Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for a peace at this time.

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Read

Romans 15:4-21 (NRSV)

I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

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Reflect

“For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.” I love this writing because when I survey how I can make this world a little better for all people, it is because God has saved and redeemed me for the purpose of “win(ning) obedience from the Gentiles.” It is not my role to decide who are Gentiles, and I don’t care really, but I do care that God is glorified and the love of God in Jesus Christ takes root in the world today.

I do believe we are increasingly in a world where “Christ has not already been named” so the harvest is plentiful.  I am determined to proclaim the good news, leaning on the promise of Christ, “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” I was watching an HBO reboot of Perry Mason and the closing song was “Lift Him Up, That’s All.” Is it that easy? We are scrambling to study, solve, and appropriate political structures to make the world a better place. Can both of these be true at once? I think so, but I know Christ can transform the hearts of individuals.

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Pray

Help me O God, I want to be an instrument of your peace to all people.  Help me to proclaim and practice ideas and works that will make a difference in this world. Amen.

Go with God!