Those of you Marvin K. Mooney fans out there might have picked up on that reference, but let's be honest the chances of anyone knowing who Marvin K. Mooney is are quite slim. Yet, sad enough as it is to admit, the time has come. The time has come for me to finish the book of Romans. Honestly, leaving this book is like leaving a family member. I know they're always going to be there but I've read from them, learned from them, and memorized their words for so long now my heart is truly saddened that it's time for me to delve into another book.
Looking back through all of my journal entries about this wonderful book a few common themes keep screaming at me.
1. Die to live. I honestly cannot tell you how many times I've heard this phrase inside the church, while working at camp, listening to a pastor's sermon, or even hearing it from myself. But there comes a point when it has to be more than heard, it has to be lived. All throughout Romans Paul talks about how Jesus dies for us to receive salvation. He died for the Gentiles, not just the Jews. Over and over again Paul talks about how when we come to know Jesus we have died to our sin and are now living in and for Christ. Romans 6:1-14, how can we who died to sin still live in it? We have died to our sin and should walk in the newness of life. We are not called to be zombies walking in death, we are called to be warriors for our God alive in his love, mercy, and grace. "For sin will have no dominion over you since you aren't under the lawm but under grace." I can't make it any more clear.
2. Not thru works. God really knew what he was doing with this one. Here again, Paul constantly talks about how thru faith we are saved and not thru works. One of my favorites is in Romans 4:13-25 Paul discusses that salvation was given Abraham because of faith. Romans 5, a classic chapter, talks about how we are justified thru faith. Romans 9:16, "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy."
Not only have these themes screamed out at me, but something else has screamed at me as well.(And I'm not just talking about my handwriting.) I have gone from loving the Lord to being IN LOVE with the Lord. My prayers and journal entries go from being distant narratives to literally containing every single thought and detail of my life. I can't get enough of him. He has captivated my heart and simply bewitched me in his mercy, grace, and goodness. I know that God will continue to bless me and that simple thought overwhelms my soul.I want to do everything in my power to please him and make him smile. The adventures that he has led me on and will lead me to and thru excite me more than my heart can imagine. Reading back through my journal I smile because a problem that seemed so large then fell into place and makes me really have hope for the future.
I talk now like I haven't endured a hardship this entire semester. But, that would be lying. My own mother can testify to how many times I've called her upset (even sometimes at 11:30 on a Thursday night) saying that I just don't understand why something is happening. I've recently found out that a great friend of mine has a very aggressive type of cancer and another amazing family friend will be going thru chemo very soon. I have had go thru a serious heart break. I've watched friends struggle. My grandfather has fallen. I've had to write a eulogy for a dear friend. I'm about to go thru another Christmas without my brother or father. I have endured struggles. I have shed tears. I have panicked. I have stressed. But thru it all I have found someone that has always been by my side wherever and whatever life has taken me through.
My time in Romans is coming to an end, but my love with God feels like it's just beginning. And while I'm living out Marvin K. Mooney's exit with Romans, the time has come for me to say, "Hello future, what do you have for me?"
God's Will will never send you to where His grace will not cover you.
Live Today.
Looking back through all of my journal entries about this wonderful book a few common themes keep screaming at me.
1. Die to live. I honestly cannot tell you how many times I've heard this phrase inside the church, while working at camp, listening to a pastor's sermon, or even hearing it from myself. But there comes a point when it has to be more than heard, it has to be lived. All throughout Romans Paul talks about how Jesus dies for us to receive salvation. He died for the Gentiles, not just the Jews. Over and over again Paul talks about how when we come to know Jesus we have died to our sin and are now living in and for Christ. Romans 6:1-14, how can we who died to sin still live in it? We have died to our sin and should walk in the newness of life. We are not called to be zombies walking in death, we are called to be warriors for our God alive in his love, mercy, and grace. "For sin will have no dominion over you since you aren't under the lawm but under grace." I can't make it any more clear.
2. Not thru works. God really knew what he was doing with this one. Here again, Paul constantly talks about how thru faith we are saved and not thru works. One of my favorites is in Romans 4:13-25 Paul discusses that salvation was given Abraham because of faith. Romans 5, a classic chapter, talks about how we are justified thru faith. Romans 9:16, "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy."
Not only have these themes screamed out at me, but something else has screamed at me as well.(And I'm not just talking about my handwriting.) I have gone from loving the Lord to being IN LOVE with the Lord. My prayers and journal entries go from being distant narratives to literally containing every single thought and detail of my life. I can't get enough of him. He has captivated my heart and simply bewitched me in his mercy, grace, and goodness. I know that God will continue to bless me and that simple thought overwhelms my soul.I want to do everything in my power to please him and make him smile. The adventures that he has led me on and will lead me to and thru excite me more than my heart can imagine. Reading back through my journal I smile because a problem that seemed so large then fell into place and makes me really have hope for the future.
I talk now like I haven't endured a hardship this entire semester. But, that would be lying. My own mother can testify to how many times I've called her upset (even sometimes at 11:30 on a Thursday night) saying that I just don't understand why something is happening. I've recently found out that a great friend of mine has a very aggressive type of cancer and another amazing family friend will be going thru chemo very soon. I have had go thru a serious heart break. I've watched friends struggle. My grandfather has fallen. I've had to write a eulogy for a dear friend. I'm about to go thru another Christmas without my brother or father. I have endured struggles. I have shed tears. I have panicked. I have stressed. But thru it all I have found someone that has always been by my side wherever and whatever life has taken me through.
My time in Romans is coming to an end, but my love with God feels like it's just beginning. And while I'm living out Marvin K. Mooney's exit with Romans, the time has come for me to say, "Hello future, what do you have for me?"
God's Will will never send you to where His grace will not cover you.
Live Today.
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