Wednesday, May 20. Romans 10:1-21.

There is one particular night in our Catechism journey that is a highlight for me. It happens during the year in which I teach a survey of the whole Bible to our students. On this night we reenact the scene that happens in Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

Moses is about to die and he is giving his final pep talk to the new generation of Israelites, just before they are about to enter into the promised land. He has just explained God’s Law to them, again. Then he divides the people into two groups. One group he places on a hill on one side of the valley, the other group he has stand on the hill on the other side of the valley.

Then, he has them shout back and forth to each other. One side shouts, “LIFE!” The other side shouts, “DEATH!” It’s like those old Miller Lite commercials where they shout back and forth, “Tastes Great!” “Less Filling!” Only, this is important.

So, I divide the students into two groups and have them shout back and forth to each other, “LIFE!” “DEATH!” “LIFE!” “DEATH!” It’s fun and loud.

Then I stop, get really serious, and repeat Moses’ words to them, “I set before you today Life and Death. Choose Life.”

“Nice story, Steve,” you are probably thinking to yourself right now, “but what does this have to do with Romans 10:1-21? Good question.

Today’s reading is hard to understand for the 21st century gentile reader. Paul is teaching like the Jewish rabbi that he was. If you go back and read Deuteronomy 30:11-20 you will recognize the similarity in language. “Who will go up…” “Who will go down…?”

Here’s the simple version of what Paul is saying: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. That means two things: 1. We no longer have to observe all the details of the law, but only have to worry about the law of Love. 2. God’s salvation is for EVERYONE, including Gentiles.

God’s faithfulness to the promise is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is for everyone, and the way of Jesus is life.

“I set before you today life and death. Choose life.”