Anyway...you can read about that in Full Circle
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we are justified ([a]acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to [b]enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Justified. That's one of my favorite songs by Smokie Norful. I have the version with a little sermonette intro and I love what he say about how the Blood will speak through all eternity on our behalf. Knowing that I have the right to approach a Holy and Righteous God because I am drenched in the Blood of the Lamb is humbling. Jesus died and was separated from the Father so that I would never know that pain. Or at least if I knew it, it would be of my own doing. Belonging to Him means He won't leave you out there on your own for long. He's chased me, not in the way LP does but in an even more powerful one than physically. Any time I've strayed its gotten so hard for me out there away from Him that I've come crawling back. What I've found is that there's nothing out there for me. Everything I need is right there where God is.
Grace. Grace so sufficient it can't be understood. The more I learn about the God I know in my heart, the more appropriate my tattoo feels. God's favor is so amazing but it isn't always a stroll in the park. Sometimes its running in the forest alone. The idea that favor isn't always pleasant is one I don't feel is sufficiently explored. Favor means He's on your side not that your side is a vacation. He's with you in the midst of all the nonsense you're in. What I love about Him is that even in the middle of confusion, you can always find God because nothing about God is confusing. Whenever I'm in a place emotionally, mentally, or spiritually where I'm walking in confusion, I know that when I find that which isn't confusing its God. Sometimes His presence is hard to sense but I know for a fact that God and confusion are incongruent. If you're confused, that isn't God. That truth helps me all the time.
Romans 5:4
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [c]character (approved faith and [d]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [e]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
LISTEN! This right here....this right here is a truth that is so dense it can feel impenetrable. Waiting...we're back there y'all. The waiting is so purposeful. Here it says that enduring develops maturity of character. I like the what the amplified says about faith and integrity. Lets parlay there a minute. There is nothing like waiting on the Lord and Him showing up. Can I offer He always shows up? He does. Can I also offer that Him showing up in your situation isn't always going to take it in the direction you want but will take it in the direction you need? This has been real in my life so many times. When I wanted Him to show up with a UNC acceptance letter He gave me a verbal offer in DRCII in Omaha, Nebraska. It wasn't what I wanted but what I needed. And I had to wait. I think I got into grad school like 5 days before graduation from Hampton. I had thought I'd was going to UNC since December of 2008 and they courted me but I ended up in Nebraska and it was a wonderful experience. It was what I needed. It was His best for me.
Integrity....oh that's a thing. My mentor has this way of talking about integrity that makes me laugh every time. Integrity is where actions and words match. When I think about waiting, I think about not getting in front of what God's doing. That's an arduous task because you want to have that which He's promised you or that which you feel you deserve and He's not brought that into your reality yet. You can't be in front of God. That's not how this works. Integrity for me has been staying faithful in my actions and my words in the midst of waiting. And it does produce joy. Even when its not easy, knowing you've given a perfect effort even in your failing...for me anyway, it give me hope. Waiting....I'm telling you its a thing of beauty, a tried by the fire, middle of a monsoon, deep in the forest alone with your God thing of beauty.
Romans 5:8
But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
Like....there it is. He died for our sin before we ever said we'd give Him anything back. Like He died for me knowing I'd have the free will to not choose the gift of salvation. That's radical love. I love Him so much because He loved me first. Like....He loved me first. Me....failing, insignificant, pushy, stubborn, sinful, wayward me. He loved me and He pursued me to His death because it was the most He could give for me. There is no greater love than what Jesus did for me on the Cross.
None.
Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [[g]resurrection] life.
Us and God weren't cool before Jesus died on the cross. We died in our sinfulness right along with Jesus and were raised in righteousness as well. What that doesn't mean is that we will be perfect. I know Phil isn't perfect. She's so far from it its crazy. Like East is from the West far. God sees my sins as far as the East is from the West. When I think about the things I've given up, the things He's brought me to a place where I don't desire them I'm humbled. I know it wasn't me. Its always Him. The ways in which He's grown me in different areas, its baffling because when I was growing I didn't realize it. One day suddenly I had more grace because He'd shown me grace. One day I had more mercy to give because I'd received mercy in my situation. One day I was more forgiving because I'd been on the side of needing to be forgiven and having been forgiven without any reservation. He taught me so much when I wasn't paying attention but the fruits of those struggles help me be a better person and a better Christian.
Romans 5:18-20
Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.
19 For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, [k]heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).
20 But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,
Adam was wrong and that led to the fall of mankind. Jesus was right and that led to the right standing of mankind. The law just lets me know how far short of the mark of the high calling I'm falling every day. What I love here is the last line. Where sin has increased, GRACE has surpassed it. Grace is bigger than sin. Grace is bigger than we can think or imagine. Paul's clearly saying that as awful as we are capable of thinking of, God's grace is bigger in the opposite direction. I'm not even what I'd consider a bad person but I need that grace desperately.
I think there isn't a radical understanding of Grace and we need one. When I think about how much of it I need and how He's constantly challenging me to understand that its bigger than I'll ever conceive of, I'm thankful because I know I'm covered. I know He's got me. I also know that if He's got this much grace for me, when I love someone I can extend them more grace than I think I can. One of the things I've learned about love is that love is more gracious than I ever thought. Love allows space for the other to do things we don't like for them to do but we still don't give up. God doesn't give up. If I'm supposed to be following His example, then I need to work on my follow through as well. And trust me....He's working on my follow through like none other. They that wait on the Lord...
No comments:
Post a Comment