Musings of a (Sometimes) Muddled Mind

  Our Sunday School class has been studying Romans and man, Romans is just so dense. There’s a lot in there to unpack. I find myself marinating on it throughout the week. One word that came up recently is found in Romans 3:25. Verse 24 says that we are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is found in Christ Jesus, and then verse 25 goes on to say that God set Jesus forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness. That word “propitiation” is just fascinating. The Greek word Paul used here that is translated “propitiation” is hilasterion, and it’s only used one other time in the New Testament - in Hebrews. But before we get there, we need to do a little background. When God led Israel out of Egypt, He set up the Mosaic law. He gave them instructions for building the tabernacle and all of its furnishings, including the Ark of the Covenant. On top of the Ark was a slab of gold with two cherubim on top. Their wings spread out

 I heard something earlier today that got me thinking, and here's where that thinking led. Hopefully you'll excuse any scattered thinking here, because I'm pretty much typing this out as I go. Premise 1: Love is not the opposite of judgment. Premise 2: Apathy is the opposite of judgment. Premise 3: Most people who stop and think about it long enough will agree with this, although many might do so very reluctantly - think kicking and screaming. Situation: Imagine you're walking down the street and you see two youths beating and robbing an old lady. If you disagree with my premises above, then the loving response to this situation is, "well, would you look at those little scamps. Lord love them. Boys will be boys, I suppose. Imagine what they're going to do once they learn to harness all that energy." and bob off down the street in your most non-judgmental shuffle.   I submit to you that the non-judgmental response to seeing an old lady beaten and robbed is

Psalm 1:1  Blessed is the man        who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,                    nor stands in the way of sinners,        nor sits in the seat of scoffers;              2       but his delight is in the law of the LORD,        and on his law he meditates day and night.              3       He is like a tree        planted by streams of water                    that yields its fruit in its season,        and its leaf does not wither.                    In all that he does, he prospers.  Matthew 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.  John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the bra