came this far-fetched promise that God would bless the offspring of a centenarian! What did in Abraham’s world gave him the courage to follow this absurd promise?

Faith.

Something in those stories he had heard as a child resonated in him when he was issued this promise. Something in the presentation of the messengers gave him a taste of the authority of God, but it was his faith that was credited to him as righteousness. We have so much more of a broad picture than Abraham could have ever imagined, but all that is truly necessary is trusting in the Almighty to deliver on his promise. Can we throw away all that would hinder us from seeing with Abraham’s eyes. Trust and believe.

Speed Limits

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day two)

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. vs. 21

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have know what sin was except through the law. Romans 7:7

70, 75, 80, 85 – don’t you just love Texas highways? Somebody seems to have figured out that if you have 800+ miles of interstate from East to West, you will be helped to get where you are going if you can get on down the road. For this, I am grateful. But why do those signs exist? Clearly they are they to remind, or sometimes simply inform you of how fast you are legally allowed to go as you travel. So, if you are at or below those speeds does that make you a good driver? No, it just means you obeyed that particular law. Good driving is about courtesy, defensive driving, awareness in addition to abiding by the rules of the road. The idea of abolishing those rules would be foolish.

The law continues to be our guide for moral behavior, but it is insufficient on its own to guarantee salvation. Keeping the law is an essential step in nourishing our faith. Together they build our story of being a good driver, or Christian.

Truth from the Start

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day two)

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them..14-15

Man is without excuse, this is an echo of what Paul said in the first chapter of Romans. Even those who did not grow up under the Law, or, in our case, in church will have to give an account. C.S. Lewis in his landmark Mere Christianity puts it like this: “If no set of moral ideas were truer or better than any other, there would be no sense in preferring civilized morality to savage morality, or Christian morality to Nazi morality. In fact, of course, we all do believe that some moralities are better than others.”

God has wired everyone with a basic set of right and wrong. The struggle with that difference and the questions that are generated from the conflict naturally lead to looking to where this morality came from. We are without excuse.

Without Excuse

Re:Verse reading–Romans 1:18-32 (day two)

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” vs. 20

One of the things I like about social media is the ability to share pictures. Pictures you have taken yourself, or ones you have found that capture your heart. A Texas sunset, mountains covered in snow, a colorful bird, and the babies-so many babies. Often the individual that posted the pictures will marvel at the beauty of creation. Design, form, structure, and artistry are all a part of this miracle we share.

This is why the architects of the great cathedrals would create such vast and grand structures to worship the Lord. They were designed to take your breath away and make you think how great our God truly is.

Man is without excuse. We need only step outside and look around to see evidence of the Lord. We can try to justify our desires and our actions, but the truth of creation will ultimately demand that we reconcile his plan against our own. Whatever it is, how could it measure up to God’s perfection? Let it go.

Grateful for Y’all

Re: Verse reading–Romans 1:1–17 (day two)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. vs. 8

This is the NASB translation, but may provide some evidence that Paul was also writing to the church in Texas. This is as close to y’all as we will see in scripture.

The write of Hebrews says this: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (10:24). If we are in the business of helping, serving, and loving others then it stands to reason that we ought to let others know when we see them serving well. In the midst of a society that was intolerant toward the gospel, Paul went out of his way to give thanks to those in the field who were serving well. He acknowledged their struggle and declared that he was “not ashamed” of the good news that he and they were declaring. I can imagine what a boon to the Roman believer’s spirits to read these words from Paul. May they encourage you also as you serve a world that is increasingly intolerant of God’s love. Serve well.