Words and the meaning derived from them

Romans 5:6-11

Do you ever wonder, I do, and yes often I speculate about words and the meaning derived from them?  That is especially true when it comes to things God’s word has to say about you and me.  So shall we begin with the word weak for in verse six the apostle Paul states the following, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  Often I make the assumption that I have an understanding of the word, and that you do also, but as I look at the Christian culture that has been invaded by the world’s culture I’m not sure we have seen or are willing to admit we were ever weak.  (Weak: lacking strength, not able to handle weight, pressure, or strain. Not able to resist external forces or attacks, resulting from a lack or judgment or discernment.  Not able to withstand temptation or persuasion <the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak>.)   Yes for 27 years of life I was vulnerable to looking to myself, or to others, and lacking strength of character.

But I did not see myself as weak, in fact Channel One the deception channel would tell me that the really weak were followers of Christ.  I also did not see myself as ungodly, I had the attitude “I’m ok and I’m not sure about you.”  If I had been confronted with, am I a godly person, a follower of Christ, I would have fallen short; I was a Baptist, with no relationship to the living Christ.  Now if you had ask if I was a sinner, I did understand that word, for from birth my parents and teachers and preachers had defined the word sinner, and I would have agreed, I was a sinner, but so were almost everyone I knew, and the Scripture was very clear; “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Verse ten injects another word we would have a problem with at this stage in life in that it states; “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we were reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”  Now I’m not sure about you but at the core of self, old Bob is a coward, and cowards knowingly do not pick fights with God.  So this may present a problem with many regulars at church, and it matters not the church, for when one looks to anything to get their needs met outside of Christ they have become an enemy of the Father.  I had picked a fight with God and for 27 years of life was determined to run my own life and yet would call out to God when the walls came tumbling down, I wanted His help but did not want His moral authority in my life.

A life outside of the desires and authority of God the Father is a weak, sinful life, and it has put you on the side of the one God calls, many names; the thief, the deceiver, the devil, the old serpent, and many others including Satan.  Being a religious person is of no value, being a Baptist fell way short of the kingdom of God, but when my barber Bob Keese invited me to a Bible study at the age of 26 years, the Holy Spirit began sending the hounds of heaven after me and I became aware that the men I was doing Bible study with had a relationship with the person I was only informed about.

I now can testify that by the grace of God and the faith He extended to me, I’ve now received reconciliation.  I’ve been adopted into the Father’s family; I’m a child of the King!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice