Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
This section of Romans 15 ends with a benediction (verse 13). Paul has finished his arguments and his teaching about Jews and Gentiles, and commends his readers to God in their discipleship. Romans has a reputation for being a complicated book – it is and it isn't. It's full of rich insights and deep teaching, but its basic message is very simple, and it's summed up in verse 7: 'Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you.' Jews and Gentiles are both 'accepted' not because they have kept ritual or moral laws or are descended physically from Abraham, but because of their response to Christ's calling. At the foot of the cross, the ground is level.
Today, we live in a global village where the internet has erased distance. We can communicate faster and more easily than at any time in history. Rather than just bringing us closer together, though, this ability has also highlighted our differences. We're divided by race, gender, politics, income, class, religion and more. Paul doesn't want to deny these differences, but he tells us that in the light of Christ, difference does not mean division. In the first century, Jewish and Gentile believers were painfully working out what this meant. Today there are different differences, but the process is the same: we need to work out how to accept each other as Christ has accepted us, and live together truthfully and lovingly for his sake.
God, thank you for bringing me into your great family. Help me to accept others as you have accepted me.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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