Romans 1:1-6, 16,17
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Questions for Reflection:
As you think about the Gospel as good news how does that strike you? Is the message of God through Jesus "good news" to you today? If so how? Or how would you like it to be good news?
What do you suppose might have been in Paul's mind when he said that he was "set apart for the Gospel" and that he was "not ashamed of the Gospel? To what extent are those statements true for you - to what degree do you own them for yourself?
Prayer of the Week:
Holy and Victorious Trinity, Father-Son-Holy Spirit , You alone are worthy of all of my worship, my heart’s desire, all the praise all the glory of my life. I love You, I worship You, I trust You I give myself over to You in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life and You have become my life. I renounce all other god’s and idols and give You the place in my heart and in my life that You and you alone truly deserve.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love for me by sending Jesus. I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, forgiving me my sins, granting me his righteousness, making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love and your Holy Spirit and your favor. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life, making it possible for me to be “declared righteous” in the courts of heaven. I receive all the work and triumph of Your cross and sacrifice for me. I receive the forgiveness of all my sins which clears the way for me to live this day “synced up” and reconciled with my Father in heaven who loves me very much.
Holy Spirit, fill me afresh. I want You and need you so very much today. I deeply desire to live each moment empowered by You and You living in me. I now surrender my “self” and my agenda for today and receive You and Your agenda for me. Amen
