So in this walk with God, we will all stumble. So I will stumble. I have to give myself credit for trying though. The last couple of days I have had issues getting to my Bible study. Friday morning, I was distracted and just couldn't get to it. So I tried again on Friday night. My Sabbath. I was able to read a chapter in Romans. I am currently on chapter 8. I read the chapter and got confused. I am not really sure why. Maybe I was still to distracted. I have had a heck of time concentrating too.
I tried again to concentrate on the Bible study this morning, same chapter actually. I ended up not getting but through a couple of verses. Arguing with my husband and children. Keeping them on task and then trying to get to church on time. I also noticed that I am incredibly irritable today. I don't know why, but it started yesterday too.
I went out of town on Wednesday and Thursday, had a very good time with a friend. But I realized when I got home how much I had to get done. I usually get down around the beginning of the month and this seems to go with it too. So I have been in a down mood and very moody to top it off. So then I guess I can see how it was hard to concentrate on my Bible study.
Today 3 people in my house are gone, while my other 2 children were watching a nice, Sabbath movie, I took a nap. After that I made cookies and then I did the same Bible study. I am still moody, but feel more able to deal with it now. I also spent some time in prayer with God. Some time in the Living Room. Some necessary time, to get myself back into acting like the Child of God I am.
I ended up using 3 versions of the Bible; a NIV, a NLT, and a KJV study Bible. I also used 2 online commentaries and a SDA Bible Commentary. I only made it through verse 17, but I understand it now, and that's all that matters. I actually went through it verse by verse and rewrote it in my own words. This really helped it to cement into my brain.
The gist of the first 17 verses of ch 8 of Romans is that because Jesus died for us on the cross, his sacrifice has released us from death in sin. We have life, if we live in Christ, according to the Spirit. We must put our old lives of sin to death and be raised up new in Christ. God has adopted us as his children and we are then heirs to his glory, along with Christ, but that also means that we share in his sufferings. This is still a continuation if you will notice of what was being said in ch. 7. The Good News is that Jesus died for us, for our sins, to free us from that sin, but the obligation is now on us to live a life in the Spirit. To truly become God's children in spirit as well as truth.
Now that I understand these verses more fully, I appreciate even more the sacrifice of Jesus. The other thing I liked about this in depth study technique, was the ability to compare other translations and to really delve deep into meanings of words. I also like, really like having a deeper understanding of the obligation I now hold in my body, mind and heart.
I did read ch. 7, while I was out of town and really found a lot in it and quite a bit I want to share with you, so I will post it later.
If you haven't read, really read Romans, then I really recommend you do so. There is a message of hope for Believers that is so reassuring.
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