Paul in verse 9 of chapter 3 of Romans returns to his question. “Well, then, are we better off?” Are the Jews, or the Christians for that matter, better off for having the revelations of the law as well as nature? Maybe another way of saying this is to ask if being “chosen” or “elected” or “enlightened” makes us a more special person than someone else less fortunate. I love the scene in “Fiddler on the Roof” when Tevya is walking home from the celebration of his first daughter’s first engagement and is informed that there would be a slight demonstration. He looks to heaven and says, “Dear God, did you have to send me news like that today of all days? I know that we are the chosen people but once in a while couldn’t you choose someone else.”
God’s revelation of law, of how life works best, like having the manual telling us how our car works, is an advantage but my inability to follow the instructions does not make me any better than the person without a manual. The car, life, doesn’t work at its best. We all fail. “Enlightenment rather than enablement is the principal function of the Mosaic law,” wrote the authors of a commentary on Romans.
I am blessed because of my relationship with God but if I do not value that relationship that is revealed not only in nature but also more specifically in Scripture and if I don’t grow that relationship then it does me little good. I feel we have camped on this point often now. But perhaps even as we never tire of hearing how people love us, God never tires of hearing how we value him, and it is always good to review the advantages of faith. Write an acrostic of the word faith and choose a word that is an advantage for each letter. For example F: God helps me deal with FEAR, A:______, I:_______, T:_______, H:______. Thank you Lord for revealing yourself.
On the Way to Wonder 