What can I offer the Lord
….for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
….and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
….in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:12-14 NLT

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I serve a two-point charge (two churches pastored by one person), the service at the one church is at 9:00, and then about a 15-minute trip for a 10:30 service at the other. We have no Sunday School classes, or any other services beyond the Sunday morning ones and a couple of special seasonal ones. And that’s the way it’s been for 16 years now.

Several years ago, a member and his wife from the first church asked that we start a Bible study. They craved to go deeper into God’s word. Sadly, he passed away of cancer not long after, but we kept the Bible Study going up until the pandemic.

One book that I had been told, by another parishioner, would be over many heads was the book of Romans. It was not one we tackled right off the bat but eventually, we did work through it, one passage at a time.

I will admit I find the book of Romans to be a challenge but mainly, I think it is because it is meaty! There’s no marshmallow fluff here! One cannot rush through it. To really mine the riches it holds, one must dig deep and leave no stone unturned.

I have never been athletic in any way, but my Life Application Study Bible worked a sports metaphor into their introduction to Romans that I really must share.

Paul clearly sets forth the foundations of the Christian faith. All people are sinful; Christ died to forgive sin; we are made right with God through faith; this begins a new life with a new relationship with God. Like a sports team that constantly reviews the basics, we will be greatly helped in our faith by keeping close to these foundations. If we study Romans carefully, we will never be at a loss to know what to believe.

It goes on to say in so many words that as followers of Christ we most certainly do not live lives that are separated from an abstract theology that is not livable. God’s word has practical application to every aspect of our lives. If we follow it, it can literally affect how we live out each day. It is not enough to simply know of God, we must know Him personally and intimately! And oh, what a journey we will have…together!

Wrapping up, here are a couple of portions from the prayer GOD ENJOYED from The Valley of Vision. (God works all things out for our good for this one was in tonight’s reading!)

Thou incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God,
Known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, but unrevealed,
    my wants and welfare draw me to thee,
    for thou hast never said, ‘Seek ye me in vain’.

Continue the gentleness of thy goodness towards me,
And whether I wake or sleep, let thy presence go with me,
    thy blessing attend me.
Thou hast led me on and I have found thy promises true,

Aug 29th, 2022, Mon, 7:26 pm