Paul seems to now be pointing out in Romans 2:17-29 how easy it is to talk but “walking the talk” is a lot harder. He is talking to the Jews and how proud they were of their history of being blessed with the Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and with the covenant of circumcision given through Abraham. They are misplacing their confidence and having a sense of superiority that does not stand the test of deeds. We can feel superior to others for many reasons – beauty, ethnicity, wealth, and education. Paul points out that having the law is no good unless their lives demonstrate an internalization of the law’s truth. Likewise for us Christians, it is easy to become falsely confident because we have been baptized or confirmed or take communion. We go through a ritual but Paul asks us if it has changed our lives. Are we walking the truth we have been given and that we confess?
“23 You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (Romans 2: 23)”
When our lives are incongruent with our professed beliefs, we present a mixed message to others. If we claim to be forgiven but are unforgiving, it is confusing. When we talk about a God of love and we are unloving, we fail. I could go on but the point is that we cannot live lives that are totally good because we are flawed. Our better selves don’t always show. Our confidence is not in our history or our actions, our confidence must be found in God’s forgiveness and mercy. Let me not get ahead of Paul though.
Let us spend time today thanking God that it does not depend on us doing our thing perfectly. Let us thank him for the Holy Spirit that can use our feeble efforts to God’s glory and can translate our smallest efforts like a smile, into a blessing. Let us pray to live by our beliefs with His help. Thank you, Lord.
On the Way to Wonder 