Listen to The Daily Word online.  Brad Paisley sings a funny sung about alcohol that begins with these words:  I can make anybody pretty. I can make you believe any lie.I can make you pick a fight with somebody twice your size.  Actually, now that I read those lyrics, they’re not so much funny as just plain sad. Drunkenness makes people believe and do really stupid things.  Romans 12.3 doesn’t address the baleful consequences of alcohol consumption. In fact, it doesn’t mention alcohol at all. But it talks about “sober judgment,” and the easiest way to think about sober judgment … Continue reading Sober Judgment (Romans 12.3)

Listen to The Daily Word online.  During my first year of graduate school, I read A Black Theology of Liberation by James H. Cone. For me—a conservative, white, suburban kid—reading Cone’s book was an unsettling experience. Cone thought about God and society very differently than I did. Indeed, he argued that my theological methodology and conclusions served racist purposes. One of the most formative moments in my theological education happened when I stopped and asked myself whether he was right.  Why am I telling you about my unsettling experience? It’s not because I came to agree with Cone’s specific conclusions … Continue reading Conformed or Transformed? (Romans 12.2)

Listen to The Daily Word online.  In August 1991, I traveled to the Qinghai Province in northwestern China with my family. We visited various cities where my missionary grandparents had planted churches prior to the Communist Revolution of 1949. While in the city of Xining, I saw a butcher kill a goat on the sidewalk in front of his store. Until then, I’d never seen a butcher at work. But now I had, and it gave me a new perspective on Romans 12.1. Here’s what Paul writes:  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies … Continue reading Living Sacrifices (Romans 12.1)

Listen to The Daily Word online.  Today, I would like to meditate with you on ten words from Romans 12.1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy….”  Whenever you read the word therefore in Scripture, you should ask what it’s there for. In Romans 12.1, therefore connects religion and ethics. According to Gordon Fee, religion in the New Testament is grace, while ethics is gratitude. Romans 1-11 is a powerful exposition of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. Romans 12-15 is an equally powerful exposition of the spiritual and moral work of the justified.   In … Continue reading Graced Attitude (Romans 12.1)

Listen to The Daily Word online.  About halfway up the 286 spiraling stone steps of the Oleviste Church tower, I began to wonder whether the view it afforded of Tallinn, Estonia, was really worth the heart-pumping, lung-burning, knee-buckling effort. Construction on the Oleviste Church began in the 13th Century. At one time, it was the tallest building in Europe. And the only way to the top was one unevenly sized, medieval stair at a time.  I thought about the Oleviste Church tower when I read Romans 11.33-36. Romans is Paul’s most theologically systematic and rigorously argued letter. About halfway through … Continue reading Theology and Worship (Romans 11.33-36)

Listen to The Daily Word online.  I have made a pilgrimage to Israel several times. First-time Christian pilgrims inevitably come away with an epiphany and two questions. The epiphany: Jesus was here! He walked and talked then where we can walk and talk today. The questions: Why didn’t the Jews believe in him then? And, by extension, why don’t they believe in him now? Those are very good questions, and Romans 9-11 is Paul’s very good answer.  Over the past several weeks, I have walked you verse by verse through Paul’s argument about the unbelief of his fellow Jews. In Romans … Continue reading Hardening, Softening (Romans 11.25-32)

Listen to The Daily Word online. What is God like? First John 4.8 says, in the context of encouraging Christians to love one another, “God is love.” But Hebrews 12.29 says, in the context of warning Christians about divine judgment, “God is a consuming fire.” Is God love or fire? Why not both! I thought about the dual nature of God’s character when I read Romans 11.22-24:  Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they … Continue reading Kindness and Sternness (Romans 11.22-24)

Listen to TDW: https://georgepwood.com/mp3s/romans_11_11-16.mp3 —– Can bad choices nonetheless have good results? If I read Romans 11.11-16 correctly, the answer to that question is yes. Throughout Romans 9-11, Paul has been reflecting on Israel’s bad choice in rejecting Jesus Christ. Although Christ fulfilled all of God’s promises to them, many in Israel nevertheless rejected him in his own day. This seems at first glance to be a failure in God’s plan. But Paul sees the matter differently. Here’s what he writes: “Again I ask: Did they [that is, Israel] stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, … Continue reading Bad Choices, Good Results? (Romans 11.11-16)

Dear TDW Readers: Due to software issues, I have had a hard time sending out The Daily Word. I hope those issues have been resolved and that you are getting this via email. If not, please be patient. Thank you! George Continue reading Problems with TDW