This is a
meditation on Romans chapter 1 by Joe Rigney, professor at Bethlehem
College & Seminary -- It is rewritten from the viewpoint of a
redeemed son of God. I *love love love* this.
For the pleasure of God is revealed from heaven upon all
godliness and righteousness of men, who by their righteousness celebrate
the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because
God has shown it to them. 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
want no excuse. For because they know God, they honor him as God and
give thanks to him, and become fruitful in their thinking and their
humble hearts are enlightened. Having become fools for Christ, they
became wise, and received the glory of the immortal God.
Therefore, God restored them in the desires of their hearts for
purity, to the honoring of their bodies among themselves, because they
gladly received the truth about God instead of lies and worshiped and
served the Creator, who is blessed forever, rather than the creature.
Amen.
For this reason, God renews their desires and delights and
passions. For the women glory in the masculinity of their husbands, and
the men likewise revel in the femininity of their wives, and are
consumed with passion for them, men honoring the marriage bed and
receiving in themselves the due reward for their obedience.
And since they saw fit to acknowledge God, God reorients their
renewed minds to do what ought to be done. They are filled with all
manner of righteousness, goodness, contentment, benevolence. They are
full of gratitude for others’ gifts, brotherly love, peace,
truth-telling, magnanimity. They are edifiers, encouragers, lovers of
God, courteous, meek, humble, inventors of good, obedient to parents,
wise, faithful, compassionate, merciful. Because they know God’s decree
that those who practice such things will receive eternal life, they not
only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
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