It Starts Small

Romans.

No not the empire, the book of Romans. Paul gave us one of the most important letters written to the Romans. It is his theological reflections. Over centuries, God has used it to change the lives of millions of people. What caught my attention, in the middle of this important book, Paul gives one of the most painful confessions. It seems like something you should share with your small group rather than a letter that is going to go who knows where and read to everyone who has ears to hear.

Paul was struggling with sin. It was not a mild pesky problem. It was a gut wrenching, heart rendering problem. It was so much a problem that Paul called himself wretched. What is more surprising is the response by Paul. We would expect Paul, without explanation, to post a public response like: God has asked me to step down from my ministry until I have successfully dealt with my problem.

That is what we expect in today’s world. But what Paul said is utterly different. What we read in Romans 8:1 seems scandalous in comparison to what we would expect. Paul blows past all the “get your life together” rhetoric and says:

I know.

What about church discipline?

What about holding leaders accountable and to a higher standard?

What about doing the right thing?

Those are all important questions and Paul deals with them in other places. But here, at the point of Paul’s greatest need, God leads him into a head-on encounter with grace. Yes, we need to look at life change. But if God is in the process, it will always start with grace.

It is just the way He is. It is the way He wants us to be.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• DO you need to extend yourself grace today?
• Are you stuck in shame and guilt for a struggle you have not seen victory in?
• Where is Jesus in your struggle? Have you truly given the struggle to Him or are you giving and taking it back?

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