In life, when we attend important events, we feel fortunate to have an invitation. But after we receive the invitation, many other issues arise: what will I wear? Will I need to purchase a gift? Are there special customs or rules I need to be aware of? How will I get there?But not so with the Lord. Chuck Swindoll points out this theme of Romans: "God provides what He requires of us--perfect righteousness." We are not invited to become a part of His family and then told to wash ourselves and purchase our own clothes- no! He washes us and makes us clean; He clothes us in HIS righteousness.
Yes, God has standards- completely unattainable ones, for anyone but Him. Praise the Lord, we don't have to consider how to make ourselves holy enough for God. When we become His child, He makes us holy; He purifies us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. After we receive His invitation, He tells us to take off the old things, and sends us His righteousness for us to "put on". He wrote out those customs or rules we need to be aware of AND we have His full assistance in living those customs and rules out in our lives, because as believers, we have Him with us at every moment. And, finally, we don't even have to figure out how to get there: He has already arranged our transportation to the event of our lives: meeting Him face to face.
It is not burdensome to accept this invitation from the Lord; His only requirements are those things that He gives. What an incredibly gracious God we serve!
**** I am so excited about reading through Romans; I look forward to getting grounded even more in the doctrine (truth) of our gracious God. I'm planning to spend the first 10 days of this month focusing in on the first five chapters. If you aren't already in the middle of a Bible study this month, I would love for you to join me in reading and studying Romans throughout April.****
5 comments:
That is so awesome that you are reading through Romans, Jess. We did about a six-month study of it in our small group last year...really in depth. (It's hard to tell where my writing ends and the type on the page begins, I wrote so many notes in my Bible.) It is by far one of my favorite books in the Bible. I look forward to reading your insights!
I kept going back and forth about doing it this month for that very reason, Kim- I know that there's no way to read everything about it. But I figure, I'll do what I can do. I'll read faithfully, I'll read commentaries, I'll listen to as many Piper sermons on Romans as I can, and I won't beat myself up for what I can't do. At the end of the month, I'll know it way better, and heck, I can extend it to a two-month study if it's really overwhelming! :)
I love Romans! I look forward to more of your commentary.
There is more than one real truth within this post, but one of the biggest truths that many believers seem to deny is the fact that we are invited to be His. How humbling is it that in all of our sin, God would choose to invite us to be a part of His perfect Kingdom?? That we should have the priviledge to sit at His feet, to worship Him...to serve Him...it is absolutley more than my little mind can wrap around. I do not pretend to understand why He chooses those He does, but am thankful that He has chosen me!
~~emmyj
I followed the Roman's road to finding Christ, so it holds a special bookmark in my heart!
Also, this year we have been studying Romans in Bible Study Fellowship -- awesome study!
Looking forward to reading more of what God is revealing to you!
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