Todays readings.. Exodus 1&2, Psalm 53, 54&55, Romans 7&8
Today we read ch. 7 & 8 in Romans. We see them as two of the most meaningful – but also the most challenging chapters in the Bible. We also read David’s Psalms 53 to 55.
Psalm 53 is so appropriate for today, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.” [v.1]
“God looks down from heaven … to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” But “they have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. ” [v.2,3]
Yet the next verse speaks of “my people” as those affected by this – so God still has “people” on the earth who in some sense ‘belong’ to him. The last verse is fascinating! ” Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.” We can see these words as both a plea – and a prayer – for today. Oh the wonder when God acts! Surely the restoration has started – we have witnessed this in our lifetime.
Back in Romans, Paul is particularly thought provoking when he writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ” [8 v.18] This is a verse we need to ‘cement’ into our minds when the increasing evil in this world threatens to ‘push’ us off the ‘narrow way.”
Paul’s next verses are the most thought provoking. ” For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.”
This corruption is to be seen on two levels – the moral corruption that is swamping our world – following in the footsteps of Adam and Eve – but also the ‘curse’ on nature that God put on Adam. He told him, “cursed is the ground because of you … thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you …” [Gen. 3 v.17,18]
As a final thought we again pick up Paul’s point, ” the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed” and part of that revealing is surely the removal of the “futility” to which “creation was subjected.”