The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
Romans 2:17-24 points us back to the apostle’s original point. He has spoken about how the Gospel is God’s power. He has shown how those who reject God’s revelation do it to their own destruction. He has shown that the fact of God and morality is shown by our innate conscience. But where is he going? All this is not to point a finger of condemnation at the Gentiles. It’s to zero in on those who are Jewish Christians and have not held firmly to the Word of God.
The Christian life is not about keeping the law. It’s about Jesus keeping the law on our behalf. However, if we are a reflection of God’s character we strive to do what he considers good. That’s plain and simple. Christians confess that the Christian life is good in this age and in eternity. We’d best be willing to live it out. If we don’t, as we read in verse 24, God’s name can be blasphemed by the nations because of us. That won’t bring anyone to receive the riches of God’s forgiveness in Christ.
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