Romans 1

I spent a few summers of my childhood on Cayuga Lake at my grandparent's vacation house, which was situated at the edge of the forest at the top of a huge sprawling hill of grass that ran down to a two-lane road that circled the lake. Before sunrise my grandfather and I would cross the road, descend a wooden stairway that led to a beach of smooth gray stones, and settle ourselves at the end of an old dock to greet the morning. It felt peaceful there.

Paul greets "all those in Rome who are loved by God and consecrated" and proclaims "grace to [them] and peace from God [the] Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." In our fast-paced modern world it is hard to find moments of complete peace. Complete peace comes when people are liberated from the oppressive thoughts and feelings that distort relationship with themselves, others, and God. If we look at the italicized words in Paul's greeting backwards we can understand this peace.

Peace. Grace. Consecrated. Loved.

Believers should experience peace because the grace of our Lord has consecrated us so that we can fully experience God's love. In other words, when we accept Christ's offer of grace, the once for all forgiveness of our sins; we are consecrated, set apart as holy through the gift of the Holy Spirit placed within us; and the Holy Spirit helps us understand the depth and breadth of God's love for us. This love liberates us from the thoughts and feelings that distort life. This love brings peace.

Paul tells us that those who refuse to believe these things have "exchanged the truth about God for a lie."

I don't know about you, but I don't want to live a lie.

I choose to believe the truth.

I choose peace.