Back to preaching through Romans again on Sunday mornings, after celebrating Pentecost and returning from the group trip to our partner church in Lom (photo).
For me, the Bible has increasingly become a book primarily about social ethics. ‘Aha', you think, 'has he lost the plot?’ ‘Has he given up on faith and knowing Jesus?’ Far from it. In fact, I think I’ve found the plot. The plot that is spelt out in the Law of God and that is worked out through Jesus Christ. I am more convinced than ever that unless faith leads us to seek out and persist in doing the good that pleases God, and looks to find God's power to help us to so do, then such faith is useless.
God shows no favouritism when He looks at our lives and assesses what He's done with them (Romans 2.11). Frightening, eh? Faith that doesn’t lead to significant adaptation and reorientation of our practical, day to day, ethical behaviour and focus is no faith at all. God is not concerned about spiritual myths and cosmic speculations. He’s interested in lives lived out in the shadow of His holiness, the radiance of His righteousness and dependence on His power. Obedience of God and divine empowerment are meant to go together. May God help you see this, pray to be enabled, and get on with living the life that matters.
God shows no favouritism when He looks at our lives and assesses what He's done with them (Romans 2.11). Frightening, eh? Faith that doesn’t lead to significant adaptation and reorientation of our practical, day to day, ethical behaviour and focus is no faith at all. God is not concerned about spiritual myths and cosmic speculations. He’s interested in lives lived out in the shadow of His holiness, the radiance of His righteousness and dependence on His power. Obedience of God and divine empowerment are meant to go together. May God help you see this, pray to be enabled, and get on with living the life that matters.
