D. L. Moody gives us understanding of this by telling a story of a former slave woman in the South following the Civil War. She was confused about her status and asked: "Now is I free, or been I not? When I go to my old master he says I ain't free, and when I go to my own people they say I is, and I don't know whether I'm free or not. Some people told me that Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but master says he didn't; he didn't have any right to." As we seek to follow Christ, we find that we can be confused on the same point. Jesus Christ has given us an "Emancipation Proclamation," but our "old master" tells us we are still slaves to a legal relationship with God. We can live in bondage because our "old master" has deceived us.
Our Thursday night Bible Study is studying Romans. To help comprehend some of the teachings in chapter 5, we are attempting to read 5:1-11 each day.
Somehow, our living God unfolds His Word to us when we spend time with Him; wanting to know Him more; listening for His heart to be revealed through His words to us.
By reading passages over and over we are often able to see things we may have missed earlier. I also find that reading the Scriptures in various translations or paraphrases can add new dimensions to my understanding.
I haven't done my Bible Study "homework" as faithfully as I would have liked, so I might get the grade of a C, if I were evaluated. Even so, it's been a good practice... very good.
This morning I was reading the verses in The New Living Translation and it hit me with a POW!
It is the most incredible, amazing thing to be made "right" in God's sight; to be made "right" before the Majestic, Almighty Creator of the Universe...The One who has the power and authority to destroy us.
It is beyond my human comprehension that He says we are His friends.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines friend:
b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3
: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4
: a favored companion
A relationship of friendship, with God, because of faith in what He has done through Jesus.
Yeah. Amaaaazing!
Part of the "POW!" I received, came due to a vibrant connection between the words that I read and a song that my son had shared recently. The song has managed to remain as background music in my brain for the past few days.
(Sometimes when I see music videos, the actions of the people involved distract me from the words. Often I don't watch, but just listen and I "hear" better. I wonder if you find that to be true as well?)
Here is the Scripture, followed by the song. I hope you too, feel a POW!
Romans 5:1-11
New Living Translation (NLT)
Faith Brings Joy
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Just what we were talking about in our Sunday Morning Women's Group.... How do we thank God for answered prayer before He answers us? Here's an article I found on The Purpose Driven Life site. More on this topic to come. Thank God in Advance May 26, , 2013 by Rick Warren "The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!'" (2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT) In 2 Chronicles 20:21, King Jehoshaphat had a very unusual way of organizing an army: "The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!'" (NLT)
Jehoshaphat’s battle plan was to put a choir before the infantry. Patton would have fainted! Picture this: On one side are the three enemy armies amassed to do battle against Israel. Then there’s the valley where they’re going to do battle. Then there are the lowly Israelites. Jehoshaphat says, “We’re going to take those who sing and make a choir out of you and put you in front of the army as you march into battle.”
There’s a very important truth here: The Israelites were thanking God in advance for the victory. Praise and thanksgiving are verbalized faith. If you thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If you thank God before it happens, that’s faith.
Notice the effect of praise in verses 22 and 23: “When they began to sing, the Lord threw the invading armies into a panic. The Ammonites and the Moabites attacked the Edomite army and completely destroyed it, and then they turned on each other in savage fighting" (GNT). God confused the enemy, and they turned on each other and destroyed themselves while the Israelites looked on. There is power in expectation.
You know that insurmountable problem in your life — the one with the odds stacked against you? When are you going to start thanking God for it? After it’s all solved? If so, that’s called gratitude. How about thanking God now, while you’re in the problem or see it coming at you? That is faith.
When you allow God to solve your problems, it becomes a testimony to unbelievers. The world takes notice when the Christian lives by faith. And, God loves to demonstrate his power in those who expect him to work in their lives.
Are you facing a difficult circumstance this week? Do you feel like the odds are against you? Do you think your problem is overwhelming? What do you do? You turn to God — Jehovah Nissi, the God who defends you.
For what do you need to thank God in advance today? How can you show your unbelieving friends and family that you are trusting God to solve your problems? What does that kind of faith in you look like to other people?
