The Everyday Prayer

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

Paul is quoting the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, in verse 15. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” It is a well-known missions verse…seen on many mission team T-shirts. It is a progression of questions, beginning with verse 14…drawing us to a logical conclusion. “How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” (v.14) It is a primary task of the church…to send missionaries into all the world to share the gospel. Sounds a lot like the Great Commission. If we cannot go ourselves, we help to send others. We are a part of the process, or at least, we should be. How are you involved in missions? Are you going? Are you sending? Are your feet beautiful?

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

“It is not as though God’s word had failed.” We think we know how events must happen if they’re going to happen; otherwise, they aren’t happening. We’ve thought that way for a long time: Moses striking the rock instead of speaking to it; Saul offering the sacrifice instead of Samuel; Nicodemus asking how these things can be. When the particular anticipated moment they had imagined never came, often the people became afraid that God had failed or bitter that he had failed to act. So when we feel the same way, we join a long line of small thinkers. God is much greater than we can imagine, though, Paul says elsewhere. What if God does something in a different way than you thought it needed to happen? Has God failed–or are you about to learn something?

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.

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

“It is not as though God’s word had failed.  For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.”–v 9:6.

It was a puzzle to Paul.  A disappointment from which he never fully recovered.  As a whole, the Jewish nation, called of God, prepared by the Scriptures, rejected Christ!

Disturbing but undeniable.  “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.”  Jewish leadership called for the crucifixion. Paul suffered continued persecution from the same group.  They resisted!

Had God’s promise failed?  Was His word to the Jewish nation made null and void by their unbelief?  As Paul struggled with an answer, He came to a new understanding.  True Israel was not, and never had been, based on physical heritage but on spiritual relationship. God’s family is by faith.

Did the Lord keep His promise to His people?  Yes. (To Gentiles as well)  In Christ, by grace, through faith, eternal life!

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

“The whole creation is groaning as in the pains of childbirth”–v 22.

I am thinking about suffering this morning.  Not trying to be morose.  Just honest.

Today is a day of prayer for the persecuted church around the world.  Sometimes these brothers and sisters slip from my consciousness.  Regular people, in every time zone, who declare faith in Christ and become targets of police action and public abuse.  I am thinking about them this morning.

But not only religious suffering.  I am thinking about children who are hungry and abused. About marriages torn apart.  About mental illness and physical illness.

Debbie Downer?  No.  Just trying to hear what the Bible says.  The whole creation groans. If you listen, you can hear it, too.

What outcome does God have in mind for the world?  What end will make this beautiful/cruel world worth it?

I am thinking about suffering this morning.  And also about glory.

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

Within Evangelical Christian Orthodoxy there are all kinds of faith statements and personal points of view. Yet, we leave room to disagree in some cases(opinion), less room for others to disagree with our stronger beliefs and interpretations (persuasion), and no room for disagreement or wavering on certain points (conviction).

Paul makes a “conviction” statement in verse 38. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In your own faith and doctrinal beliefs, which points and issues fall into these categories? Paul certainly had many beliefs that he was unwilling to bend. What are your convictions (non-negotiables)? What hope, strength, and comfort come from them?