And yet, Paul is humble. He is compassionate. He is loving. He is graceful. He longs not to demonstrate his mental and theological prowess, but to spread the good news that the salvation Jesus brought is for everyone. In this way, Paul is a very of the people kind of guy.
So, as I study through Romans again, I'm imagining that I live in Rome. I'm imagining that this letter is written directly to me, that it was delivered to my house, that I was the one who broke the seal and unrolled the scroll for the first time. I'm also reading it out loud, the way the original recipient certainly did repeatedly in countless gatherings of disciples. I don't do this nearly enough, especially considering how powerful it is when I do. I'm not sure how long I will be here. I suppose until I figure out how to live out what is written.
This time through I am reading both the NIV and The Message paraphrase. The Message is particularly powerful for me when read out loud because it is put into language that is familiar to my ears. As was read the first five chapters this morning, I was stopped in my tracks by verse 4 in chapter 2. Here is the way it is rendered in the Message.
God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.For me, that one verse sums up the message of all of Paul's letters. God is not our doting Grandpa who we can manipulate, coerce, and take advantage of. But, neither is he the slave-driving, task-master who is anticipating our failure in order to derive pleasure from punishing us. He is kind and loving and forgiving, but if our encounter with this kindness does not lead us to repentance and radical life-change, then it wasn't his kindness we encountered.
It is also important to note (and Paul hits on it several times just in the first five chapters) that it always happens in this order. Encounter God, lead a changed life. We don't lead a changed life in order to encounter God. We come before him worthless, powerless, filthy, and bankrupt. He welcomes us in our brokenness and fills us with life, meaning, and purpose.
This will be something that I continue to chew on. God is kind, but he is not soft. I hate to admit to how many times I have treated God like he was soft, trying to manipulate and coerce him. I hate how many times I have, not in my words but in my actions, said, "oh, he'll forgive me. it's ok just this once."
God, today I chose to follow you into that radical life-change. I'm so grateful for this gentle strength that you offer me. Today, I embrace life on your terms. Today, I choose to obey, to follow, to acknowledge in my words and actions that you are my King.
