Romans 8:35-39
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
4/7/11 - What Will Separate Us From The Love of Christ?
Friday, August 27, 2010
Daily - 8/27/10
Last night I went to adoration at my new church in town. The adoration chapel is simple and striking - a tabernacle adorned with gold, and surrounded by flickering candles. I really felt the presence of Christ.
During adoration, I began to think that if Christ is inside of me ... I am a tabernacle. Which made me think about how good of a job I do as a vessel for Christ. Am I a suitable dwelling place for Him? Do I radiate God's presence? Do I surround myself with light? Am I aware of God's presence within? Do I truly understand that God is living inside me?
Fast forward to this morning. I'm at a men's bible study, and we are discussing Romans 12. Here are the first two verses.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
The passage goes on to give specific "do's and don'ts" of Christian living. In fact, the catechism calls out Romans 12-15 as the moral teaching of the church:
1971 To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans 12-15, 1 Corinthians 12-13, Colossians 3-4, Ephesians 4-5, etc. This doctrine hands on the Lord's teaching with the authority of the apostles, particularly in the presentation of the virtues that flow from faith in Christ and are animated by charity, the principal gift of the Holy Spirit.
I had to chuckle at it all. Last night, I'm meditating on the image of a tabernacle. Twelve hours later, I'm presented with exactly how a tabernacle should behave, per the Magesterium of the Catholic Church.
Amazing coincidence, don't you think?
During adoration, I began to think that if Christ is inside of me ... I am a tabernacle. Which made me think about how good of a job I do as a vessel for Christ. Am I a suitable dwelling place for Him? Do I radiate God's presence? Do I surround myself with light? Am I aware of God's presence within? Do I truly understand that God is living inside me?
Fast forward to this morning. I'm at a men's bible study, and we are discussing Romans 12. Here are the first two verses.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
The passage goes on to give specific "do's and don'ts" of Christian living. In fact, the catechism calls out Romans 12-15 as the moral teaching of the church:
1971 To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans 12-15, 1 Corinthians 12-13, Colossians 3-4, Ephesians 4-5, etc. This doctrine hands on the Lord's teaching with the authority of the apostles, particularly in the presentation of the virtues that flow from faith in Christ and are animated by charity, the principal gift of the Holy Spirit.
I had to chuckle at it all. Last night, I'm meditating on the image of a tabernacle. Twelve hours later, I'm presented with exactly how a tabernacle should behave, per the Magesterium of the Catholic Church.
Amazing coincidence, don't you think?
Friday, August 13, 2010
Daily - 8/13/10
Meandering.
So ... I'm in a hotel for the last three days. Last night, as I click across the TV, I see a PBS show on John Denver. I watch it, because I'm a John Denver fan (deal with it).
The show talked about Denver's love for nature, and how many of his songs were related to specific experiences outdoors. An example: In "Rocky Mountain High", the line "I've seen it raining fire in the sky" is talking about a specific night watching a meteor shower at high altitude.
He has passed away, but the show included old interviews where he talked about how connected he felt to the earth, and how in awe he was of nature -- all the beauty, the ecosystems, everything. He talked about how eventually he came to see his songs, concerts, TV specials, and everything else as a means to foster his love for the planet.
Many, many people consider his perspective inspiring.
All I could think about was how sad it was. He was SOOOOO close to the answer, but he didn't get there. He never took the key step in environmental consciousness, and connect it to spirituality. He fixed his love on the planet, not God. He focused his efforts on the creation, not the creator.
He was so taken by the beauty, and he never made the connection to God. At least not publicly.
What truth there is in Romans 1:20-21
20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse;
21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.
So ... I'm in a hotel for the last three days. Last night, as I click across the TV, I see a PBS show on John Denver. I watch it, because I'm a John Denver fan (deal with it).
The show talked about Denver's love for nature, and how many of his songs were related to specific experiences outdoors. An example: In "Rocky Mountain High", the line "I've seen it raining fire in the sky" is talking about a specific night watching a meteor shower at high altitude.
He has passed away, but the show included old interviews where he talked about how connected he felt to the earth, and how in awe he was of nature -- all the beauty, the ecosystems, everything. He talked about how eventually he came to see his songs, concerts, TV specials, and everything else as a means to foster his love for the planet.
Many, many people consider his perspective inspiring.
All I could think about was how sad it was. He was SOOOOO close to the answer, but he didn't get there. He never took the key step in environmental consciousness, and connect it to spirituality. He fixed his love on the planet, not God. He focused his efforts on the creation, not the creator.
He was so taken by the beauty, and he never made the connection to God. At least not publicly.
What truth there is in Romans 1:20-21
20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse;
21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Daily - 10/27/09
Romans 8:31b-39
31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.
34 Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
---------
I saw that this was the first reading for Thursday and I had to put it in here. This is one of my absolute favorite passages. Those of you who have been on this list for a while have seen it before.
If angels or principalities (two types of spiritual beings) can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then we can’t either. There are people out there who think they are too far gone, that they can’t be forgiven for what they’ve done in their lives. But the teaching is clear – the road is always open to repentance and acceptance of God’s limitless mercy and forgiveness. We always have to make the first step though.
If you haven’t done this recently, you should really take the time to read Romans 7 and Romans 8 together. Romans 7 speaks of the duality in which we live – new creations in Christ, yet still stuck in our worldly bodies. Romans 8 discusses how Christ delivers us from that duality, and the glorious path that Christ has built for us.
31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.
34 Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
---------
I saw that this was the first reading for Thursday and I had to put it in here. This is one of my absolute favorite passages. Those of you who have been on this list for a while have seen it before.
If angels or principalities (two types of spiritual beings) can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then we can’t either. There are people out there who think they are too far gone, that they can’t be forgiven for what they’ve done in their lives. But the teaching is clear – the road is always open to repentance and acceptance of God’s limitless mercy and forgiveness. We always have to make the first step though.
If you haven’t done this recently, you should really take the time to read Romans 7 and Romans 8 together. Romans 7 speaks of the duality in which we live – new creations in Christ, yet still stuck in our worldly bodies. Romans 8 discusses how Christ delivers us from that duality, and the glorious path that Christ has built for us.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Daily - 10/22/09
Romans 7:18-25a
18 For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.
20 Now if (I) do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
22 For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
23 but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
------------
This is the first reading for Friday. Tomorrow is the rarest of occasions -- the mass reading coincides exactly with the passage being discussed in the Friday morning men's bible study. I also couldn't resist because I won't be able to make it this Friday, and I absolutely MUST be heard on this subject.
[The Friday morning guys know that WASN'T a joke.]
Paul is describing the spiritual battle that we all fight every day. We may not realize it, but this is always happening. The "flesh" -- our human nature -- is fallen and has a tendency to sin (ie, concupiscence). So even as we give ourselves over to God, we are trapped in our own flesh, which will sin. We can never completely escape that.
I'm willing to bet that every person reading this message feels that at times. A comforting thing to note is that we're in good company. If this still goes on with Paul, who was given the gift of understanding the fullness of salvation, then it's OK if it goes on with us.
Paul is able to understand and accept that when this happens, it is because of our fallen nature -- sin dwelling within us. Note that he doesn't offer this as an excuse -- he's not saying to go ahead and sin because it's hopeless. He's saying that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we sin anyway. It's a matter of fact that we have to live with. We are fallen. We are not perfect, and we won't ever be.
The good news is that if you read on to Romans 8, you get to see the flip side of the coin -- the possibilities of life in the spirit.
18 For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.
20 Now if (I) do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
22 For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
23 but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
------------
This is the first reading for Friday. Tomorrow is the rarest of occasions -- the mass reading coincides exactly with the passage being discussed in the Friday morning men's bible study. I also couldn't resist because I won't be able to make it this Friday, and I absolutely MUST be heard on this subject.
[The Friday morning guys know that WASN'T a joke.]
Paul is describing the spiritual battle that we all fight every day. We may not realize it, but this is always happening. The "flesh" -- our human nature -- is fallen and has a tendency to sin (ie, concupiscence). So even as we give ourselves over to God, we are trapped in our own flesh, which will sin. We can never completely escape that.
I'm willing to bet that every person reading this message feels that at times. A comforting thing to note is that we're in good company. If this still goes on with Paul, who was given the gift of understanding the fullness of salvation, then it's OK if it goes on with us.
Paul is able to understand and accept that when this happens, it is because of our fallen nature -- sin dwelling within us. Note that he doesn't offer this as an excuse -- he's not saying to go ahead and sin because it's hopeless. He's saying that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we sin anyway. It's a matter of fact that we have to live with. We are fallen. We are not perfect, and we won't ever be.
The good news is that if you read on to Romans 8, you get to see the flip side of the coin -- the possibilities of life in the spirit.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Daily - 9/18/09
Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,
4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.
----------------
Friday morning men's bible study was particularly good today. Ted Stann led us as we began Romans 5, and we spent a lot of time on these verses.
Verses 3-5 give me chills, and describe in a nutshell our journey of faith on this earth. We will undoubtedly suffer, but as we walk further along in our faith, we understand from our own experience that suffering DOES produce endurance, endurance DOES produce character, and character DOES produce hope. And hope does not disappoint.
The 9 of us in the room could unanimously testify to the truth of these words. We know they are true because we have lived them out.
Gotta love that.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,
4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.
----------------
Friday morning men's bible study was particularly good today. Ted Stann led us as we began Romans 5, and we spent a lot of time on these verses.
Verses 3-5 give me chills, and describe in a nutshell our journey of faith on this earth. We will undoubtedly suffer, but as we walk further along in our faith, we understand from our own experience that suffering DOES produce endurance, endurance DOES produce character, and character DOES produce hope. And hope does not disappoint.
The 9 of us in the room could unanimously testify to the truth of these words. We know they are true because we have lived them out.
Gotta love that.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Daily - 1/21/09
Mark 3:1-6 (today’s gospel)
1 Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
2 They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
3 He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."
4 Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.
5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
---------------------
Background: At the end of Mark 2, the disciples picked a few ears of corn on the sabbath, so that they could eat. The Pharisees present objected to this, because it was their belief that this constituted work and therefore was forbidden. This is a common objection of theirs. The discussion concluded with Christ saying that the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. Immediately after that, they enter into the synagogue, and clearly there is tension. The Pharisees are waiting to trap him.
Note Christ’s response to their test (v5) – he is angry, and he grieves at their hardness of heart.
I have a friend who says that we continue to place veils between us and Christ, and I think that’s a great image. In the case of the Pharisees, the veil was so dark and their hearts were so hard that they couldn’t/wouldn’t see what was right in front of them. They are so focused on their interpretation of the sabbath that they fail to see that God’s work is being done before their very eyes.
But I do this too. It is so easy to get caught up in the world, on a daily or even hourly basis. Far too many times I fail to do what God wants, because I’ve got some reason or another why I can’t. When I step back and think about it, I can see that in those cases I put the world in front of God. I don’t necessarily want to, but I do. Read Romans 7 for more on that. J
In reading this today, I’m struck by Christ’s response to the Pharisees. Anger. Grief at their hardness of heart. Does this apply to me when I am “Pharisitical” in my actions? I don’t want to get obsessed with the thought of Christ being angry at me, but I can definitely see him grieving at my hardness of heart at times. Anger … I don’t want to test it.
1 Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
2 They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
3 He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."
4 Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.
5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
---------------------
Background: At the end of Mark 2, the disciples picked a few ears of corn on the sabbath, so that they could eat. The Pharisees present objected to this, because it was their belief that this constituted work and therefore was forbidden. This is a common objection of theirs. The discussion concluded with Christ saying that the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. Immediately after that, they enter into the synagogue, and clearly there is tension. The Pharisees are waiting to trap him.
Note Christ’s response to their test (v5) – he is angry, and he grieves at their hardness of heart.
I have a friend who says that we continue to place veils between us and Christ, and I think that’s a great image. In the case of the Pharisees, the veil was so dark and their hearts were so hard that they couldn’t/wouldn’t see what was right in front of them. They are so focused on their interpretation of the sabbath that they fail to see that God’s work is being done before their very eyes.
But I do this too. It is so easy to get caught up in the world, on a daily or even hourly basis. Far too many times I fail to do what God wants, because I’ve got some reason or another why I can’t. When I step back and think about it, I can see that in those cases I put the world in front of God. I don’t necessarily want to, but I do. Read Romans 7 for more on that. J
In reading this today, I’m struck by Christ’s response to the Pharisees. Anger. Grief at their hardness of heart. Does this apply to me when I am “Pharisitical” in my actions? I don’t want to get obsessed with the thought of Christ being angry at me, but I can definitely see him grieving at my hardness of heart at times. Anger … I don’t want to test it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Daily - 11/11/08
Romans 12:9-15
9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
11 Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Here are some words of encouragement from Paul. I need to remind myself of this frequently, because my tendency is to hole up in my own house, and tend to the needs and desires of myself and my family.
However, God calls us to be engaged in our brothers’ lives on a personal level. We all have times where we get tired, or discouraged, or just completely consumed with what’s going on in our immediate lives. Paul reminds us to be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope, and persevere with prayer. We are called to spiritually invest in each others’ lives.
And … we are to let our love be sincere. To me, this means that I shouldn’t see obedience as a means to an end. I shouldn’t serve others because I think that will get me to heaven. I should serve others because by putting the flesh to death and remaining in Christ, his desires should become my desires. I should serve out of love and hope, and not because I think I’ll get something out of it down the road.
9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
11 Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Here are some words of encouragement from Paul. I need to remind myself of this frequently, because my tendency is to hole up in my own house, and tend to the needs and desires of myself and my family.
However, God calls us to be engaged in our brothers’ lives on a personal level. We all have times where we get tired, or discouraged, or just completely consumed with what’s going on in our immediate lives. Paul reminds us to be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope, and persevere with prayer. We are called to spiritually invest in each others’ lives.
And … we are to let our love be sincere. To me, this means that I shouldn’t see obedience as a means to an end. I shouldn’t serve others because I think that will get me to heaven. I should serve others because by putting the flesh to death and remaining in Christ, his desires should become my desires. I should serve out of love and hope, and not because I think I’ll get something out of it down the road.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Daily - 10/2/08
Romans 12:4-8
4 For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if
prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
7 if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching;
8 if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
We all have a role in the body of Christ. Sometimes I get caught up in things that I am not, rather than things that I am. God calls the body of Christ to many things, but we as individuals are not called to all things.
As Paul says, we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, and we are to exercise them. In my opinion, an important element of our spiritual development is to ask God to show us what those gifts are, and how he wants us to use them. I know that I at times have attempted to accomplish spiritual things that I am not gifted for. That’s my own personal ego at work, and not God’s will.
It takes work on our part to fully develop our spiritual gifts. We have to first discern what they are, then discern how to use them, and then – at least this is the case with me – we have to fight through hurdles that are in our path. Some of those are placed by us, some are placed by God to teach us something, and some are the result of our spiritual enemies that want to rob us of the joy of a full relationship with God. They exploit our egoes, our tempers, are fears, our wordly desires, and our doubts – all to drive a wedge between us and God, and to convince us that we aren’t worthy of using our spiritual gifts to do God’s work.
Thank God that Christ has defeated them for us, and that we can claim that victory. At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend.
4 For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if
prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
7 if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching;
8 if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
We all have a role in the body of Christ. Sometimes I get caught up in things that I am not, rather than things that I am. God calls the body of Christ to many things, but we as individuals are not called to all things.
As Paul says, we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, and we are to exercise them. In my opinion, an important element of our spiritual development is to ask God to show us what those gifts are, and how he wants us to use them. I know that I at times have attempted to accomplish spiritual things that I am not gifted for. That’s my own personal ego at work, and not God’s will.
It takes work on our part to fully develop our spiritual gifts. We have to first discern what they are, then discern how to use them, and then – at least this is the case with me – we have to fight through hurdles that are in our path. Some of those are placed by us, some are placed by God to teach us something, and some are the result of our spiritual enemies that want to rob us of the joy of a full relationship with God. They exploit our egoes, our tempers, are fears, our wordly desires, and our doubts – all to drive a wedge between us and God, and to convince us that we aren’t worthy of using our spiritual gifts to do God’s work.
Thank God that Christ has defeated them for us, and that we can claim that victory. At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Daily - 9/17/08
Romans 8:35-39
35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If angels or principalities can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then we can’t either. There are people out there who think they are too far gone, that they can’t be forgiven for what they’ve done in their lives. But the teaching is clear – the road is always open to repentance and acceptance of God’s limitless mercy and forgiveness.
If you haven’t done this recently, you should really take the time to read Romans 7 and Romans 8 together. Romans 7 speaks of the duality in which we live – new creations in Christ, yet still stuck in our worldly bodies. Romans 8 discusses how Christ delivers us from that duality, and the glorious path that Christ has built for us.
35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If angels or principalities can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then we can’t either. There are people out there who think they are too far gone, that they can’t be forgiven for what they’ve done in their lives. But the teaching is clear – the road is always open to repentance and acceptance of God’s limitless mercy and forgiveness.
If you haven’t done this recently, you should really take the time to read Romans 7 and Romans 8 together. Romans 7 speaks of the duality in which we live – new creations in Christ, yet still stuck in our worldly bodies. Romans 8 discusses how Christ delivers us from that duality, and the glorious path that Christ has built for us.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Daily - 9/2/08
Romans 12:1-2
1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
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This was the second reading at Sunday’s mass. I’ve sent this out before, but I thought it was worth repeating.
Verse 2 describes discerning God's will. This is a key element in spiritual development -- to be able to understand what God is asking us to do. How do we go about doing that?
Verse 2 says that to discern the will of God, we must allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewal of mind. OK, how do I go about doing that?
I submit that part of the answer is verse 1 - submit our bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly and pleasing to God.
OK, how do I do that?
In my opinion, this means several things:
- Put sin to death as best we can by committing to obedience and remaining in Christ. Why? We know that sin is offensive to God, and if I don't make that commitment, I don't think I can be a sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
- Receive the sacraments of eucharist. There is no better way to transform ourselves than by inviting the Lord to transform our bodies.
- Receive the sacrament of reconciliation frequently. It is the tried and true process for putting sin to death. As we become more aware of our sins and confess them to God's minister we put sin to death in our lives. The process of confession, absolution, and penance separates us from sin and opens us up to the Spirit.
- Give control of our lives over to God. Paul tells us to offer ourselves as a sacrifice, which means we are transferring "ownership" to God. If you're unwilling to make this step, you're never going to be able to be transformed the way Paul is describing.
In my opinion, understanding these points are key to moving toward the abundant life that Christ offers to us.
1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
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This was the second reading at Sunday’s mass. I’ve sent this out before, but I thought it was worth repeating.
Verse 2 describes discerning God's will. This is a key element in spiritual development -- to be able to understand what God is asking us to do. How do we go about doing that?
Verse 2 says that to discern the will of God, we must allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewal of mind. OK, how do I go about doing that?
I submit that part of the answer is verse 1 - submit our bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly and pleasing to God.
OK, how do I do that?
In my opinion, this means several things:
- Put sin to death as best we can by committing to obedience and remaining in Christ. Why? We know that sin is offensive to God, and if I don't make that commitment, I don't think I can be a sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
- Receive the sacraments of eucharist. There is no better way to transform ourselves than by inviting the Lord to transform our bodies.
- Receive the sacrament of reconciliation frequently. It is the tried and true process for putting sin to death. As we become more aware of our sins and confess them to God's minister we put sin to death in our lives. The process of confession, absolution, and penance separates us from sin and opens us up to the Spirit.
- Give control of our lives over to God. Paul tells us to offer ourselves as a sacrifice, which means we are transferring "ownership" to God. If you're unwilling to make this step, you're never going to be able to be transformed the way Paul is describing.
In my opinion, understanding these points are key to moving toward the abundant life that Christ offers to us.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Daily - 4/29/08
Sometimes you’ll see the life in the flesh referred to as “the world” by Jesus in the gospels, and Satan as the “prince of the world.” When we commit our lives to Christ, we die to the life of the flesh (ie, “the World”), and move to the life in the Spirit. Paul describes this process in his letters, but sometimes you have to move from one to another to see the whole picture:
2 Corinthians 5:17
14 For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.
15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.
17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
Galatians 2:19-20
19 For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ;
20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.
Romans 8:5-13
5 For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit.
6 The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace.
7 For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it;
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
12 Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
This transition from life in the flesh to life in the Spirit is what happens when we make a commitment to Christ. In my experience, this isn’t something that happens according to a calendar. Although I had gone through the standard Catholic progression of sacraments, I didn’t make a commitment to Christ until I was 32 years old. The transition from life in the flesh to life in the spirit didn’t begin in earnest until then. It’s still going on, and it will continue until I die.
And quite frankly it has been difficult at times. Although the spirit of Christ lives in us, we still live in the world, and we’re also stuck with these mortal bodies that are sinful by nature. Paul himself mourned this struggle in Romans 7. More on that tomorrow.
2 Corinthians 5:17
14 For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.
15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.
17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
Galatians 2:19-20
19 For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ;
20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.
Romans 8:5-13
5 For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit.
6 The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace.
7 For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it;
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
12 Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
This transition from life in the flesh to life in the Spirit is what happens when we make a commitment to Christ. In my experience, this isn’t something that happens according to a calendar. Although I had gone through the standard Catholic progression of sacraments, I didn’t make a commitment to Christ until I was 32 years old. The transition from life in the flesh to life in the spirit didn’t begin in earnest until then. It’s still going on, and it will continue until I die.
And quite frankly it has been difficult at times. Although the spirit of Christ lives in us, we still live in the world, and we’re also stuck with these mortal bodies that are sinful by nature. Paul himself mourned this struggle in Romans 7. More on that tomorrow.
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