Romans

I had said that I would tell you what I was reading in the Bible and then let you know my impressions of what I am reading.  I really do invite your comments on this.  I hope you follow along and get a different impression.  A good discussion would be welcome!

So I am going to start with my current reading, to date.  Then I will post about both of the last two books I have read in separate posts.  I will then begin each post with the current days reading.  A habit to cultivate is daily Bible reading.  You wont believe what you will learn just by spending 20 minutes a day in the Bible and some time in prayer with the Lord.

In Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver talks about keeping a Bible reading Journal.  I have never been successful in journaling before, but I do like to write my thoughts down.  She gives an example journal page in the appendix and I liked the layout.  So I decided to try it.  Wow, is all I can say.  Keeping this journal has done wonders for my understanding.  I also write my prayer down.  It cements it for me and allows me the freedom to say what I am thinking.  I don't do silent prayer well and I am rarely, if ever, truly alone during this time.  However the choice is, quite obviously, yours. 

As the title of this post states, I am currently reading Romans.  I should preface this by saying that I spend some time in prayer before deciding which book to read.  I have received very definite impressions on what I should be reading. I really am working to surrender all control to God, and that includes my Bible reading.  He is guiding me and I am letting him.  Try it, see how freeing it really is.

Romans 1
Rom 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of  everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written. The righteous will live by faith."

These 2 verses seriously impacted me the morning I read them.  They still do actually. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more I feel his presence as I read in the morning.  By the way, what time of day you do your reading doesn't matter, as long as you do it with a pure and intentional heart.  I like the morning, it starts my day off well and that's the only time of any kind I get to myself.  I wasn't having any conscious problems that I know of believing in the Bible, but this did cement the fact.  Again.  Huh, odd right? Hmm, nope, not if you are dealing with God.  Paul (the writer of this book) goes on to talk about how we've turned from God and how "the wrath of God is being revealed" (1:18) in our godlessness and evil doing.  Some of what he talks about shocked me at first.  Because he is talking about the EXACT same things that we have in our world today. Wow, I thought, still the same?  What a thought right?  But the two verses above really revealed to me the answer that I needed.  The Bible will REVEAL all I need to know of God.  Interestingly, I have always known that.. I have just refused to listen, or maybe it was a refusal to care.

Romans 2
Rom 2:13, "It is not good enough to hear the law, but to obey it also. Only then are we righteous in God's sight."

Again we hear that we must obey the law, not just hear it.  For me personally, I don't see this as obeying the old law.  But the Ten Commandments are not the law.  The Ten Commandments are what I believe he is talking about here.  I also believe he is talking about obeying God's commands.  So what are God's commands.  To love God and to love one another.  If you haven't read the 10 Commandments, do so.  Exodus 20: 3-17.  The first 4 commands are ways to show our love for God.  The 5th is a way to show love and respect for our parents (no matter what they've done), and the last 5 are ways to show love to the rest of mankind.   While meditating and praying about this verse I came to the conclusion that I am not observing the Sabbath the way I should.  I, by the way, think your walk with God is between you and God.  Please remember that this is a personal walk, and I am talking only about me and my family.  I have been getting better and have been led to change many things in our house, but I haven't made the Day special.  I read a book recently that equated The Sabbath to having royalty come to your house for the day.  Wouldn't you do all you could to make it special for the queen.  How much more special should the day be for a visit from THE KING?  So I have a new command to obey, or maybe I should say, return to obeying.

Romans 3
Roman 3:22-24, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace. through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Amazing, that. Though we have all sinned and are still sinners, Jesus has redeemed us.  It is by his grace that we are givenesus. That's it.  Believe he was sent for us, to save us and we are saved!  Have faith in the Messiah and our righteousness is returned to us.  I said it before, I will say it again.  Amazing, that.

Note, while redemption is free to us.  Jesus paid the ultimate price.  He gave his LIFE for this freedom!

I read one chapter, for the most part, a day.  I am not going to date these, on here.  I do in my personal Journal.  I believe it shows both where I was, where I am and where I am going (another practical hint from Joanna Weaver).  It also shows who is leading and who is following.  There is a time to be a leader, however, in a walk with God is not that time.  Let God lead you, he has the plan and we are his.