Romans 1:1-7

One phrase in today's devotional stuck out especially to me, and I've been turning it over in my mind, still not sure I understand it;

through whom we have recived grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name...
--Romans 1:5

So, clearly we are the recipients of grace and apostleship for a specific purpose: to bring about the obedience of faith.

Does the last part mean obedience born of faith? Meaning we are obedient as a result of being faithful, e.g. to borrow from Acts 26: I should forgive because I believe I am forgiven by Jesus' sacrifice?

Or, does it mean that faith, in and of itself, is a form of obedience? Are there other obediences then, like the obedience of [other thing]...

Still churning and not sure what everythign means, but that's what stuck out to me today. :)

1 Samuel 3

I did actually read this Saturday, but didn't blog about it.

When I first read this chapter, I was a little shocked because I didn't understand the context. Coming into the story half-ways, it seemed like God waking up a little kid (Samuel) and telling him, "Your daddy (Eli) was bad, I'm going to make your daddy suffer..."

But, digging in a little more turns out Eli was Samuel's teacher, not his father. Moreover, Eli's kids (Hophni and Phinehas) were, in fact, pretty bad.

Seems like I filter most things through the lens of fatherhood these days and this chapter is no exception. It's definitely possible I'm making a bad inductive conclusion, but I can't help but think about how Eli was called out and held responsible (and seemingly resigned) for failing to properly teach or discipline his children. For parents, especially instilling a proper respect and reverence for the Lord is a big deal. At a minimum, keep kids from douchebaggery like stealing from the offering plate or using church positions as a way to pick up girls.

From another standpoint, this story reminds me of Jesus flipping out at the money changers and vendors inside church. God gets really, really mad when you use Him or use His home as a Trojan Horse for your own benefit.

Acts 26 Devotional notes

Acts 26: 17-18
I like the ESV translation here, i.e. "...so that they may turn from darkness to light...that they may receive forgiveness of sins..."

The "may" underscores the idea that there is a choice and it must be made of one's own volition. I think that's a point that militant evangelists are loathe to concede: that you can lead the horse to water, but you can't force it to drink. God gives us a choice to make, he never forces anyone to pick it. Our obedience, like Paul's here, is measured by whether we do the leading. God didn't say, "Thou shalt, under threat of Hellfire, shoot 64% on conversion attempts in Damascus, 66% in Jerusalem and 68% in Judea..."

Acts 26:14
It's interesting to me that, Pauls persecution of Jesus leads Jesus to be concerned for Paul's welfare!
From the ESRV: Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads

Also, it's pretty radical how much Paul changes; basically becoming the poster boy of the type of Christians he persecuted as a Pharisee... He must've been a pretty passionate guy.