Romans 1: Sinfulness & Catching A Glimpse of God
Key Verses:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Daily Message:
In the second half of Chapter 1, Paul shifts his message to the wickedness or unrighteousness of mankind. To appreciate the need for a Savior, we must recognize that we are all sinners and need Jesus Christ. To make certain all can identify with such sins, he goes on in Chapter 1 to list numerous forms of sin and depravity (see verses 29–31).
All around us, there is proof that an all-powerful being created marvelous things out of nothing. In verse 20, Paul refers to God’s invisible qualities that clearly reveal His eternal power and divine nature.
In my book, God Revealed, I tell a story titled “Epiphany in India” that describes my experience of observing an open-heart surgery at close range. That experience fortified my faith and proved to be profoundly spiritual as I marveled at God’s incredible creation — the human heart. The experience changed my outlook on life and my appreciation for the evidence of God’s creation that surrounds us daily. I call it “catching a glimpse of God,” and I now consciously watch for it, observe it and praise God for it on a daily basis. As Paul implied, if we are even the least bit observant, we are without excuse for unbelief.
A Moment to Reflect:
When have you “caught a glimpse of God”? Has it fortified your faith? Is this something you feel comfortable sharing with others?