Category: Romans

Romans 5:18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 

According to one source on Google, “the opposite of WONDER is EXPECTATION.” That fact resonates as I read today’s verses. Sin seems to be EXPECTATION–This is what *I* want. This will make  *me* happy. This might hurt others, but what does that matter if the end result is about me, me, me?

Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Grace is WONDER. Even as He was dying, Christ prayed for those who persecuted Him. “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” How can Christ be so grace-filled at the hour of His death and to the people who caused it? It is literally beyond me, but as a sinner saved by grace, I am so incredibly grateful for His mercy, grace, and love.

Romans 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your fierce mercy and grace. Thank You for the wonder of Your love. Thank You that there is nothing I can do that You will not forgive, that Your grace will not cover. Help me to have the sense and the strength to accept Your grace and turn from my sin. Help me. Amen.

Romans 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 5:16a Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, 

Reading commentary on today’s verses has been quite interesting. Commentary mentioned the term Federal Theology–the idea of Adam and Jesus as two representatives of the human race–Adam representing humanity’s sinfulness and Jesus representing  humanity’s salvation.

Romans 5:16b …but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 

Of course, with an election creeping ever closer, the idea of Federal Theology, party representatives, has me thinking that this vote would be a no-brainer. However, as fleshly, fallible humans, we choose sin again and again. What is wrong with us? Thankfully, “God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” is available to us even when we continue to make the wrong choice.

Romans 5:17a For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, 

Precious Savior, Thank You that You give me the freedom of choice. You don’t want me to be a slave to You. You want me to choose You, freely, again and again. Forgive me when I make the wrong choice. Help me to choose You. Always. Amen.

Romans 5:17b …how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Have a blessed day.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

I want to focus today on verse 15. The gist is, essentially, all for one and one for all. Through Adam, we are all sinners. Through Christ, we are all forgiven. Yesterday’s scripture reminded us that we are celebrated when we return, but that those who never stray never lose access to Christ’s presence, a priceless gift in itself.

Romans 5:13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 

The all for one and one for all nature of Christ’s sacrifice–He died for all of us; His grace and mercy is available to all of us–has me thinking about the many, many ways we separate ourselves as human beings. *I* am worthy. You are not. *We* are chosen. They are not. That’s not how God works. Nadia Bolz-Weber once said, “Every time we draw a line between us and others, Jesus is always on the other side of it.”

Romans 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

Precious Savior, Forgive me when I try to draw lines of division, when I try to establish that I am on “Your” side and those “others” are somehow not. Thank You that You love all of Your creation even those who do not recognize or accept You. Help me to see as You see, to love as You love. Help me. Amen.

Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

Have a blessed day.

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  

Today’s verses remind me of the story of the prodigal son. The younger brother, the prodigal, collected his inheritance and left, living it up on his own. He hit hard times, humbled himself, and returned home, determined to be content with being treated as his father’s servant. His father welcomed him, celebrated him, and the older brother, who had stayed home, had continued working diligently for the father, was angry that he had never been celebrated, even though he stayed.

Romans 5:10a For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, 

Luke 15:31 says, “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” The older brother had never lost access to the father, had never known the want and the lack that came from a severed connection. He had always lived in the father’s love and blessing. That, to me, is the root of this message in Romans: We were saved “while we were God’s enemies…how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Romans 5:10b …how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Precious Savior, Thank You for this connection to You. Forgive me when I whine and complain. Help me to root out that obnoxious trait. Help me to daily live the truth of the fact that I am always with You and everything You have is mine. Thank You for that undeserved blessing. Help me to live as the deeply loved child of God that I am. Amen.

Romans 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

As I was reading today’s verses, I thought, hope is what makes miracles possible. Christ’s hope is why I can cling to Isaiah 43:19 (God is making a way in the wilderness), even when I can see no way in my wilderness. Christ isn’t limited to my earthly perspective.

Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

But just as Christ isn’t limited to my idea of what’s possible in a situation, He’s also not limited to my idea of what’s right, what’s best. So clinging to the idea that hope does not put us to shame is important when things don’t go the way we plan. God’s still making a way. His ways are nothing like our ways. His thoughts are beyond anything we can imagine.

Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the miracle of hope, that Your thoughts are beyond our imaginings, that we can trust You, even when we see no possible way. Help us to hold on to hope, hold on to You, always. Amen.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Today I want to focus on verse 3 because it is so very hard for me, for many of us. “Glory in our sufferings”? I cannot, will not rejoice proudly in my sufferings, but I will rejoice in the fact that God can speak to my heart during life’s trials in a way that He cannot in the good times.

Romans 5:2 …through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  

But here’s the thing, and it’s a lesson we all have to learn for ourselves, and it is a very painful lesson: God doesn’t always make everything ok on this side of the veil. He doesn’t always bring earthly healing or answers. But He is always with us. Always. He walks with us through the tough times, carrying us when we can no longer stand. He wipes our tears, walks beside us. Life can be hard. That’s just the nature of life on earth. But He never leaves us to do it alone.

Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding the pain and loss of this world. Thank You for walking with me, even when there are no words to be said. I just cannot rejoice in suffering, but I rejoice in this closeness that comes from walking with You through those valleys. Thank You. Amen.

Romans 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:20a On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

Today’s verses have me thinking about the word enemy. Google defines an enemy as “a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.” Does it make someone my enemy just because they have been mean to me? Does it make them my enemy if they have been mean to someone I love?

Romans 12:20b …if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

And what about those people who are truly, truly vile–denying others basic human rights, killing them? Am I supposed to “kill them with kindness,” too? Jesus says yes. That’s a hard one for me. Being kind to someone who is not kind. I can do it. I have done it. And it *is* better than the alternative–being mean and spiteful and bitter. Those emotions leech into my soul, and Jesus doesn’t want that for me.

Romans 12:20c …In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Precious Savior, Thank You that You do not want me to give in to anger, bitterness, and spite. Thank You that You call me to a higher way and for giving me plentiful examples, like praying for those who persecute You, even as You were taking Your last breath. Help me, Jesus, to love like You love. Help me not to be mean and petty in return for others’ meanness and pettiness. Help me. Amen.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  

A lot of the advice in these verses feels impossible: Do what is right in the eyes of everyone? Impossible. Live in peace with everyone? Unfeasible. Not only that, but I feel like if you try to please everyone, you are only setting yourself up for failure.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

God doesn’t want to set us up for failure, so what is the intent of these verses? I think it is to help us focus on the best of what’s possible. We will never do what’s right in the eyes of everyone, but if we live life with that intent–doing what’s right, always–much good will come from that. If we try to sew peace instead of discord on a daily basis, much good will come from that, too.

Romans 12:19a Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 

Precious Savior, Sometimes I feel mean and small and contentious. I don’t like that side of myself. Help me to adjust my attitude to try to live in peace with everyone (as far as it depends on me). Help me to do what’s right in Your eyes. Help me to live for You and not myself. Amen.

Romans 12:19b …“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Once again the advice in this section of Romans seems fairly simple and straightforward but not necessarily easy. Rejoicing sometimes comes with a tinge of jealousy. Mourning often comes with the expectation of an expiration date. Harmony happens as long as things are going my way. Pride and conceit end up creeping in.

Romans 12:16a Live in harmony with one another.

I’m not sure we are meant to master these things on earth. I’m not sure–as fallible human beings–that we are capable of mastering them. We need Jesus. Desperately. And our fallibility is made to keep us coming back to the foot of His cross again and again and again. We cannot do this life without His help. We weren’t created that way.

Romans 12:16b Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that I cannot do this life alone, that I need You–every hour of every day, that I can get a little better each day if I try and if I stay focused on You, that You love me fiercely, even in my failures. Help me to draw closer to You each day, to become more like You each day. Help me to keep trying. Amen.

Romans 12:16c Do not be conceited.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:13a Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.

Romans 13 is a pretty easy verse to follow. Share with those in need. Practice hospitality. I can do those things. No sweat. But verse 14 proves way more difficult.

Romans 12:13b Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you.—I’m sorry. What?!?—Bless and do not curse. That one is definitely more difficult. My default for those who persecute me is not blessing. Though Jesus showed me a model of it as He prayed, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do,” as the soldiers were crucifying Him.

Romans 12:14a Bless those who persecute you;

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding that if we curse those who persecute us, we will be chained to anger and bitterness. Thank You for providing us with the ultimate example of “Bless those who persecute you” as You breathed Your last on the cross. Give us the strength to love like You. Amen.

Romans 12:14b …bless and do not curse.

Have a blessed day.