Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

A long time ago I led a woman's Bible study through the book of Romans. (If anybody knows the company that puts these studies out, please let me know; I'd like to do more but I can't remember the name. It's not a book; it's a series of three hole punched studies that march right through books of the Bible. The complany logo looks like a rising sun behind - if I remember right - a cross)

But right now, I'm going to go off in another direction.

Thirty-three years ago my mom sang a solo in our church's Christmas Cantata. I remember this very clearly because Mom was singing the part of "Mary" and at the time was "heavy with child" - my sister Becky was born in January.

The song was "Have Thine Own Way"

1. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

It wasn't until later that I connected the words of this song with anything other than "Mary submitting to God" or "Christians 'rededicating'"

Just a few years ago I was challenged to "take a look at" reformed theology. I was not sure what the point would be, but agreed to study with an open mind.

It took over a year. We debated (I'd take one side and then the other). I read, studied, argued with myself and then argued with God. I don't follow the catechisms or confessions "hook, line and sinker". But the basics - the Solas and TULIP - I'm pretty solid.

Today, I see election and sovereignty throughout the Bible. Hearts are hardened and eyes are opened...all to the glory of God.

Here are the verses that the first verse comes from.

Romans 9:

20 - 24 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

The message of Romans is the sovereignty of God.

There is more!

The first part of Romans tells us about the Law - that ministry of death that none of us can fulfill.

The second part tells us that the Law has been fulfilled!

The heart of Romans is the Gospel - the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. We learn that now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.

Romans is one of the first books that really "spoke" to me as an adult - throughout Romans we see the Gospel, the fulfillment of the Law in Christ. We see sovereignty, love and grace.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Text: Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934
Music: George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945