God is one.

I'm reading through Romans, and today I read chapter 3. I feel like Romans is one of those books that gets a bit mangled in all of our theological wrangling and wrestling, and in my current frame of mind, I have no desire to jump into that fray.

I've been slowly making my way through Thornton's English Spirituality, and while he hasn't yet made his point, he's circling around the idea that my Scripture study should shape my prayer.  So rather than ask, "what exactly does this mean?", I should begin by asking, "how does this help me pray?"

As for this morning's reading, the verse that jumped out at me was when Paul asks, "Is he not the God of Gentiles also?  Yes of Gentiles also, since God is one."  So, how does this help me pray?

First of all, it gives me joy, so I can praise God that his grace is wider than a thin band of nationalism, I can praise God that I have been brought in to a covenant that he made with a man in a distant land long ago, I can praise God that his mission to the world has not failed, and that I have been captivated by Jesus.

Secondly, I can pray that God's mission would continue.  God is one, and he is the God of all people, so I will pray that all people will come to know him in the gospel, that his kingdom will continue to come in power, and that through his people (myself included), God's world would be reconciled to him.