Romans – Be Still…

Romans 5:8 – What Love!

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

Don’t you feel loved when you read that verse? Being loved by God is a luxury we often take for granted. It’s the most fantastic, yet hard to fathom love there is. Think how many people alive in our world don’t realize that God loves them, much less what that love feels like. We sometimes have a hard time believing ourselves.

Context: Paul talks about the benefits of having faith. When we know who is by our side cheering us on, it’s a lot easier to face the tough stuff that is going to give us character and endurance. When we trust God, we acknowledge our need for his rescue as lost sinners. We should also keep in mind that God loves us no matter how unlovely we might be. That goes for our neighbor, too! Continue reading “Romans 5:8 – What Love!”

Romans 3:23 – Don’t Deny It

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)

There is no denying it. This verse calls us out as we are included in the “everyone” Paul is referring to. What have we done? We have sinned and fallen short of God’s hope for us. Remembering we’re not perfect keeps us honest and keen on realizing we need a Savior. That’s why this memory verse is so powerful.

Context: Paul’s instructions to the Romans in this chapter center around the sinful tendencies of humankind. Paul is quick to remind us that Jesus took our punishment. We can be made right with God not by keeping the law but because of Jesus. This is a key section of Scripture, and this verse is right there in the midst of it. Continue reading “Romans 3:23 – Don’t Deny It”

Romans 10:17 – Our Basis for Faith

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Discussions about faith and spirituality are big these days. People want to place their faith in so many things like themselves, for example. There are new self-help gurus popping up all the time, each promising to make us better versions of ourselves. I don’t mean to bash that industry, but shouldn’t the creator of the universe be the one we turn to if we want to be our best? This memory verse is simple yet powerful.

Context: Paul’s letter to the Romans is packed with wisdom for life. In this section of Chapter 10, he speaking about salvation and the necessary component of faith in Jesus Christ. In Paul’s day, while closer to the time Jesus lived and eyewitness accounts were still fresh, there were still plenty of people who didn’t know the good news about Jesus. Still today, people reject the truth about Jesus even when they have every opportunity to hear. This verse grounds us to understand the basis of our faith. Continue reading “Romans 10:17 – Our Basis for Faith”

Romans 6:1-11 Your Purpose in the Kingdom

Read Romans 6:1-11

girl looking over the water with her arms up in the air as if in joy for knowing her purpose

This whole chapter in Romans talks about sin, but we’re just looking at the first 11 verses. There’s plenty of nuggets here for us to cherish. Since our theme is “Seeking the Kingdom of God,” we may be thinking that we’re looking for a place. Where is the kingdom of God exactly? For purposes of our reflections, it’s where Jesus rules as king. That should be in our lives here and now, just as well as our eternal home in heaven.

Our reading today talks about how the power of sin has been broken. That’s a good thing because our sin is what puts a wedge between us and God. Paul’s words are challenging to understand at first, aren’t they? Paul describes how our lives are changed because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus paid for our sins with his life.

Day 11 Away in a Manger

wooden manger with straw and bright light radiating from it

I’ve always thought of this carol as a great lullaby. This is a song that you have to start on a higher note since it starts at its high point. (Do I sound like a musician!) I’m picturing the hand motions I’ve taught children over the years to help them remember the words to the song. I love how spending time with each of these Christmas carols has opened up the flood of memories!

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.