Wednesday 10 April 2024

Psalm 7:1-11

Background

Paul’s letter to the Romans is great to read if you want to explore the Christian faith. Its many subjects include sin, forgiveness, baptism, love, discipleship, evangelism and government.

Verse 16 is bold and encouraging. Paul’s message was not only for the Jewish people but for everyone, and it was important for Paul to get this across.

The good news (“gospel’) is explained in Romans 1:3-4: "the gospel concerning his Son, who was ascended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Basically, we have a Lord who took our sins away as he died on the cross for the sake of our souls – and we have new life. We have love and life in a God who cares so deeply for us.

Verses 20-21 say that since the beginning of creation people knew God yet they continued with their wickedness. They never worshipped God so therefore in their foolishness, they worshipped false idols (verses 22-23).

Verses 24-25 could be referring to Adam and Eve. Originally the natural naked body was nothing to be ashamed of, but in their foolishness and worship of creatures “God gave them up in the lustre of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves” (v. 24).

The people of Rome (who Paul was planning to visit) knew the truth about how they could be reconciled to God through the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ, yet they ignored it and continued to do the wrong things. As a child, I knew it was wrong to push that big red button but I pushed it anyway! Why do we do these things? I guess because we are human: yet by reading Romans, we are reminded of the right way to go.

In the NRSV Bible, this chapter has the titles ‘The Power of the Gospel’ and ‘The Guilt of Humankind’. Today’s passage reminds us that we are human and we make mistakes. And that’s why we have Jesus, a person whose life and ministry show us how we should be. We should always strive to be Christ-like, while recognising we are human and have flaws. Our God loves us all.

To Ponder:

• The good news is for everyone – not for the select few. How would you explain this to someone else?
• What does ‘salvation’ to mean to you? How would you describe it to others?
• Pray that you may be guided by this passage today.

Prayer

Lord, you have called me your own. Thank you for your love and the depth of it. Show me how to live for you, love others and help make disciples who also come to know that same love in Jesus. Amen.

First published in 2018.