Romans–Passionate Christian Theology

Because I teach, I have a passion for comfortable shoes. I look for shoes that are colorful, comfortable, and durable. And they have to be cute, so they will be acceptable on the work place. This is a never ending search to find just the right fit that provides support for one who is on her feet all day long. I need shoes that can go the distance. I need shoes that will go from classroom to other physical exercise at home and on errands. I generally find these in the athletic department.

But, what if I find the perfect shoes and decide to just be impressed by them, decide to save them for the perfect occasion to wear them, or just put them under a glass case and never use them at all? What?! Maybe that’s why the slogan for Nike is “JUST DO IT!” How many of us are convicted enough to buy the cute exercise shoes and clothes but never really…exercise? Never go the distance? How many of us study the Word but never apply it to our daily living? Never go the distance with God?

I think of all this as I read the next installment of Paul’s message to the Romans of who God is and what He expects of us. I think about our own sometimes shallow, lazy faith that makes us look down on others without looking in at ourselves. We take on useless fat of the world without exercising our faith that could makes us lean, healthy warriors for God! Just do it!, Paul writes.

Romans 2, The Message
God Is Kind, but Not Soft

1-2 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.

3-4 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.

5-8 You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you—Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!

9-11 If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you’re from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. Being a Jew won’t give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.

12-13 If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, that’s a different story entirely. Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.

14-16 When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.

What do we learn?
–Be different. Be a difference in the name of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God!
–There’s no time and no reason to point fingers!

Dear Heavenly Father, We perform so many tasks, stay so busy, that sometimes we fail to see You in the routine of life. We repent of being distracted and unfocused. Your servants are listening for Your next direction, Your call to action, for Your signal to run the race well, in the most excellent way, with love. Thank you, Lord for Your Word. Now give us Your power to run, cute shoes and all! In Jesus Name, Amen!