They Have No Excuse

 Meditations on Romans

July 13, 2021

They Have No Excuse

 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Romans 1:20

Read: Romans 1:18-23

Many years ago, I had led a group from my church to visit churches in Mexico. Late on a Sunday evening, on our last day there, we were several miles south of Matamoros. I had just finished preaching the last of several services that day, and our host pastor took us to the home of one of his parishioners for supper. There was no ambient light, and it was very dark. As I looked up into the night sky, I was overwhelmed with the beauty, the majesty of countless thousands of stars. My host immediately began quoting the Psalms:

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—“ (Psalm 8:3)

In today’s passage from Romans 1, Paul teaches us that the beauty of God, the Creator is all around us, and the wonder of creation is sufficient to invoke a response of thankfulness. Nevertheless, there were many who, “instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:24).

In Romans 1:16-17, Paul affirmed that God has made himself known in Jesus the Messiah, whose faithfulness in fulfilling God’s promises makes it possible for all people to come into a right relationship with God, the Creator. My faith in the faithfulness of Jesus opens the door for me to embrace with joy the proclamation of the psalmist:

“what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.”

Psalm 8:4-5

What is there left to say?

“O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”

Psalm 8:9

My Takeaway: In the wake of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, a person living in Seattle used social media to make a very snide comment about the Christians living in Houston – chiding them to explain why their God allowed the hurricane. Later that month, Cheryl and I were blessed to spend a week in Seattle, and every day during our visit, we gave thanks to God for the stunning beauty of His creation. It is sad that people, living there in the splendor of the mountains and sea, can see the created without giving thanks to the Creator. May I never look upon the wonders of God’s creation without a thankful heart.

 

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

For I Am Not Ashamed

 Meditations on Romans

 July 12, 2021

For I Am Not Ashamed

“As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:17c

Read: Romans 1:14-17

I noted in the opening passage of Romans 1, that Paul could be very dense in his writing as he packs so much content into such a short space. Verses 16 and 17 in today’s reading are a good example of Paul’s style. In two sentences (in the NRSV, five in the NLT) Paul tells us all we need to know about the Good News of Jesus. First, the Gospel is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Next, this Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. Lastly, all this is accomplished from start to finish by faith. Remember my takeaway from Romans 1:1-7? It is all about Jesus! The Good News, the Gospel, is all about Jesus, and his faithfulness to God. Our part is to simply believe the Good News! Of course, Biblical believing is not so simple. We don’t just believe the Good News, we act on our beliefs, and allow our belief in the Good News to transform our lives to become like Jesus.

My Takeaway: Paul proclaimed, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.” In our society today, there is more and more resistance to the Gospel. And there are more and more divisions among the churches in our land. Like Paul, may I never, ever be ashamed of my faith in Jesus.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Help People Grow Strong in The Lord

 Meditations on Romans

July 9, 2021

Help People Grow Strong in The Lord

“For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.”

Romans 1:11

Read: Romans 1:8-13

The phrase that captured my attention in today’s reading is, “your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.” Why do you think the faith of this little community of believers in Rome was known throughout Paul’s world? Because for the followers of Jesus in Rome, Jesus was not just one of many gods they could worship; Jesus was Lord and Savior of the world. For these Christians, Jesus was not optional for life; Jesus was their life. They believed Jesus was the only way to be reconciled to God the Creator. Without Jesus, they would stand as guilty sinners on the Day of Judgment. Without Jesus, there was no hope of eternal life. The Christians in Rome were living in the shadow of the Emperor of the Roman Empire, who proclaimed himself as divine and ruler of the world. To proclaim another person as Lord was to pronounce a death sentence on their life. Faith for these Christians was indeed risky.

Like our spiritual ancestors in Rome, I want to be more aware of opportunities to let my faith be known. Some of these opportunities may be risky and take me out of my comfort zone by challenging conventional cultural wisdom. I pray that this faithful little church in Rome will inspire me to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with my Abba Father, especially when Abba leads me out of my comfort zone.

My Takeaway: In Verse 11, we see that Paul was very aware of his spiritual gifts and wanted to share them generously to help people grow strong in the Lord. I too want to share, with humble acceptance, the gifts God has bestowed on me to help others grow strong in the Lord.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Jesus, All For Jesus

 Meditations on Romans

July 8, 2021

Jesus, All For Jesus

“. . . and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 1:4

Read: Romans 1:1-7

Paul’s letter to the Romans is a systematic presentation of God’s plan of redemption for the entire world. In the first five verses, Paul outlines this plan which he fully developed in the sixteen chapters of this letter. Perhaps more than any other book in the New Testament, Paul’s letter to the Romans has been used by God to keep his people on the right track. My goal in reading Romans again is to allow the wonder of Paul’s revelations about God to sweep over me anew.

In the NRSV Bible, the first seven verses are one sentence and are somewhat convoluted, making it difficult for me to grasp Paul’s point. The NLT breaks this passage into nine sentences where Paul’s passion is easier to see. Paul is writing to a group of Christians in Rome, which at his time was the political, financial and military center of power for the known world. Implicit in Paul’s announced intention of his letter is that while Caesar may claim to be god, the only true and living God has sent His Son to be the Savior for the entire world.

Paul’s introduction to Romans also gives me an important insight into my understanding of the Gospel: the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Gospel isn’t good news because I believe it or because of how the Gospel has changed my life. The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, is a fact of human and divine history. It is for this reason that Paul would write, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:2 NRSV). That simple sentence embodied everything Paul wrote in Romans 1:1-7.

My Takeaway:

Jesus, all for Jesus

All I am and have and ever hope to be

Jesus, all for Jesus

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans

Jesus, all for Jesus

For it's only in your will that I am free

Jesus, all for Jesus

Jesus, All For Jesus

Robin Mark

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Paul’s Final Greetings

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

July 7, 2021

Paul’s Final Greetings

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:16a

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-18

In 2:2, Paul mentions the church may have received a letter from him that was a forgery, and this may be why his closing emphasizes his own signature. Paul similarly closed his letters of 1 Corinthians, Colossians and Galatians.

I especially was drawn to Paul’s benediction in the verse quoted above. What a wonderful prayer for his friends, and a prayer we can incorporate into our lives:

“May the Lord of Peace give me his peace at all times and in every situation, I encounter today.”

My Takeaway: I was drawn to Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians after reading of Paul’s encounters there in Acts 17. My abiding takeaway from these mediations is from 2 Thessalonians 1, as I ask God to enable me to live a life worthy of his call, and that the name of my Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way I live.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (v.18)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Exhortation to Proper Living

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

July 6, 2021

An Exhortation to Proper Living

As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

In this passage, Paul urges the church to take responsibility for their life, and to hold one another accountable for their growth and maturity in the life of Christ. Regrettably, these attributes of the first century church are not a priority in many churches today.

Recently, there has been much discussion about whether it is appropriate to withhold communion for a church member. In response, a person wrote on social media a long message that concluded with, “You were appointed an ambassador of the Good News, not a bouncer at the door of Club Heaven.” That message received much support, and I’ve seen it copied and pasted on Facebook pages. It is a nice thought, but it is heresy, and negates everything Paul taught about church discipline.

As we have seen throughout our reading of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, God calls us to be holy. We can’t become holy on our own. It is God working in us, and our Christian community coming along side of us that enables us to become the people God has called us to be: just like Jesus.

My Takeaway: “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Paul’s Request for Prayer

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

July 5, 2021

Paul’s Request for Prayer

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

As Paul began this closing section of his letter, he asked for prayer. His first request is for the Gospel to rapidly spread and be honored wherever it goes. When I read Paul’s request, I am convicted of how infrequently are my prayers for the Gospel message to spread and be honored in my church, community and nation. Paul’s other requests can also serve as a good model for our prayer life.

In verses 2 and 3, he asked for protection from evil people, and the evil one. His request reminds me of the Lord’s Prayer, “Deliver us from the evil one . . .” (Matthew 6:13), and also Pauls’ exhortation on the armor of God, Ephesians 6. In verses 4 and 5, Paul edifies his friends and prays for their spiritual growth in a way that reminds of me of his beautiful prayer for spiritual wisdom in Ephesians 1:15ff.

My Takeaway: Paul’s final prayer request commends a life of patient endurance. As I noted last week (June 22), a hallmark of the first Christians is their patience. Their patience was rooted in God’s character and a confident assurance God will fulfill his promise of the return of Jesus in final victory.  I am reminded once again that if I am to develop Godly patience in my life, I need to spend much more time in scripture and prayer than I do on social and news media.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.