Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm the blessings that are ours with the coming of the Holy Spirit into our lives.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Please turn to Romans 5:1-5. As you read each word, let it speak to your heart about what God has given to us to give us fullness of life. Let these words of Paul to the Christians in Rome be your words, written to you right where you sit this day. For Paul to say that we have been justified means that we have been made acceptable even though we may feel unacceptable. Let God’s word bless and purify you this day.
Here is that passage in RSV: Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.
What has God given us? 1. Justification by faith. Fancy way of saying, God has given us a relationship with Him. We who because of our sin are unworthy, are made worthy through faith in Jesus Christ. When they were trying to teach us this in one of my many theology classes, they showed us a film, yes, I'm that old; a 16 mm, clickity clack whirling of film on a projector wheeled in to the classroom by the AV Club of Perkins. It was a film about a priest who ran an orphanage in some South or Central American country. The kids were fed and taught and allowed to play in the courtyard. I don't remember any narration or even dialogue in the film, for there comes to the huge doors of this church compound, this disfigured little boy. His face scarred from innocence to terror by a fire. His clothes and general appearance show one who is alone, uncared and unloved. He seems hungry, not only for food but for company of any sort. He seeks relationship. The priest opens the door to the compound and the little boy comes. The kids see this new child and flee in terror, for this face is hideous. The priest holds and hugs the little boy, the child's face beaming with this new sensation of human contact, and tears flow down his face. The other children, moved by the display of he who is older and wiser, who has accepted the child, then also come and also put their hands on the boy's shoulders and arms. The end. Justification by faith. We, who were once "unacceptable" are now acceptable because of God's great love.
2. We have peace in our hearts in God through Jesus Christ. There is no greater peace for humanity than that which comes through knowing we are loved and in a secure, nurturing relationship. This is ours, again by faith, through Jesus. It's ours for the asking!
3. We have access to grace. Grace is that undeserved, unmerited, free gift of God's love. Again, through Jesus in that relationship we have with God.
4. We have unending joy through the hope that is ours.
5. This same rejoicing lasts through the unpleasant things of life, such as suffering.
6. Our suffering produces endurance.
7. Our endurance produces character.
8. Our hope does not disappoint.
9. Our character produces hope.
10. God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
PRAYER: Loving God, it could not be clearer; You love us so much that through Your Holy Spirit You can provide all we need for a life that is full of life. Grant to me that fullness of life today. Let me be mindful of all you have shared, through Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
