In our church studies we execute deep dives on Romans all the time as we consider this to be the foundation of our theology in teaching, action, and mindset. It is no coincidence why Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther were so intrigued by the writings of Paul. The Gospels and the Epistles, when read and devoured, have the power to make any person quake. I have a dear friend who does her Bible studies every morning out on the east coast, so I am always prepared to answer a question, especially early as she is one hour ahead of me. She really grapples with Romans as growing up Catholic it is somewhat counterintuitive in her theological balance on many topics. The funny thing about this week as one of the first portions of Romans that I wanted her to memorize is Romans 1:3-5 as it is one of the many passages that my dear mother recited to me often and became more and more profound to me as I aged and progressed in my walk with Jesus.
For me in my life, elements of each day are full of trials and tribulations, whether it is getting everything done for the church, fulfilling visitations and calls to long-distance shut-ins, picking up trash around the church property, sermon preparation, music rehearsal, and trying to fulfill the Fruit of the Spirit to the highest degree of perfection so that I can act as a representative of Christianity. And so often I fail horrifically on any one (or honestly a few if not more) of those checklist items and the straw that breaks the camel’s back is my new puppy “fertilizing” one of my area rugs. I have to stop and pray and look into his floppy-eared face and breathe, and eventually smile. This is growth in endurance and strengthening of faith. Niko, the wonder dog of the church family can sit through an entire service if I directed him to—no problem. But I often forget the work that I had to put in to get him perfected to that level of discipline. Ah, back to trials and tribulations. They are cyclical in our lives and each time we handle them better and better as our faith grows in the knowledge that we have gained in the process. Teaching and leading young Christians is really no different than rearing children, and it requires those of us in leadership to reprove, rebuke, and rebuff, but ALWAYS with Christ’s love backed up with plenty of Scripture. Eureka! Now we are beginning to understand it as we define and refine our character as a Christian through each and every event in our lives. If we live a life of great character, without being too big of a character, it was all forged under the fire of the original trials and tribulations. Now, the coup d’ grace is coming deeper into the knowledge that we are able to comprehend more fully that all that occurred in this cycle is because of our original hope that we had, and now have with a greater appreciation in Jesus. And guess what? The cycle will begin in just moments.
The great anxiety I have is with people who have that cataclysmic moment and automatically go to Jesus to get them out of a bind. They are neither sincere nor honest because they just want spiritual bail money. I love nothing more than when people come to Jesus because they truly understand what He did for us, can honestly acknowledge the depravity of their sin, pour themselves into the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, and make an honest and full commitment to salvation.
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