Slices
Prepare
‘This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us…’ (1 John 4:10). How easy do you find it to believe that God loves you? Talk to him about it.
Bible passage
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Explore
Romans will have a lot to say about ‘the gospel of God’ (v 1). This gospel, or good news, always starts with what God has done, and then – and only then – embraces how we can respond.
First, what God has done. He loved us (v 7), and the extent of his love is spelled out in verses 2–4. His ancient plan (v 2) has swung into action, centring on Jesus, his Son (vs 3,4). His death and resurrection (v 4) have now opened a doorway for everyone – of whatever ethnicity (v 5) – to join his family and learn how to live under his direction (v 7).
Secondly, our response to the good news is ‘to be his holy people’ (v 7), or to learn ‘the obedience that comes from faith’ (v 5). God’s love, when fully grasped and appreciated, leads to distinctive and radical lifestyle choices as we learn what it means to allow God to shape all our life decisions.
So, we are God’s loved learners. As we move on through Romans we’ll read much more about God’s love, and about our response.
Respond
As one of God’s ‘loved learners’, which do you feel needs more attention at this moment in your life: a fuller realisation of God’s love, or a fuller commitment to obedience? Turn your thoughts into prayer.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Exodus 5,6; Matthew 20
Pray for Scripture Union
A revised edition of It’s Your Move, the guide for children moving to secondary school, is published this month. Pray for churches and groups who give this out in their local schools and communities, that they will find ways of sharing Jesus’ love as they distribute the book.
