Meditation on Romans 1:16-20

Meditation on Romans 1:16-20

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

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Lord, help us to not  be ashamed of your truth and the story about the love you had for us in YOUR sacrifice and resurrection as the energy that will save us from just condemnation for our immoral acts and the enslavement we have to such unloving lifestyles.

Help us to truly, sincerely, and fully believe in the reality of your actions in history to save us.  Help us call upon you in spirit and truth.  Help us to live our lives based on trust, dependence, reliance, and faith in the gospel.  May our lives be lived in a manner worthy of your great sacrifice on the cross.

Lord, cripple and convert all those forces which reject your truth and promote unloving ways of living.  Awaken people to your truth and overcome that which would seek to hide and push away the reality of your love found in the gospel.  

Open our eyes to see you all around us.  Let your creation sing to us of your character, competence and compassion.  Awaken us to your presence in every atom of the universe.  That which you have clearly revealed help us not be able to deny we perceive.   Lord, our blindness is our fault, but overcome our love of darkness and bring us to your light.   Have mercy upon mercy, and open our eyes that we may see your glory in all created things.

Lord, convert those who would promote radical unbelief in our days.  Bring them evidence that overcomes their objections.  Help your people to give honest answers to honest answers.  Provide to your disciples a love of truth and an integrity of intellect which can be seen by the unbelieving world   Help us to give a loving, real, and substantial witness to your truth before the watching culture.

Lord, turn back the darkness and bring the light.  Amen