Wednesday, June 04, 2008
READING ROMANS
I have just read Romans chapters 1-8 in a way that was powerful and meaningful and spiritually significant. The secret? I had no other agenda.
Because I am on sabbatical I had the time to read in a way that was totally focused and personal. (I do have tasks to accomplish on sabbatical, but I am not on a schedule.) I sat down to read without thinking about a sermon or class application. Rather it was Paul talking and me listening - for myself. The apostle was explaining the gospel good news to me.
I wasn't trying to figure out difficult statements but simply heard them in the larger context of the letter. It flowed. I got the point.
Not only was I not reading thinking of a sermon or class, but I was not under a time constraint. That is very important. I had time to simply read Paul's words.
I was encouraged, touched, strengthened. I heard it personally. It was as if someone was explaining something to me and I simply followed his train of thought.
Try it. Read Romans 1-8 in one "timeless" sitting. For most people that will not be an easy thing to do. When can you find the house empty, no pressing tasks for an hour or so, and peace of mind?
I think I see for the first time how "busy-ness" is spiritually deadening and one of Satan's greatest weapons to undermine and prevent spiritual growth. Life-changing growth cannot be squeezed in on a morning "to-do" list. No wonder God initiated the Sabbath! Maybe he knew what he was doing!
Unfortunately modern Christianity has completely lost the Sabbath concept. First came the teaching that since the Sabbath was in the OT and not specifically "commanded" in the NT, it didn't apply or matter. Even so, in earlier days in small farming communities, Sunday was a day of church, rest, reading and fellowship. After church, people shared a large Sunday meal and relaxed around the table and then in the living room or on the front porch. (I have vague memories of such from my childhood.) But today, either church stuff goes on during the day or (for those not in a ministry meeting) they simply "do church" and then have the rest of the day to watch sports, shop, recreate, or get ready for the work week. But is the time really one of spiritual renewal?
For those who are retired may I encourage you to read the Bible in this leisurely, personal way. You have been gifted with the opportunity. I remember Joe McKissick being with us years ago and speaking about his ministry to senior saints. One of his challenging comments was that many lose a viable faith in the latter years. Surely one antidote is to have a modern, contemporary translation and let God talk to you for an hour a day!
For all of us - somehow find that relaxed time to let God's Word massage your spirit. It will make all the difference.
Because I am on sabbatical I had the time to read in a way that was totally focused and personal. (I do have tasks to accomplish on sabbatical, but I am not on a schedule.) I sat down to read without thinking about a sermon or class application. Rather it was Paul talking and me listening - for myself. The apostle was explaining the gospel good news to me.
I wasn't trying to figure out difficult statements but simply heard them in the larger context of the letter. It flowed. I got the point.
Not only was I not reading thinking of a sermon or class, but I was not under a time constraint. That is very important. I had time to simply read Paul's words.
I was encouraged, touched, strengthened. I heard it personally. It was as if someone was explaining something to me and I simply followed his train of thought.
Try it. Read Romans 1-8 in one "timeless" sitting. For most people that will not be an easy thing to do. When can you find the house empty, no pressing tasks for an hour or so, and peace of mind?
I think I see for the first time how "busy-ness" is spiritually deadening and one of Satan's greatest weapons to undermine and prevent spiritual growth. Life-changing growth cannot be squeezed in on a morning "to-do" list. No wonder God initiated the Sabbath! Maybe he knew what he was doing!
Unfortunately modern Christianity has completely lost the Sabbath concept. First came the teaching that since the Sabbath was in the OT and not specifically "commanded" in the NT, it didn't apply or matter. Even so, in earlier days in small farming communities, Sunday was a day of church, rest, reading and fellowship. After church, people shared a large Sunday meal and relaxed around the table and then in the living room or on the front porch. (I have vague memories of such from my childhood.) But today, either church stuff goes on during the day or (for those not in a ministry meeting) they simply "do church" and then have the rest of the day to watch sports, shop, recreate, or get ready for the work week. But is the time really one of spiritual renewal?
For those who are retired may I encourage you to read the Bible in this leisurely, personal way. You have been gifted with the opportunity. I remember Joe McKissick being with us years ago and speaking about his ministry to senior saints. One of his challenging comments was that many lose a viable faith in the latter years. Surely one antidote is to have a modern, contemporary translation and let God talk to you for an hour a day!
For all of us - somehow find that relaxed time to let God's Word massage your spirit. It will make all the difference.
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I completely agree that busyness takes away our ability to focus on spiritual matters. Speaking as a mother of three young kids, I always have something to do and taking time to read the bible has been lacking. There is another related problem in our lives too. That is contentment. So often we are busy, because we don't know how to be content with our lives for the moment. The closest thing I've had lately to slow me down and be content is to have a vegetable garden. It is very weedy, since I don't take the time to weed it. But, food grows at the pace God has marked out for it. You can't rush it. It's not ready until it is ready. Then again, when it's ready it is time to enjoy it and do something with it. I think people who get out and experience nature in some way are also learning from God (if they give themselves the chance). So many of us city people don't see much of God's work outside of the pages of the Bible. I think that is a problem, too. Out of sight, out of mind after all.
Yay for Romans! My favorite part of the Bible! I've only ever twice sat down and read the whole thing through, but it definately is worth doing. Of course, I have no experience with feeling the pressures of preparing a lesson and such, but I can imagine. I so happy your sabbattical is going well!
It is good to read this blog about Romans. I have used this to remind me about making time to be alone with God... some each day, some longer time once a week and then the bulk of a day once a month. This way I attempt to make sure it's a relationship with God I am building, not just "doing church". There has been some significant times in the past that this approach has really changed my spiritual awareness.
Your blog parallels what we are studying this summer in our home group: Rob Bell's lecture, "Everything is Spiritual." We humans are both spiritual and physical beings and so we need to take time to rest and recognize the seasons that God has given us to rest. This is just as God created and rested when he created the universe. Night and day, creating and resting. Otherwise, "You will find yourself in another sort of Egypt."
So the first thought that came to mind is that you, Randy were, "on top of the mountain." Just as God asked Moses that when he reached the top of the mountain, that he must be on top of the mountain. Not thinking about how to get down the mountain, but purely enjoying just being there.
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So the first thought that came to mind is that you, Randy were, "on top of the mountain." Just as God asked Moses that when he reached the top of the mountain, that he must be on top of the mountain. Not thinking about how to get down the mountain, but purely enjoying just being there.
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