Day 15: The Questions Don't End Here!

My parents have been missionaries in the Czech Republic for over 20 years, and they have lived through many of the issues presented in the past 14 days: Faith, doubt, sin, suffering, failure, inadequacy, joy, hope, the power of the gospel, and so many others.

Before I began this project on Romans, I asked my mom to outline a few issues that missionaries might face as they enter the context of cross-cultural ministry, and I wanted to share some of those with you. I share them not because I have answers, but to start the conversation and help you see that you're not alone.

How do I raise my kids to not be ashamed of the Gospel?
How do I live in repentance and faith daily?
What does it mean to endure trouble and distress?
How does my whole family live "on mission"?
Where do I find wisdom in making decisions in ministry?
How do I fight a judgmental attitude about both the cultures that I am now a part of?
How do I help my kids when things are hard for them in school, and I can't completely understand what they're going through?
What do I do while I can't communicate the gospel yet for lack of language skills?
What does it look like to believe God when I'm not seeing fruit?

We have only covered the first 5 chapters of Romans, and there are still 11 more chapters to go that I haven't even touched on here. Wow! I would encourage you to continue this study, continue searching Scripture for answers to these questions. Continue in prayer, seeking wisdom from the Lord. Ask Him to not only work through you, but work in you as you work through this transition into another culture.

To close out, Romans 5 ends by pointing us to the wonderful grace of God that rules over sin. This grace gives you right standing before him. "Grace triumphs when God imputes righteousness and this leads to eternal life, the end or aim of it all," which means we will get to be with him forever through Jesus Christ our Lord (Morris 242).  

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:20-21 (NLT)

And lastly, on this 15th day of living in another culture, I'd like to give you one last word of hope from Romans 12:12:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

I pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen your faith, and let you see the fruit of the work he is doing through you. Thank you for modeling obedience to him and for being one to go and make disciples of all nations. Your life is a testimony of God's grace, and I thank you for that personally. 

Day 14: Unlovely, Yet Loved

The blessings that accompany justification from Romans 5: 

Day 12: Joy.

Day 13: Hope.

Day 14: Love. 

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:5-8

One of my favorite words to use in describing what is beautiful is by calling it lovely. By using this word, I suppose I mean that something or someone is worthy of love. Do you ever feel like you are unlovely though? Would you cringe if I said (this goes to the women out there), "You look lovely today," because you don't feel worthy of being loved?

"God confirms his love to us in the fact that Christ died for us while we were in a state of rebellion against him" (Bruce 115). This doesn't mean that Jesus has to die in order that God would love us. The Father and Son are so at one that we can acknowledge it as a triune act of love from God that we would be reconciled to him through the blood of the Lamb. This love "has been expressed and made vital in real, concrete actions on our behalf," (Moo 305) and in this our hope never fails, for it is not dependent on any stained and insufficient works that we bring before him.

Simply put, "Christ did not die for good people. Christ died for sinners" (Morris 224). We didn't come to him being lovely, or "lovable". There is nothing we did to elicit God's love for us. He chose us and displayed his love to us when we were in the worst of places as sinners.

And we still come to him daily with hands empty, nothing to offer except what we receive from him. So we are left in awe and gratefulness for what he has done for us.

Do you feel like you are weak and powerless (verse 6)? Do you feel stuck in sin, in shame? The hope we have in the gospel brings our hearts comfort. Even as we come to him with nothing good to give, he still continually demonstrates his love for us. Even when you are unworthy of being loved for all that is going on in life right now, you are loved eternally by your Heavenly Father, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings.

Day 13: How Is It So Hard?

On Day 12, we looked at one of the blessings of justification (joy); today, we are going to find out more about another two blessings in justification: character and hope. 

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5

Are you wondering yet why you have to go through so much trouble and hardship even as you've only just moved overseas? Before you left home, you heard that missions work was hard, but now it's personal. Perhaps you are recognizing your sin all the more clearly, or your faith is wilting under the scorching sun of trials, or language difficulties have caused you to doubt your place in this country, or it hurts your heart to see your kids not making friends easily in school. 

Did you know that all of those trials actually produce character? Whew. When I hear that, I don't always know if I should be encouraged or exasperated. I think, "But Lord, are trials really necessary?" He answers, "Yes indeed, for perseverance in suffering produces character." 

Leon Morris puts it this way, "Steadfast endurance leads to the quality of testedness, and this in turn to hope, for the Christian who has been tested has proved God's faithfulness and will surely hope more confidently" (Morris 221). It's similar to the strength and courage of a veteran who has been tempered and tried by experience as opposed to the new recruit who does not yet have the resources and hope of pulling through. 

Suffering as those who have been justified "inaugurates a chain of virtues", which in turn strengthen hope (Moo 303). "Hope, like a muscle, will not be strong if it goes unused" (Moo 303). Hope is, in other words, stimulated by suffering and endurance in the strength of the one who saved us, Jesus (Bruce 114). 

You may feel that you and your family are not thriving in your transition. Everything is against you at times, and on top of that, cultural mistakes, and spiritual challenges abound all the more than ever. Take this as the Lord's grace upon you. He gives you these sufferings in order to produce character and hope in your heart. He is strengthening your "hope muscles", so that you will be better equipped for the work he has ahead for you. And in all of this, he does not leave you alone, for his love is poured out on you.

Works Cited:

Bruce, F. F. Romans - The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. Print.

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.

Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1988. Print.

Day 12: If I Don't Feel Joyful

The blessings that accompany justification are peace, joy, hope and love (Romans 5:1-11).

"And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Romans 5:2-4

Specifically today, I want to focus in on joy. Three objects of joy are mentioned in this part of Romans: hope of glory, sufferings, God himself (Bruce 114).

You probably already know that you will endure suffering on the mission field. Perhaps you have already experienced this in the 12 days (or longer now) that you have lived overseas. It's not an easy road. Of course you are completely thrilled to be where God has called you to, yet you might find yourself asking on some days, "Should I even be here?" and "How long can I truly make it here?"

When you are tired of shutting down, of feeling exhausted, of feeling inadequate and spent, and confused and alone, where is there any room for joy? You definitely don't feel joyful.

Have you ever considered that just maybe the phrase, "Choose Joy" causes us to turn back upon ourselves as the source of righteousness? Choosing joy means that I can muster up everything I can to come rightly before God in an attitude of praise and happiness.

What if the phrase, "Choose Joy" was changed. What if the phrase actually included someone outside yourself, the sole source of joy? What if the phrase rang out through the streets, "Choose Christ"; and all the more, "Choose Christ, for he has chosen you already from eternity".

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." - Ephesians 1:4

Jesus Christ is our justification. It is from this justification that joy proceeds from. 

I love the way that the New Living Translation puts it:

"Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." - Romans 5:2

We get to join with Paul in "joyful thanksgiving for what the gospel provides - a new life given to God's service in this life and a certain, glorious hope for the life to come" (Moo 295). The joy that you experience when life is dry is not something that you muster up, nor is it grounded in circumstances or the will. This joy is grounded in the gospel, in your identity as being justified. 

It is this "power for salvation" and this assurance of the gospel that gives you "power for dedicated Christian service in this life and for deliverance from all the forces of evil and of judgment in the next" (Moo 295). 

There is hope in the gospel. There is joy in the hope of glory - of God's glory being fully revealed. There is joy in sufferings - suffering is a sort of "token of true Christianity" (2 Thessalonians 1:5) and it cultivates in us endurance and steadfastness of character.  And there is joy in God himself - you are reconciled to him and so you receive all the blessings of God's Fatherly love in and through Jesus Christ (Bruce 114-115). 

When you are discouraged, when you doubt, when you don't feel you have strength for the Christian service the Lord has brought you into, "Choose Christ" and give joyful thanks for all that you have in him - hope of glory, purpose in suffering and union with Jesus Christ forever, in which you receive every blessing of your justification. 

Works Cited: 

Bruce, F. F. Romans - The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. Print.

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.

Day 11: How Is Faith Strengthened?

"being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." - Romans 4:21

If you've been following along for the past 10 days, then you've heard the term "faith" repeated again and again. We participate in righteousness through faith in Jesus, the faithful one. How does this faith grow strong? In other words, how is this faith enabled? 

Abraham gives us a glimpse into the answer to this question. Perhaps you have heard the definition of faith from Hebrews 11, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." If faith is assurance and conviction in Jesus Christ, then Romans 4:21 helps us begin to understand what led Abraham to a strengthening of faith, and to a response of worship (Romans 4:20). 

Abraham was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. It is this conviction that brought the result of growing strong in faith (Moo 286). Abraham wasn't a perfect example of this kind of faith; like I said on Day 10, he laughed when God promised him that he would be the father of many nations, yet in verse 21 Paul is talking about "Abraham's settled attitude that endured all this, not to Abraham's initial reaction" (Morris 213). It was the constancy that brought Abraham through, despite his rocky beginning.

What will hold you in this time of transition? Being persuaded of God's promises. What are some of those promises? Here are just a few (though there are so many more!)...

God promises to cleanse us and forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). 

He promises to guard our hearts with peace in Jesus Christ when we bring our requests to him instead of turning to worry (Philippians 4:7).

He promises that he will never leave us as orphans and to give us the Holy Spirit, who is with us as our counselor and advocate (John 14:16-18). 

Jesus promises to prepare a place for us and return to bring us with him to physically be with him forever (John 14:2-3). 

Be assured that these promises stand true. Search the Scriptures and find God's promises to you, to his church. Hope in God's power to do all that he promised he would do. Indeed, many years passed between Abraham's receiving of the promise, and the fulfillment of the promise, but Abraham trusted God's character and power. When you find yourself doubting your purpose, or your calling as a disciple-maker, or the power of the gospel, cling to the promises of God and his power that your faith may strengthen and that you may give all of the glory to Him.

Works Cited:

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.

Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1988. Print.

Day 10: When You Have Every Reason Not To Hope

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God," - Romans 4:18-20

Abraham's faith, as described in Romans 4:13-22, is not described as a "leap into the dark", where he had nothing to cling to and nothing to see. His decision of faith was not irrational either. Abraham's faith was a "leap from the evidence of his senses into the security of God's word and promise" (Moo 283).

You desire to see the Lord work through you. You have already left your home in obedience to Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations" Now when might you see fruit? What about the promises of God?

Abraham left his home in obedience to God's call, and responded to the promise that God gave him - that God would make him the father of many nations. This promise was given to Abraham in Genesis 15 and, at the age of 75, he and his wife (and his nephew Lot) left Harran and set out for the land of Canaan. It wasn't until over 30 years later that we hear the next part of this promise in Genesis 21: "Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him."

"He considered his own body, which was as good as dead..."

Abraham took all of the natural improbability of bearing a son in his old age (which was what God was promising him), and laid it aside, letting the divine promise outweigh all other factors (Bruce 112). Morris says it more bluntly, "Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead with respect to procreation when they received the promise of God" (Morris 209). How does Abraham's faith give us hope? "In light of Calvary believers may have confidence that God's purpose will be worked out to the end" (Morris 210).

What to do then when you have every reason not to hope? I don't know what that question triggers in you, but my personal struggle with hope on the mission field is trusting that there will be fruit and that God is indeed working not only in me, but through me. Only God can be the giver of life, as we see in Abraham's story told by Paul. Abraham didn't waiver in faith, even though everything was against him. It was God who provided strength for Abraham (verse 20), not faith itself that provided this strength. "Abraham had nothing going for him except for the promise of God" (Morris 212).

You have nothing going for you overseas except for God's promises. Your visas might be a constant battle. You may struggle to make connections in your local town or village. You may encounter health issues that prevent you from serving the way you intended. Someone may even accuse you, reject you, or judge you (though you know someone who is no stranger to all of those things...yep, Jesus). You may not be seeing fruit.

Although faith wasn't easy for Abraham (he laughed at the promise!), he came to a firm faith in time (Morris 213). Abraham endured, persevered, and eventually, after 25 years, saw the beginning of the fruit of God's promise to him. Faith gives us reason to hope. God strengthens this faith in us and we are led to glorify his name, for it was his work from beginning to end.

Do not despair, nor lose hope. God is faithful to all of his promises and will strengthen you in faith.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God," - Romans 4:20

Works Cited: 

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.

Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1988. Print.

Day 9: Law and Faith? Huh?

Have you heard me say enough times now that no matter what you do you are only justified by your faith, that is, by what Christ does and who he is? If this hasn't been made clear yet, then Paul tells us yet again at the end of chapter 3 that we have absolutely no reason to boast in our own works. He also just touches on what the meaning of the law is as a result of that. 

What is boasting? "Boasting is a sin common to all people - it reflects the pride that is at the root of so much human sinfulness" (Moo 246). Yet we must also recognize that Paul is probably specifically speaking about the Jews here, for they had previously been the only holders of special covenant relationship with God (Moo 246). We all, not just the Jews, tend to have a tendency to boast in good deeds instead of in God's grace (Moo 247).Now though, God is both the God of the Jews and the Gentiles, and the law in terms of works cannot save. The law no longer separates those who are God's people from those who are not. 

In all of this, it is essential to note that the law itself was first established through faith. Faith preceded law in the Old Testament, just as faith precedes any works we can offer as believers today too. After all, before Moses established the law, Abraham "believed God , and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:3) The law doesn't play a role in justification (being made right before God is and always has been by faith), but it does still hold significance. "Abraham did indeed fulfill or 'uphold' the law...through received God's gift of righteousness by faith" (Bruce 104). 

What does all of this mean for you?

First of all, it reminds us that we have nothing to boast of, except in the cross of Jesus (Galatians 6:14). Secondly, it tells us yet again of the incredible riches we have received from the Father by being now being justified. And thirdly, it gives us just a glimpse into how we are to consider obedience to God and how to live out our faith in our deeds (James 2:14-26).

Bruce, F. F. Romans - The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. Print.

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.