From Corinth to Rome was how far the letter had to travel before the listeners hear what God has to say through His servant Paul. The letter might be something that the listeners were expecting. It could also be a ‘surprised’ mail to them. I felt that this journey that I took in this course is somehow similar. Although the Word is near, yet it can be far if we are not attentive enough. Whenever we are expecting it or not, God can speak when we are captive listeners.
When Romans 1:1 was presented, the word ‘Bond-Servant’ which Paul used was being discussed.
It is interesting to note that the background and upbringing of Paul can influence him to use certain words or concepts. The discussion centered on whether Paul was using the word as a Greco-Roman or a Hebrew concept? Could Paul be using this word to imply that he had no status like the Greco-Roman slave or could he mean that he was in the exalted status of being the Servant of the Most High?
Reflection: Our upbringing, education, social system and belief system can affect our writings, our communications and our outworking in life. It makes clear to others in understanding our point of view. This becomes a reminder that I should try to communicate in a way understandable to others. The words in Ecclesiastes 12:9-11, of how the Preacher used choice words, inspired me to make every effort to be impactful and also understood.
Coincidentally on Friday homecell, we did a bible study from “Experiencing God”1 on learning to be a servant of God. Blackaby presents that the idea of servanthood is not about getting orders and then go out and do them. Rather, we should relate to God, respond to Him, and adjust our lives to Him so that He can do whatever He wants to do through you.
Reflection: The impression of servanthood was presented twice in the week. While I do not agree with Blackaby that we do not get orders and then go out and do them, I totally agree that relationship is key in my service to God. In serving Him, my challenge is to be quick to listen and quick to response.
The day before the 2nd week of class started, I was ministering to a church using Romans 8:28-39. This arrangement took place long before. Therefore I was again amazed by another ‘God-incidence’. I shared 3 points:
i) Consistency of life's challenges
ii) Consistency of God’s love
iii) Consistency of God’s plan to restore us in His image
Reflection: From the preparation, I am thankful that God loves me greatly. Life is always with challenges. However, as we love Him, God is on our side and He consistently loves us. His plan of conforming us to the image of His Son is to restore His image in man. God has not given up on us. We are valuable and loved by Him. This ‘God-incident’ of ministering Romans 8:28-39 in the midst of my Romans study is God’s way of saying to me: “I know what will happen and what is happening in all situations. Therefore, continue to trust and love Me”
The class enables me to check some teachings and ideas that are often presented in church. As I was going through this course, I did some reflections on past teachings given by either myself or others. Quite often, when a preacher ministered at a service and used some Greek word to share a point, we tend to agree with his interpretation without clarifying. One example is the word ‘huios’ in Romans 8:14. It is often presented that those who are led by the Spirit, they are the ‘mature’ sons of God. I went to do a study and found out that ‘huios’ does not mean in specific the mature sons of God. From the discussion in the class, I realized that this is common ‘mistake’ that we are exposed to.
Reflection:Although, the above example might be a slight error in interpretation, we may not know our next misinterpretation can cause serious implications to our lives and our audience’s life.Therefore I need to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) examining the Scriptures and also like the workman who accurately handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
As the letter of Romans is concluding and this blog reflection needs presentation, I must say that having a blog as a course requirement is a fresh experience for me. I find it useful because it helps to crystallize some of my thoughts into writings.
Reflection: When Paul wrote the letter, it lasted throughout the ages and it is still here for us to read and study. Likewise, the words and ideas recorded in the blog. This technology of the 21st century is something that we need to make use of. It is because the words in the blog will last longer than what our audible voices can bring. When the words were forgotten, the writings are remains accessible.
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1Henry T.Blackaby and Claude V.King, Experiencing God, Nashville, Tennessee: Lifeway Press, 1993, pp16-17
In response to the word 'Bond Servant' in Romans 1:1, i approached it from the angle of "Who’s the boss in your life?" Many people talk about “making Jesus Lord.” The truth of the matter is, you cannot make Jesus Lord, God has already beat you to it. Acts 2:36 says “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The central message of the Bible is that “Jesus Christ is Lord.” The fact that He is Lord demands that we submit ourselves to Him. All of history is moving towards the moment when all of God’s creation will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God.
ReplyDeleteThe word “Lord” is kurios in the Greek. It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Adonai, which means Lord and carries with it the idea of a master-servant relationship in which the servants only right is to do the will of his master. Interestingly, it does not denote a master-slave relationship, rather, specifically that of a master-servant. The difference is that a slave has his rights taken from him – he has no choice. However, a servant willingly gives up his rights out of a heart of love to serve his master.
It was a refreshing blog to read after going through more than half the book of Romans. One point that caught me in particular was the one that you cited from Blackaby - that it is not us trying to work a service for God, but rather to allow ourselves to be changed by Him and out of that transformation, we become of use to Him. We will automatically act out His will as our reasonable act of service/worship.
ReplyDeleteJason
Knowing Greek really helps us with some of the basic (mis)interpretations that popular teaching brings. Another one is the Logos and Rhema distinction. People like to say they meant different things. But actually, they are used interchangeably.
ReplyDeleteMatt
Well, if blogging helps you to express yourself, blog on brother!
ReplyDeleteI believe we all need to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) examining the Scriptures and like the workman who accurately handles the word of truth. This is especially true when we discover that there are numerous genetive objective and genetive subjective verses in the book of Romans that motivate us to really think hard which is which. :)
ReplyDeleteWow... It's amazing to see God working in such interesting ways in your life :)
ReplyDelete