Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at Romans 1:18-23:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21 for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools; 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

As I mentioned yesterday, for the next little bit we will probably be pulling a lot from Romans these next few weeks as it is our suggested New Testament readings with the morning office.  Today, we see a couple of interesting things in our passage. 

First, we look at verse 20 where it says that creation has shown us the glory of God.  This is a concept that is known as general revelation. Through creation, all are made aware of the glory and majesty of God.  What does this mean practically?  Go outside at sunrise and see a beautiful sunrise. 

Isn’t it beautiful? 

Now, let me ask you a question.  What purpose does a beautiful sunrise serve?  I mean, what does it accomplish?  What is its point?  Does it even have one?  

Really, what is beauty?  What point and purpose does beauty serve?  

We just know the beauty of creation within us when we see it.  We know beauty.  Our hearts leap up.  That is what this passage is talking about.  Our very hearts understand beauty and know that it points to something bigger.  

That is the general revelation of God.  

Today, look for that. All of Creation shows us the glory of God. 

But this passage serves as a warning, as does all of the beginning of Romans.  We all are sinful, Paul will take time and dismantle every argument for human perfection and show how we all stand needful of God’s grace. This passage shows us that they understood God’s glory, but they refused to acknowledge it, and eventually could not even see it. 

Be careful with sin.  Guard your heart today. For eventually, if left unchecked, sin will blind us and will in time destroy us.  Guard your heart today, so that we don’t become blinded to the glory of God, all around us.  

So, today let’s be on the lookout for God’s glory, and let’s guard our hearts from sin.  May we join with all of creation in giving glory to God! 

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