Upper Loft Meditation - Romans 1

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” - Romans 1:21

This verse is often read with other people in mind. But look at it more closely. It may apply to you, especially the phrase, “nor gave thanks to him.”

First of all, this is a turning point issue. To which side will you turn? Turning to the one side with a thankful heart you move closer to the heart of God. However, if you do nothing or make a deliberate choice to ignore God, you will find yourself moving away from God and your thinking about spiritual reality will become fuzzy and your heart will begin to harden.

For most of us, however, the problem is not making a deliberate choice to be ungrateful. The problem is we do nothing and remain silent. Listen to our excuses:

• “I am so busy. My time just got away from me.”
• “I just don’t think about thanking God. I have so many other things to focus on.”
• “I know being thankful is a good thing to do, but I never remember to offer thanks.”

To be thankful is to be grateful for the forgiveness, mercy, and kindness God has lavished upon you through Jesus.

To be thankful is to make a deliberate choice to express your thanks to God offering your reasons why you are thankful.

To be thankful is to rejoice in your heart and to share with others why in the midst of the storms and trials you face you can have peace, joy, and hope.

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:15

Upper Loft Meditation - Romans 12

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

There is a children’s story of a little girl who would look out the window every morning. If it was rainy or overcast she would be sad, but if the sun was shining she would overflow with joy.

What determines if you are to be filled with joy today? The weather? No known problems that must be tackled? Aches and pains and a general feeling it will be a downer day?

Jesus, for the hope set before him, endured the cross. Such a great hope overrules all feelings and circumstances.

Our hope is found in Jesus. This is a hope for which we have a guarantee, the promises of God.

Notice that this exhortation to be joyful is coupled with two others, “patient in affliction” - to persevere or keep on going when it gets tough and “faithful in prayer” - to pray always.

If our joy is based on God’s faithfulness and His unfailing love for us, then we have confidence that our prayers are heard and that He will lead us through the valley of shadows. The joy in the midst of the storm is based on truths far greater than the storm.

Think of the great hope you have in Christ Jesus. I can picture your smile and hear your singing!

Upper Loft Meditation - Romans 15

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” - Romans 15:4

Hope is like a muscle, it must receive nourishment and be exercised, or it begins to wither away. It is not like a fire extinguisher mounted on a wall and available for emergencies.

How should we feed our hope? From the Scriptures, we receive the nutrients, the very basis for our hope. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Just as we must eat to live, so we must feed our hope through regular reading of the Scriptures. No one would think of eating only a Sunday morning brunch each week. With this type of habit it is no wonder people struggle clinging to their hope.

How should we exercise our hope? One ongoing exercise is the Trust Factor. How does this work? Consider how you will walk in hope today. How is your walk affected by three central truths:

1. God’s mercy is new everyday.
2. God’s grace is sufficient for all your needs.
3. God’s love for you is unfailing.

The words used in this passage convey the idea that the recipients of this letter are going through hard times. This is when hope is so important. Wrapped in the arms of Jesus you have confidence that God is faithful.