Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday in December. Its in the 50's in Thomaston and sunny. Yesterday Waine had some of his golfing buddies over. I made gumbo and a good time was had by all even after playing in the rain and fog. The year is winding down quickly; before long we will have to remember to write 2015. It seems like I just learned to remember to write 2014. Anyway, I trust that this blog finds you well.
I am continuing my journey in Romans, Chapter 10 verses 1-21, " Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me.” But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Paul is now getting to the heart of the matter. Up to this point the Jews thought they had the "lock" on a relationship with Jehovah but Paul is letting all that will hear know that a relationship with God will only come through Christ and not by works. The Christ that was rejected by the Jews and crucified. Paul is preaching that a relationship with God is a spiritual one and not one based on the flesh, rituals or works. He is telling the Roman Jews know that it is our faith that makes us whole and in alignment with God. Not only our faith but our obligation to profess our faith to all who will hear. The message to the Roman Jews is that they will have to leave their baggage about works and rituals aside and begin to live by faith which is only made possible through a relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
In John 5, verses 1-9 a story is told about a man who has an infirmity for 38 years. "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked." The point being, the man was made whole because he believed and obeyed. He exercised his faith "by getting up"! When Jesus spoke he could have continued to lay there but he didn't he obey and exercised his faith.
How many of us choose to stay in our condition because of a lack of faith. As in the story above, the man did not have evidence that getting up would result in his healing. The process of getting up however ensured it. When we exercise our faith, we don't have evidence that our healing is secured. That's what faith means--Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. " When Waine and I were lead to start ZOe, we had faith. That first step of faith was not hard. Prevailing in faith continues to be a daily walk with God. Faith is not a one step process, it is a continuous walk which blesses you on a daily basis.
If you find your self stuck in a situation, Christ has given you the remedy. TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK!
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace!
Stephanie
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