This amazing chapter was included in today's Bible reading on my M'Cheyne One Year Reading Plan. There is so much in this chapter; it is more than enough for multiple days of meditating, praying and reading. In fact, it is one of several chapters from Romans that forms the basis for one of my favorite books, "The Normal Christian Life," by Watchman Nee. If you want to be overwhelmed by the richness of Paul's letter to the Romans, I suggest you read this book. It's not an easy read by any means; and, if you are the type of reader who highlights or underlines while reading, you'll need a dozen sharpened pencils and/or a box of highlighters in various colors. It's that profound! I have a copy here in El Salvador and might just have to find the time to re-read it.
As you may know from previous posts this year, along with the M'Cheyne plan, I am reading the accompanying devotionals from "For the Love of God," by D. A. Carson.
That today's devotional was about Romans 8 came as no surprise, but the depth of his insights never fails to move my spirit. Here's a synopsis:
What does it mean for Christians to be "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37)? First, the "us" to whom the apostle refers includes all Christians. . . . Second, the actual evidence that they are "more than conquerors" is that they persevere regardless of all opposition. That opposition may take the form of horrible persecution, . . . It may be some other hardship . . . . Neither human powers nor anything else in all creation, not even all the powers of hell unleashed can "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (8:39). Third, as the last sentence already makes clear, that from which Christians cannot be finally separated is the "love of Christ" (8:35) or the love of God in Christ . At one level, of course, that is simply saying that no power can stop Christians from being Christians. That is why we are "more than conquerors." But that point could have been made a lot of different ways. To make it this way, with an emphasis on the love of Christ as that from which we cannot be separated, reminds us of the sheer glory and pleasure that is ours, both now and in eternity, to be in such a relationship. We are not simply acquitted; we are loved. We are loved not simply by a peer, but by God himself. Nor is this a reference to the general love that God has for his entire creation. What is at stake here is that special love that attaches to "all who have been called according to his purpose" (8:28). Fourth, the guarantee that we shall prevail and persevere, and prove to be "more than conquerors" in this sense, is nothing other than the sovereign purposes of God (8:29-30), manifest in the death of his Son on our behalf (8:31-35). "If God is for us, who can be against us?" No greater security is imaginable.
He's so right . . . . we have perfect security in our Heavenly Father . . . . thank you, Lord, for loving me more than I deserve. Help me lay everything down at your feet and live each day to glorify you and build your kingdom.
I mentioned in an earlier post that D. A. Carson's book, "For the Love of God" accompanies the daily Bible reading plan of Robert M. M'Cheyne. Of course, the scripture itself is inspirational, occasionally difficult to understand (book of Job, for example), challenging and comforting, but I am also incredibly blessed by the daily readings in Carson's book.
Exodus 1, Job 18, Luke 4 and 1 Corinthians 5 were on the schedule for today. Carson's particular emphasis was the following: "One cannot long read Scripture without pondering the sad role played by forgetting." He goes on to list specific examples, including how one would think that after the flood, you would expect mankind to behave in a way that would avoid God's wrath or that after God lead the Israelites out of bondage, you would expect it to take more than a few weeks for them relapse into worshiping a golden calf.
But here is the part of his discourse that is the most chilling to me, and I quote:
"Not far from where I am writing these lines is a church that draws five or six thousand on a Sunday morning. Its leaders have forgotten that it began as a church plant a mere two decades ago. They now want to withdraw from the denomination that founded them, not because they disagree theologically with that denomination, not because of some moral flaw in it, but simply because they are so impressed by their own bigness and importance that they are too arrogant to be grateful. One thinks of seminaries that have abandoned their doctrinal roots within one generation, of individuals, not the least scholars, who are so impressed by novelty that clever originality ranks more highly with them than godly fidelity. Nations, churches, and individuals change, at each step thinking themselves more "advanced" than all who went before. To our shame, we forget all the things we should remember."
The specific church is not important, nor is the specific action of the church. Rather, the chilling part is that it is so easy for ALL of us to forget our roots and to forget that we are "encompassed about by such a great cloud of witnesses" who are, in great part, responsible for providing the opportunity for us to learn about and then understand/accept God's free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Lord, I pray for the Christian church in America today; help it remember it's purpose and not be distracted or drawn away from that purpose by it's own self-importance. Lord, I ask that you would help me to overcome the sin of pride so that I can remain a humble servant. Help me to remember that I am nothing more than a poor sinner saved by your marvelous and undeserved grace.
