Skip to main content

The List

             Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. (Romans 5:1-5)

          Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace if we’d only stopped acting like we are the ones doing God the favor. And while we’re supposed to boast in the hope of the glory of God, we’re posing for selfies.

          Now, I’ll admit that we have some great examples of glorying in our suffering. There are lots of people who seem to delight in telling you how much they’ve suffered, or that they’ve suffered with someone else who has suffered, and therefore how much we owe them, even if they aren’t the ones who suffered. And if we’re confronted about our behavior, it’s not our fault. If God, or if “they” did what they’re supposed to, everything would be fine.

          What I’ve said above is likely to get a negative reaction. We aren’t like that. You may not be, but I am. And I don’t know anyone who wanders around praising and glorifying God with great gusto 24/7. Or even 16/7. Or even 1/7 or 1/1. Our lives are much more focused on the stuff going on in and around us. That’s the stuff that seems to demand our attention.

          To be honest, if we look in Scripture, we don’t find too many people who too much time praising God. David is one exception. I think Paul may be another. Others may have their moments, and perhaps we fall into their category. This season, when we have some truly magnificent music (and I’m even hearing some at work! It’s not all “Santa Baby” and “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”!), can we work on a habit of singing along, even if it’s just in our hearts? Can we stop and admire the beauty of snow? And praise God for it, even if it means getting out of bed just when it's getting warm, getting dressed and going out to clear the end of the driveway before the plow wake turns to ice? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditations of the Heart

  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm19:14)           As I started writing this post, I noted that the meditations of my heart are all over the mental landscape, from a hub where eight superhighways come together to a lunar or nuclear landscape. Do you see my error? The moment I read the word meditation , I think about thoughts. But what’s described here is the meditations of our hearts ; our wills.           While the meditations of our minds may be all over the place, the meditations of our wills tend to be a little more stable by the time we are adults. We no longer tend to want to pursue the ten separate careers we did in any given day as children. Part of this is humble acceptance of reality. We come to understand that we can’t do it all. I think another part of it is disappointmen...
Post a Comment
Read more