A Living Sacrifice

Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 32

Poetry Reading:  Psalm 42

*New Testament Reading:  Romans 12

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”   -Romans 12:2a (ESV)

Pleeeeease!  Can you hear a child begging their parents for something.  Maybe for a treat, or a toy, or to stay up later? 

Romans 12 begins with Paul begging us to follow his advice.  Different versions use appeal, request, plead, urge, or beseech.  These words all tell us one thing:  that it is our choice.

So, who is Paul begging and what is he asking of them?   He is speaking to his brothers in Christ, and that includes all Christians then and now.  He is asking us to live a life worthy of claiming the name of Jesus Christ.  He asks us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”.  Then he tells us this is our “spiritual worship”, or our “spiritual service of worship”, or our “true and proper worship”, or our “reasonable service”.  In other words, it is reasonable for us to live as God desires us to because He has done so much for us (“by the mercies of God…”).  True worship involves all of us – our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). 

One of my frequently used phrases is, “What does that look like?”.    Well, fortunately, Paul tells us in the very next verse, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”.  Conform means to be in agreement with, or to adopt the form of those around you.  Transform means to change in character or to change the appearance of.   Both are verbs – action words.  Both of them require us to change.  This is what Paul is pleading with us about – we will either be conformed by the world or we will be transformed to be holy and acceptable to God.  Our world was created perfect but sin corrupted it.  Until Jesus returns to restore it to perfection, we must live in it.  We are warned several times in Scripture not to love the world, become like the world, think like the world. 

It sounds like an easy choice, and it is.  The hard part is choosing it every minute of every day.  Choosing to live it with our whole body – heart, soul, strength, and mind.  Every time we make a choice about our attitudes, actions, words, thoughts, etc.  This requires humility and being humble requires us to let go of our pride, arrogance, and egos.  Not so easy. 

Paul then goes on to warn us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Sounds like more humility. 

This chapter is full of godly advice; here are just some pieces of that advice.  Believe God has given you a gift, figure out what yours is, use it.  A healthy body (church) needs every member to be using their gifts.  Genuinely love one another.  Be constant in prayer.  Hate evil.  Contribute to the needs of the body.  Show hospitality.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be haughty.  If possible, live peaceably with all.  Never avenge yourself. 

Chapter 12 concludes with this, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”.  This brings us full circle.  The world is evil; if we are conformed to the world, we will be overcome by evil.  If we choose to be transformed, we will be able to overcome evil with good. 

Amy Blanchard


Reflection Questions

  1. What of the world draws you toward conforming?  Maybe it’s always wanting your way, viewing yourself as right all the time, or not determining what is evil so you can detest it.  Maybe it’s good things like family, showing hospitality, or volunteering.  Be aware of what messages are out there trying to turn your attention away from God.  Family, showing hospitality, and volunteering are good; but the place you give them shouldn’t be ahead of God.
  2. Transformation begins in your mind.  Paul says that it happens by the renewal of our minds.  What changes do you need to make to renew your mind?  It is our will to make the choice to be transformed, but God does the transforming.  We need to humble ourselves and let Him.  We are told that then we will be able to know God’s will.                
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God is Trustworthy

*Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 31

Poetry Reading:  Psalm 42

New Testament Reading:  Romans 11 

“The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’“  – Deuteronomy 31:2b (ESV)

Deuteronomy 31 begins with Moses acknowledging his advanced age (120 years) and telling the Israelites that he will no longer be their leader.  Deuteronomy 31:2b says, “The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’“  Moses does not get to enter the promised land because he broke faith with God – but he does get to see it from a mountain before he dies (Deuteronomy 32). We learn in this brief statement that God’s word WILL hold true, He had told Moses he wouldn’t get to enter (Numbers 20:12) and His stated consequences will apply (helpful parenting tip).

This might seem overly harsh, but it helps us trust that what God says will happen, will happen.  Moses accepted this consequence from God and went on to give the Israelites some parting words.  He begins with telling them to be strong and courageous (verse 6) and reminds them that God will never leave them.  Then he commissions Joshua to lead the people and tells him to be strong and courageous and that God will never leave him.  He tells the Levites to read the law every seven years, specifically so that the next generation will hear it and fear God (verses 12-13). 

After God reminds Moses that he’s going to die soon, He tells him that the Israelites will break His covenant.  How sad that must have made Moses!   God then has a final instruction for Moses.  In verse 19a God says to Moses, “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel” and verse 22 says, “So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.”

What was so important that it was one of the last things God wanted Moses to do for Him?  You can read the song itself in chapter 32, but basically it was a warning to the Israelites.  The song Moses was instructed to write begins with a reminder of God’s faithfulness, then moves to their future failures and turning away from God and then of God’s punishment that will follow. 

So what can we learn from this passage that was directed very specifically at the Israelites of that day? 

First, can people trust us when we speak?  Do we do what we say we will?  It is important to know that we can trust God.  It is also important that we are trustworthy.

Second, it’s easy to look at the Israelites and think, “What was wrong with them?  God told them how they would fail Him and they didn’t stop it from happening!”  However, if we are honest with ourselves, we do the same thing.  God has told us in Romans 3:23 that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  We all sin.  We all turn away from God.  But the good news is that God is there, waiting for us to turn back to Him!

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. It is important that we are trustworthy.  Do your actions line up with your words? 
  2. Just like the Israelites needed to not get stuck in the place of accepting and acknowledging their sin but doing nothing about it, we are not to sit there, either.  God tells them in verse 21 that, “this song shall confront them as a witness”.  What confronts you when you reject God’s plan for you?  Do you heed the warning?
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Choose Life

*Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 29-30 

*Poetry Reading:  Job 42

New Testament Reading:  Romans 10

 “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19b (ESV)

In chapter 42, Job again responds to God.  He is humble, accepting that he cannot understand God nor His ways.  He repents for speaking about what he doesn’t understand.  He responds just as God wanted him to, in humility. 

Job’s friends first made their appearance in Job 2.  They “made an appointment together to come show him sympathy and comfort him” (Job 2:11b).  The first thing they did was an outward display of sharing his pain (wept, tore their robes, sprinkled dust on their heads).  Then they just sat with him.  In silence.  For seven days. 

If you’ve been reading along in Job, you have heard their advice.  Much of it sounds good.  Much of it would likely be great advice in a different situation.  Their focus was on what Job had done wrong to incur God’s wrath.  They couldn’t see any alternative to Job’s suffering.  Yet they gave up their silence and tried.  They did their best, but it turns out, they were wrong.  And God wasn’t about to let them get away with it. 

We’ve all been there….sitting (in person, via text, on social media, over the phone, etc.) with a suffering friend not knowing what to say.  Eventually, the silence drives us to speak.  Our desire to help is strong and pushes us to try to solve the problem, to figure out the “why” so they can fix it, or at least understand it.  Our hearts are in the right place.  I think Job’s friend’s hearts were in the right place, too.  They wanted to help. 

God says that His anger burns against them and that they haven’t spoken of Him what is right.  I don’t want to be in that place with God.  While He does offer them a way out – a way to repent – it is humbling, and likely even humiliating.  They thought they were offering good advice to their friend and now they have to humble themselves and ask him to pray for their misspeaking. 

What can we learn from this exchange?  First, reaching out to a friend who is suffering is good.  Sitting in silence is good, too.  But what I take away from this is that we need to seek God before we respond on His behalf.  Before we tell someone what God would have them do, we should ask God.  That can be in prayer or in reading His Word.  Someone once said that God will never contradict His Word, so whatever you “hear” him saying, cross-check it in the Bible. 

And a quick dip into Deuteronomy for some great thoughts to meditate on today…

Deuteronomy 29:18b-19a says, “Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

I think Job chose life.  Even though he didn’t do anything really big to sin, God called him out on his attitude and words.  He didn’t bear poisonous and bitter fruit and he didn’t hold on to his stubborn heart.  He humbled himself. 

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you know a friend who is suffering?  What can you do to help them?  Remember to start with asking God.
  2. Do you have a stubborn heart that thinks you’ll be safe from God’s wrath?  Consider what choice you are making – life or death, blessing or curse.  Remember that your choice not only determines if you will dwell in the land of God’s promise, it also affects those following you – don’t make it harder for them to choose life and blessing.
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Overtaken!

*Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 27-28

*Poetry Reading:  Job 41

New Testament Reading:  Romans 9

To keep up with our reading in Job, starting back in chapter 38, God began His rebuttal to Job.  God is still giving Job examples of his greatness and Job’s lowliness.  He’s still responding in chapter 41.  God could go on so much longer with His “Were you there when…”, “Who determined…”, “Do you know…”, “Can you….” questions.  After a brief allowance for Job to respond in chapter 40, God jumps right back in with his proclamations.  It certainly explains why God told Job to put on his big boy pants before he began (“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?  Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” Job 38:2-3)!  More to come tomorrow….

Back in Deuteronomy 11, God tells the Israelites about the events that are now taking place in chapters 27 & 28.  Deut. 11:29: “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.”  Can you imagine?  Two groups of men standing on different mountains shouting the blessings and curses which God will send based on their choices?  Clearly God takes accountability seriously! 

After reading the curses in 27:6 (and there are some pretty odd and icky ones), it wraps up with a very broad umbrella, “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them”.  God wasn’t going to allow any loopholes here!

Chapter 28 begins with the blessings they will receive IF they “faithfully obey the voice of the Lord”.  These are really nice.  This is where we want to pause and feel good about our loving God.  28:2 says, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Sadly, we don’t get to sit with this image of a loving, blessing-giving God for long.  They jump right back into more curses.  And in verse 45 he uses the same phrasing, “All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord…”.   

Remember, the Levites are proclaiming these loudly from facing mountains.  Participating in the yelling or just listening to it, I imagine you would feel like the matter of us choosing to obey God or not is very important to God.  They were obviously making a big deal out of it.  Our choices matter. 

Deuteronomy 27:9-10 says, Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”  Moses commands the Israelites to obey.  We have a choice – God gave us a free will to choose to obey or not.  Moses simply tells the Israelites that since they are God’s people, they shall obey Him.  If it were only that simple to do!  But, isn’t it?  Well, it should be. 

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. I read this beautiful definition of being overtaken by blessings, “the blessings of the Lord will be so abundant, that they will chase us down.”  Have you ever felt overtaken by blessings? 
  2. Listening to the voice of the Lord your God will change you – your thoughts and behaviors and attitudes.  If you are not seeing that change, first honestly look at if you are really listening to God’s voice.  Read the curses.  Read the blessings.  And make your choice.
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It’s All Good Now

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 25 & 26

Poetry: Job 40

*New Testament: Romans 8

 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  – Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Of all the books of the Bible, Romans is my favorite. Chapter 8 may very well be my favorite chapter in the book for many reasons. It starts with the declaration that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and it ends with the encouraging reassurance that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God. In between, however, is a great life verse that provides comfort and hope regardless of your situation or circumstance.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

It is just as important to understand what is not said as it is to understand what is said. Paul does not say that all things are good but rather all things work together for good. It is often a matter of time and/or a change of perspective to see that the bad things that happen end up working for your good. I can speak specifically to that being the case. My salvation story depends on it.

On Easter Sunday in 1995 I was invited to come to church and help the men cook breakfast for the congregation. It was a tradition that had been going for a while and continues to this day at Pine Grove Bible Church. I was not a member or even a Christian at that time but as a former short order cook and someone who enjoys hanging around with other guys I agreed to come and help.

As a result of me driving in early to help cook, we had two vehicles at church and then two vehicles at my in-laws as we celebrated Easter dinner. When it was time to leave, my wife Amy and our two children were going to get in the car she was driving and I would get in mine to head home. I asked my almost 7-year-old son David if he wanted to ride with me and he said no. I told him we could beat mom home and he could ride in the front seat (this was pre-airbag times) and so he agreed to hop in with me. This was not a common occurrence as he often would sit in the middle of the back seat loosely buckled and leaning forward between the front bucket seats to entertain his incredibly crabby sister. As fate would have it, we made a stoplight that Amy and Stephanie did not, so we did indeed arrive home first.

I was busy unpacking the leftovers and Easter baskets (at that point we had the only two grandchildren, so it was always a bonanza for them) when I noticed a message blinking on the answering machine. It was Amy, calling from someone’s cell phone (very few people had them back then) letting me know that she had been in an accident and the car had flipped and she was very shaken up. I couldn’t hear Stephanie crying in the background (if any of you reading this were around at that time you know that she was always crying in the background) so I grabbed David and raced back to the accident site.

When I got there, I saw her mangled car in the ditch on its side facing the wrong way. I recall heading to the squad car and then desperately clinging to my 18-month-old daughter as tears ran down my face. I came to find out that a car traveling in the opposite direction had a blowout, lost control, and ended up hitting them almost head on. Thankfully, Amy was able to turn quickly enough to have the car hit her by the driver door, slide down the side to the rear wheel well where it caused the car to flip 180 degrees over and backwards. It was an Easter miracle that neither Amy nor Stephanie was seriously injured.

The accident was not good, in fact it was bad, very bad, as Amy still suffers neck pain as a result. But, given the ability to look back, I can honestly say that it worked for the good. I was working in a sales job where I was gone most nights and the realization that what mattered most to me could have been lost in the blink of an eye caused me to quit that job that next week. Wanting to spend more time with my family caused me to start attending church and Wednesday night Bible study and eventually I gave my life to Christ.

Now, nearly 29 years removed from that horrible accident I can see God’s hand working through all things, even accidents, for the good of those He has called according to his purposes. Trust in His timing, God is good!

Todd Blanchard

Reflection Questions

1. Can you identify a specific time in your life that seemed devastating at the time (i.e. job loss, death, relationship ending) but now you can see how it shaped you into who you are today?

2. Who do you know that is going through a tough time that you can share your story with?

3. How can you remind yourself to trust in God’s timing for your life?

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Why NOT Me?

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 23 & 24

*Poetry Reading:  Job 39

New Testament Reading:  Romans 7

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If you’ve been reading along in Job you have watched terrible tragedy come upon Job time after time.  You have seen his friends come to be with him.   You have heard those same friends accuse Job of sinning; all of their advice coming from the perspective that he needs to repent in order for God to end his punishment.  You have also heard Job defend himself, holding fast to his innocence.  He boldly tells his friends what he would do if God would answer him. 

  • 23:4-7:  I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.  Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?   No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
  • 31:35-37:  Oh, that I had one to hear me!  (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
        Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!   Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
        I would bind it on me as a crown; I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

Job 39 is part of a “rant” by God that puts Job in his place.  God first joins in the conversation between Job and his friends in Job 38:3, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”  God repeats this in Job 40:7, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” 

We will look at God’s reply and Job’s response in a couple of days.  Today, I want to focus on a few other thoughts. 

First, God is BIG and we are small. 

  • Omniscient – God is all-knowing – we are ignorant
  • Omnipotent – God is all-powerful – we are weak
  • Omnipresent – God is everywhere, all the time – we are limited

We need to keep these differences in mind at all times.  This is what allows us to fully trust in God and His plan for our lives. 

Second, we need to have a proper perspective of our lives on this earth. 

  •  2 Timothy 3:12a:  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
  • John 16:33:  “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Both of these verses are directed to those who are in Christ.  The Bible’s perspective is that we will face trials and persecution.  It is much more difficult to face those trials when we have the perspective that it shouldn’t happen to us.  Sin, evil, suffering – these are normal for this life.  They should be expected.  If we are in Christ, our perspective and expectations should be that these things should happen to us.

Having the right perspective of who we are compared to God and what expectations we should have regarding life in this age will help us trust God as we face whatever circumstances come our way. 

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you accept that you are ignorant, weak, and limited….at least in comparison with God?  He wants us to depend on Him, to trust in Him, and to let His power be seen in us (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).  To do this, we need to begin to see how great God is.
  2. I desire to live a godly life.  I am in Christ.  I still don’t want to be persecuted.  However, I am trying to accept that if I am living a godly life, I will face persecution.  Are you trusting God to bring you peace in your troubles? 
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By No Means!

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 21 & 22

Poetry: Job 38

New Testament: Romans 6

Today, we get to say hi to the same hypothetical objector that Paul seems to address in the first handful of chapters in the book of Romans.  Paul opens up chapter six with the question, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1 ESV).  He asks the same question in verse 15 as well.  In chapter 5, Paul talked about the great work that God and Jesus were able to accomplish through the cross.  The cross is only needed because of sin in the first place.  If there was no sin, then there would be no need for Jesus to die on the cross.  Therefore, in a sense, our sin led to the incredible, world-altering power that was experienced on the cross of Jesus.  Should we continue in that sin then to show the incredible power and grace of God?  Paul’s answer is quite clear both times this question is raised: “By no means!” (Romans 6:2,15). 

Paul goes on to talk about the baptized believer being united with Christ Jesus in his death and resurrection.  While being united with Jesus in his death, “our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For one who has died has been set free from sin… Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,” (Romans 6:6,7,12).

We live in a broken world that is cursed and broken by sin.  It seems everywhere we turn we can see sin.  Since we live in a world that is broken by sin, sin is to be expected in the life of a Christian, right?  Well, that’s what many may expect, but that is not what Paul seems to indicate in chapter six.  Paul states on multiple occasions in chapter six that we are both set free from sin and that we are dead to sin.  This does not sound like someone who just expects a Christian to keep on with their sinful ways.  Paul expects the Christ follower to no longer be enslaved to the great enemy of sin.  Christ Jesus has set us free from that strong entanglement!

For too long, too many Christians have had a lax stance towards sin.  When we expect a Christian to continue in sin, I believe that we are belittling the work that was accomplished on that cross.  Before chapter 6, Paul has showed us that Christ’s death enabled us to experience forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation with God.  From my personal experience, these seem to be the central focus of the church when discussing the salvation that is offered to us through the cross.  However, it does not stop there.  Christ didn’t die just so that we could be forgiven of our sins; it’s bigger than that.  Christ didn’t die just so that we could be justified; it’s bigger than that.  Christ didn’t die just so that we could be reconciled to God; it’s bigger than that. 

I appreciate the work of Alva Huffer in his book Systematic Theology.  In his book, he details the “Seven Doctrines of Salvation”.  Huffer advocates for the fact that through Christ’s death, we have been saved seven-fold from the consequences of our sin.  On top of forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation, we also experience sanctification, adoption, redemption, and newness of life.  It is the newness of life that Paul describes here in chapter six.  Because Christ died, we can experience new life as Christians – a life that is free from sin and dead to sin.  As followers of Christ, let’s cherish this new life that we have access to.  Let’s show the world what it looks like to live a new life that is free and dead to sin!  That’s exactly what this world needs.

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God’s grace mean to you?
  2. What is your stance on sin? And on sinners?
  3. Have you accepted the salvation God has made available through the death of His Son? If so, thank God for each of the seven doctrines of salvation! If not, what questions do you have?
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Everything Changed

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 19 & 20

Poetry: Job 37

New Testament: Romans 5

I remember it like it was yesterday – okay maybe more like a couple days ago.  While attending the Atlanta Bible College, I had the privilege of studying God’s word and living with “the guys”.  We got along great, and to this day they are some of my closest friends.  While we got along great, we would often be confronted with our strong, opposing opinions on various topics – most of which would have little to no bearing on our quality of life.  One such topic was what we would do if we were in a situation where our child and wife’s lives were in danger and we could only save one of them.  Mind you, this was coming from a handful of guys who at the time had no wife or any children.  Regardless, we had pretty strong thoughts and feelings on what we would do in such a situation.  We spoke as men with a lot of conviction in what we were saying.

I’m guessing you have had similar discussions or thoughts.  What would you do if a loved one of yours was on the cusp of death?  Would you give up your own life for the life of someone else?  Maybe you too speak on similar topics with such conviction.  We may talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, it would be so hard to pinpoint how exactly we would respond in a life-or-death scenario. 

Not many people would die for a good person.  On top of that, fewer people would die for their enemies – that is almost unheard of.  I can only think of one example of someone willingly dying for their enemies.  Paul sheds light on this one example in Romans 5:6-11.  That one example is Christ dying for the ungodly, the sinners, and the enemies of God.  Paul is talking about you and I!  Christ died for us while we were enemies.  In addition to Christ dying for the ungodly, the sinners, and the enemies of God, contemplate the fact that God sent his son to die for the ungodly, the sinners, and his enemies. 

If it came down to it, I’m not sure the number of people I would be willing to die for.  That’s a hard scenario to consider.  What I can guarantee you is the number of people I would send my child to die for is incredibly smaller.  We could go on and on about the love that God has for us by sending his own son to die for the ungodly, the sinners, and the enemies of God – you and I!

Now, we have to be careful pointing out that while Paul is essentially talking about you and I when discussing who Christ died for, Paul identifies us by our former identities.  We WERE ungodly.  We WERE sinners.  We WERE enemies of God.  Paul seems to imply that all of this changes through Christ Jesus.  No longer are we identified as ungodly sinners who are enemies of God.  Instead, we are identified by our right standing with God through the works of Christ Jesus.  We WERE sinners, but Paul states, “we HAVE BEEN justified,” (Romans 5:1).

Paul continues along these same lines near the end of chapter five, as he compares and contrasts the likes of Adam and Jesus.  When talking about these two, Paul states, “For as by the one man’s (Adam) disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s (Jesus) obedience the many will be made righteous,” (Romans 5:19).  You and I are now justified and redeemed all because there is a God who sent his son to die for us while we were ungodly, sinners, and his enemies.  Through this one act of love, everything changed for us.

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Paul teach us about God and Jesus and the relationship between these two?
  2. How have you been an enemy of God? Are you still an enemy of God? Have you accepted the gift of God’s salvation that was made possible by the death of His son?
  3. How would you try to describe God’s love to someone who has never read Romans 5? Who does God want you to tell about His love?
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What Faith Brings

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 17 & 18

Poetry: Job 36

New Testament: Romans 4

Today, in Romans 4, Paul takes us way back to a patriarch of our faith – Abraham.  Abraham was and continues to be a key figure in the grand scheme of the world.  Three of the main religions in the world can trace their lineage back to the man himself.  He was a special man whom God made special arrangements with a couple thousand years before Jesus was born.  Abraham is the central focus all throughout Romans chapter 4 – pretty impressive for a man who lived 2,000 years before Paul wrote this letter.  Abraham is the central focus, as Paul finds common ground in Abraham – for the Jews and Gentiles.

Specifically, Paul looks at how Abraham attained his status as righteous, as somehow, someway Abraham was justified (declared righteous) in the eyes of God.  Was it through his works?  Was it through some other means?  Paul reveals to us that Abraham was not justified by his works; rather, he was justified by his belief/faith.  Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 when he writes, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” (Romans 4:3 ESV).

Context is key.  What in the world was going on in Genesis 15?  I’m glad you asked!  To save you a bit of time, I’ll refresh your memory.  In Genesis 15, Abraham had already left his home to travel to the land that God would show him.  God then told Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them… so shall your offspring be,” (Genesis 15:5).  Unfortunately for myself and most of you reading this, surrounding lights mute the starry sky at night.  However, God told this to Abraham long before the fateful invention of the light bulb.  If not too cloudy or humid, Abraham would have viewed a starry sky like many of us never have.  I can only imagine the sight of a starry sky that is not infiltrated by the invention of the lightbulb. 

The idea of Abraham’s descendants being as numerous as the stars of the sky is great and all except for the fact that Abraham is getting up there in age and has ZERO children!  How in the world is an old man with no children supposed to have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky?!  If you are anything like me, then you would appreciate logic, reason, and common sense.  This bold statement totally goes against sound logic, reason, and common sense.  I get a bit uncomfortable reflecting on how I would respond in those circumstances.  What would be your response if you were put in Abraham’s shoes?  Abraham’s response was simple: “And he believed the LORD,” (Genesis 15:6).  Boom!  End of story.  Abraham believed in God.  And Abraham believed God. If God told him his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, then somehow, someway God would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Because of Abraham’s belief, God “counted it to him as righteousness,” (Genesis 15:6).

That is the moral of the story here that Paul brings our attention to.  We are justified by what we put our faith/belief in.  We all put our belief in someone/something whether it be ourself, our spouse, our finances, our parents, our home, or God himself.  You are justified if you put your faith in God.  Abraham chose to put his faith in God, as he was “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised,” (Genesis 4:21).  Because of this, Abraham was counted as righteous.  You and I have that same offer today.  Let me ask you, are you putting your faith in God?

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you appreciate most about Abraham?
  2. What is the difference between believing in God and believing God? Where are you?
  3. Are you putting your faith in God?
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A Pretty Awesome Formula

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 15 & 16

Poetry: Job 35

New Testament: Romans 3

Remember that time that you held an imaginary debate or argument in your mind with either an imaginary figure or your spouse, coworker, boss, or friend?  We have all been there before.  Evidently, Paul has been there before as well.  Except this time, Paul records this imaginary debate in Romans 3.  How exciting! 

Romans 3:1-8 gives the impression that Paul is debating an imaginary figure on how the Jews fit into the bigger picture.  Paul’s conclusion to this mini debate is that the Jews are not better off, “For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,” (Romans 1:9 ESV).  There we have it.  All of mankind is under sin.  This conjoins the Jews and the Greeks together.  If you don’t believe Paul, no need to worry.  Paul has plenty of ammunition to help prove this point.  Paul quotes a number of scriptures from the Old Testament in the following verses to bring home this point.

After Paul’s introduction, his letter to the saints at Rome has been rather gloomy thus far.  However, verse 21 is where we start to see a shift.  Paul recognizes that we are all under sin… “BUT NOW…”.  This is where it gets fun!  This passage in Romans 3:21-31 can preach!  Essentially, this is a teaching on the doctrine of salvation, as the righteousness of God is revealed through faith in Christ Jesus for all who believe.

Many are able to quote Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Paul is only halfway through his sentence when we have a verse break.  Don’t forget about verse 24: “And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”    Paul compares God’s grace to a gift.  Whenever you are given a gift from someone, you have two choices: you can receive it and open it or you can deny the gift.  I have many memories as a child of receiving gifts from my parents for Christmas, my birthday, or other special occasions.  Not once did I ever reject a gift that my parents gave me; I openly received the gifts every single time.  Nearly every child receives the gifts they are given without a second thought.  We need to mimic the attitude of a child here and gladly receive God’s gift of grace with open arms.  How do we receive God’s grace?  Well, fortunately for us, Paul tells us exactly how to receive that grace in the following verse.  Paul tells us that it is “to be received by faith,” (Romans 3:25).

Paul crams a lot in this short passage to conclude chapter three, as he talks about our salvation.  You can sum up Paul’s discussion in the following formula: sin + grace + faith = justification.  Paul will later reveal to his audience that the justification leads to eternal salvation. For you math nerds out there, that’s a pretty awesome formula.  For those of you not interested in math, trust me, that’s still a pretty awesome formula.

As we go through our lives, let’s remember to keep our arms open wide ready to receive God’s free gift of salvation.

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you ever rejected a gift given to you? Have you rejected or gladly received God’s free gift of salvation? Who do you know who might need some more information or encouragement to receive this gift?
  2. How would you define and describe each of the words in the following formula: Sin + Grace + Faith = Justification. What is the importance of each one?
  3. In the gloomy moments of your life, how can Romans 3 lift your spirits and bring joy, hope and peace?
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