Today’s scripture: Romans 6:15-19 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
I once heard a story about a new ostrich at a zoo. Regrettably, the bird’s former owner had kept it in a cage far too small for any decent amount of movement. All the poor animal could do was to walk a few steps in any direction. One day, the trapped bird was rescued from this most unfortunate state of existence. The bird’s cage was carefully lowered into a spacious area of the zoo in which it would have sufficient room to be free and enjoy life. When the bird was guided out of the cage, the zoo staff received a big surprise. All that the new resident could do was to move within those same small parameters that it had known all of its life. Later on, the beautiful bird learned (with the help of kind and patient zoo staff and by looking at other animals) that it had much more freedom than it had ever known before. The freed creature was no longer bound by unyielding rigidity.
I see similarities between this bird and the people to whom Paul is addressing in today’s scripture. If I had been born in a time when I was expected to follow a highly ritualistic, rules-driven way of life, and then discovered a way of life that tossed out the list of rules, I wouldn’t initially know how to act either. Would I abandon every bit of the former life and become rebellious? Would I decide (as some supposedly did) to intentionally sin in an attempt to force God to bestow an extra-heavy stream of forgiveness and mercy upon me? It’s easy for me to think, “You people! Why didn’t you act any better than you did so Paul didn’t have to give you his response in the first place?”
I used to image Paul wanting to scream this entire message to the recipients at the top of his lungs as if it were a hell-fire and damnation sort of threat. (Armchair analyzing is such an easy task. But shame on me; I never recall Jesus doing it.) I now envision these words as a tender plea of genuine concern, with Paul sometimes crying as he composed it. I have come to see this scripture as an example of how most people, in a new setting, can benefit from a helpful, guiding presence from a concerned shepherd.
Thought for the day: Thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit-led teachers and guides that You send to us in our lives.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.