More Than Words
Today’s scripture selection: Romans 7-8
Key verses: Romans 8:26-27
It’s become popular in recent years, among some Christians, to put a favorite Bible reference on their car’s license plate – a sort of “vanity plate for Christ.” I don’t have a problem with that – in fact, I’ve been led on more than one occasion to look up a reference now and then just to see what it said. And I’ve wondered what it might have been about that particular reference that was so meaningful, so profound, in that driver’s life that it prompted him or her to put in on a license plate for all to see.
If I were pressed to pick just one scripture to have stamped on my own vehicle’s plate – I would be hard pressed to come up with one. How can you decide between Psalm 23 or 1 Corinthians 13 or John 3:16? (If you are unfamiliar with those particular passages – look them up – they’re all good ones!)
On the other hand, I might well just turn to our passages for today’s readings. The Apostle Paul’s beautiful and eloquent phrases found in the book of Romans, chapters 7-8, are tough to match. Just consider these few:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed in us.”
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that the very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”
“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?….For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, or things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Too deep for words – that about sums it up. God’s love is so rich and so full and so complete – well – it just can’t be summed up in a whole library of books, much less a paragraph or two. But Paul comes close. He manages to distill God’s immense love for us into a few well turned phrases.
So – no Christian license plate or bumper stickers for me. God’s love for us all is just too great to be limited to that.
I’m left speechless.
Prayer: Lord, when I am left without words, when I cannot express either my deepest needs or my deepest feelings, thank you for your Holy Spirit that prays on my behalf. Help me to know that your love is deeper than I can ever fully understand. And guide me to love you and others in simple, humble, quiet gratitude. AMEN.
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 