July 15

Romans

Growing up I often heard "we are God's chosen people", but nobody could tell me what that actually meant. Paul, knowing the scriptures since childhood, probably didn't fully understand what that meant either until the day he met Jesus. Let's take ourselves back to the cultural setting of the time, where knowledge of Scripture set the Jewish people apart leaving them to think that knowledge alone was all they needed. Paul explains that being chosen people meant that we, the Jewish people, have been entrusted with the very words of God, and before he actually met Jesus, that is probably all he thought he and the nation of Israel needed. What a privilege, and yet at the same time, what a responsibility. Similarly, at the root of everything we do as disciples of Jesus lies the same truth. While the message came first to the Jews, it was intended to be spread throughout the world. Through the cross and the blood of Christ this was accomplished and now we, as Christ followers, have been entrusted with the very words of God. Again, what a privilege, but a great responsibility. Do we just keep this this to ourselves? In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Not at all, certainly not!" Paul realized the treasure he had been given the day he met Jesus and later, the responsibility that came with it. The Messiah he had read about became a real person. Paul's heart was circumcised and his knowledge of Scripture turned to the joy of worship and sharing the word of God.That is what we've all been chosen for, to see and experience the glory of God through Scripture and share it.  Has your heart by circumcised by Jesus? Are you praying for someone else's heart to be softened by His love? I join you in that prayer. I pray that like Paul, through our reading we get a glimpse of what Paul was shown by God and from there flows everything else in our Christian life.

Randi