Romans Week 2
07/05/2017 .After processing a whirlwind of information from week 2 of our Romans study, one theme continues to resound and ring in my mind and give me an anchor: the work of Christ not only gives us new identities, but it also makes them constant. “Identity-talk”, as I’ve come to call it, is something I walk myself through each day: I want to keep my house clean because a daughter of the King takes care of her domain. I want to workout consistently because an ambassador for Christ needs to be ready. I hold my tongue because a woman of wisdom responds in patience and love and not defense and fear. Not only were these identities given to us when we chose Jesus, but they are continually offered to us to chose over and over again.
The first day of the week was the hardest. Scripture prompted us to reflect on who we used to be and who we used to serve. Remembering the “dark days” of living like the world is no fun, but, it humbles us and helps us kneel a little lower and more willingly to Jesus’ kingship. To remember those days along with the new days and new names that God has given us creates a sweetness that wouldn’t have come if we didn’t remember the sour. Remembrance also helps us hold Christ’s work and sacrifice above our own striving towards godliness. This was the focus of Day 9. I loved how author Kaitlin Wernet put it, “Because Christ was righteousness in our place, we, too, are drenched in His goodness, credited with His coveted status—we’re the very fragrance of Christ before our Father.” That word “drenched” creates an awesome image. If you’ve ever cannon-balled into a pool or participated in a water balloon fight, you know that being drenched in the water changes your whole appearance. Clothes cling, makeup runs, and puddles follow our steps. But being drenched also changes something about our attitudes. We can be infuriated and shiver in the cold, or, we can laugh at ourselves and spread the fun. In the same way, it is up to us to boldly accept and step into the new identities that Christ drenches us in!
Day 10 taught us that our new identities can still feel threatened. Depression hits, a friend says an unkind word, or we make a mistake that opens the floodgates for old-ness to rush in. We never lose our God-given identities, but we can lose sight of them. We can easily and quickly fall back into unstable sources of identity. The study powerfully pointed out that only God is able to love us unconditionally. We can’t love ourselves perfectly, neither can our friends or husbands. Regaining our sight through prayer, trust, and faith bolsters our spirits and gives us Christ’s very strength! This process of prayer, trust, and faith can help us stand even against death. Melissa Zaldivar put it beautifully, “...We both understood that our bodies may break down, but Christ has given us life that will carry on for the rest of eternity...Because of Jesus, life is more than survival or death. It is eternal.” We do not end in death; our new life is eternal!
Old temptations may rise, old feelings and old hurts, but Jesus is with us in the process and continually offers us the ancient and blessed gift of Himself and our new identities. He does not take away the identities He gave us at the cross; they are available at all times for us to choose again and again.The end of the week in these studies is such a blessing as we are encouraged to simply soak in God’s presence and put His Word a little deeper into our hearts. As we let Him whisper or shout His love for us, we are revived and made new each and every day.
During this week we were able to meet, discuss, and pray over what the Lord is doing in each person's life through the book of Romans (pictures are below). Click here to watch our discussion video on week 2!