Romans 14:1-23

Again, as with yesterday and the day before, an item for today: For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. (v. 7) I’m going to express an opinion here, my own observation on vaccinations. To me it’s a public health issue more than an individual decision. For none of us lives to himself… We may choose to get vaccinated so as to protect ourselves from COVID-19. But in doing so, we are also protecting one another. For none of us lives to himself…! Carol and I were COVID-vaccinated as early as possible – no doubt with our own health in mind. But as the number of vaccinated people surged we began to think of “herd immunity” – that the virus would die out for its inability to spread itself if a significant percentage of the population were to be vaccinated. Yet we have failed to reach that threshold because of the large number of people who choose not to be vaccinated.

Paul asks, Why do you pass judgment on your brother? (v. 10a) So where is “judgment” in all this? It truly is hard for me not to be judgmental against one of my brothers and his wife who refuse to be vaccinated. To me they simply seem to have an attitude, kinda like “No one can tell me what to do!” The answer lies in each of us seeking the Lord on each and every issue and decision in our lives. In truth, whether we live or die in this life matters not with respect to our eternal outcome. Again, Paul says it best: For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. (v. 8) Simple: We live to the Lord! Still, we need to be honest with ourselves IN THE LORD when we make our choices.

See also:

• July 7 (2020) / Romans 14:1-13
• July 8 (2020) / Romans 14:14-23

Romans 13:1-14

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (v. 2) I posted last year (see the first link below) about the then-upcoming Presidential election (November 2020) and how one side would be deeply troubled and the other side joyfully elated. But I suspected back then that our government would move on in good order, whether Trump was re-elected or Biden was newly elected. I could not imagine at all anything like January 6 happening in our country – that it could have even been planned or that the “riot” could not be controlled or that deaths would result. It left Carol and me in shock, watching the television reports in real time. Clearly the “demonstrators” were resisting our Constitutional authorities (…what God has appointed…) and are now in process to receive their judicially determined justice. Paul’s words are playing out in our own day.

See also:

• July 5 (2020) / Romans 13:1-7
• July 6 (2020) / Romans 13:8-14

Romans 12:1-21

I mention in the first link below a sermon given by Archbishop Beach last year entitled “Wake Up, America!” You can listen to the sermon here. Also, here is a link to an article written about the sermon that lists many of the details in his talk: https://virtueonline.org/wake-america-acna-archbishop-says-church-america-has-been-co-opted-culture. Both items are worth a listen and a read. Archbishop Beach in his sermon is echoing today’s verse 2a: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… AMEN!

See also:

• July 3 (2020) / Romans 12:1-8
• July 4 (2020) / Romans 12:9-21

Romans 11:1-36

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. (vv. 13-14) I have been fascinated and confused all along about Paul speaking about the Jews in chapters 9-11; he is writing to the Romans and the Jews had been kicked out of Rome, according Acts 18:2, And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. So maybe in the ensuing 3+ years the Jews had been allowed back? But whatever is going on in Rome, in today’s reading he cautions these Gentiles not to make too much of themselves: But if some of the branches were broken off, and you … were grafted in … and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches… (vv. 17-18a) I think there’s a message there for us today, not to make too much of ourselves as being Anglican and being arrogant toward believers in other denominations who do not align themselves with what we follow as traditional, historical Christian beliefs. Do not be arrogant…!

See also:

• June 30 (2020) / Romans 11:1-10
• July 1 (2020) / Romans 11:11-24
• July 2 (2020) / Romans 11:25-36

Romans 10:1-21

…they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. (vv. 2-3) Here Paul is speaking of the Jews, and while he seemingly lauds their zeal, he also points out that their zeal is misplaced. Carol and I have been watching “The Chosen” – catching up, episode by episode. Two days ago we watched an episode where Jesus heals a cripple by the Pool of Bethesda. With that healing Jesus says to the man, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” (John 5:8) In the show the Pharisees are standing by and yell at the man for carrying his bedding, which they say is forbidden by the Torah (doing work on the Sabbath). The man who had just been healed by Jesus is confused by this chastisement and looks to Jesus’ followers for direction. The disciples then say that the Pharisees’ order is not in the Torah, but it’s one of the rules from their teachers’ writings. Watching that show made a clear distinction for Carol and me as to the Law and the Pharisees’ interpretations of the Law. In today’s reading Paul seems to be saying the same thing when he writes, “…seeking to establish their own”. Their righteousness was obtained by works, not by faith.

We have more Old Testament passages quoted by Paul in this second half of Romans than anywhere else in his writings. It again amazes me that he calls out these particular verses and applies them as support for the particular context in which he was writing. Just today he quotes from Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, Joel, and Nahum. Yesterday’s quotes added Genesis, Exodus, Malachi, and Hosea to this list; tomorrow we’ll add Jeremiah and Job. Impressive!

See also:

• June 28 (2020) / Romans 9:30-10:13
• June 29 (2020) / Romans 10:14-21

Romans 9:1-33

I did not count how many times my Study Bible used the word “faith” in its notes to today’s reading. But as I read the text without the notes, what seems clear to me is not an issue of faith, but one of obedience. So now I’m struggling with trying to understand faith and obedience – how are they similar, how are they different. And I begin to wonder if faith has to do with the heart (believing, being) and obedience has to do with the hands (acting, doing). I note in my comments in the second link below, “…we respond to whatever God puts in front of us, again fully seeking His will, His wisdom, His guidance.” To me, that is a statement of faith – seeking, seeking, seeking, but not doing. Obedience follows, based on faith. As/after we seek, we do – and what we do is either obedience or disobedience. Confusing! Carol said to me, just before I began to post, “Today’s reading is difficult.” She should post to you all why she said that.

See also:

• June 26 (2020) / Romans 9:1-13
• June 27 (2020) / Romans 9:14-29
• June 28 (2020) / Romans 9:30-10:13

Romans 8:18-39

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good… (v. 28a) My Study Bible also offers a second translation for the second half of this verse: …God works all things together for good… Either translation supports the notion that when we pray for particular situations or outcomes, the end of our prayer should always be, “Not my will, but your will be done.” (Mt. 26:39, Mk. 14:36, Lk. 22:42, Jn 6:38 NASB, slightly edited). If all four Gospel writers included these words spoken by Jesus, it must be the case that we need to follow His lead, pray and move forward with whatever outcome results from whatever situation we face. We can wonder why God is doing what He is doing or why He is letting happen whatever is happening, but in the end it must be “Your will be done.”

See also:

• June 24 (2020) / Romans 8:18-30
• June 25 (2020) / Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:1-17

If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (v. 11) Most of us would like to interpret this verse as God promising eternal life with Him for those who have accepted Jesus and live for Him. But this verse could also suggest a renewed life in our present existence, He … will also give life to your mortal bodies…. I think the key to seeing this verse as referring to eternal life is in the phrase, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead… The previous verse seems to apply to our mortal lives here on earth: …if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (v. 10) So I think verse 10 refers to life here on earth and verse 11 refers to eternal life. It’s how I understand it – in fact, how I “claim” it. If Christ Jesus has been raised from the dead, we also will be raised from the dead. What a glorious thought!!

See also: June 23 (2020) / Romans 8:1-17

Romans 7:1-25

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. (vv. 22-23) Particularly in these two verses, but also throughout the last half of today’s reading we see this contrast between my mind and sin. I see this cartoon depiction of an angel standing on a person’s one shoulder and a devil standing on the person’s other shoulder, each whispering into the person’s ear. It’s a cute depiction, but really quite true, except that the angel is really the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Archbishop Beach says it well in today’s podcast where he speaks of temptation. Here is a quote from that summary: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. (his emphases) Beyond the quote he offers one of the few verses in my life that I have worked on and memorized: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (again, his emphases, I Corinthians 10:13) Paul’s final words today echo our Archbishop: Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (vv. 24-25a) Divine echo!!

See also:

• June 21 (2020) / Romans 7:1-12
• June 22 (2020) / Romans 7:13-25