Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 22
Saturday


A VIRTUOSO
IGNORED

READ:
Romans 1:18-23
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Since the creation of
the world His invisible
attributes are clearly
seen. __Romans 1:20
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A man wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap positioned himself against a wall beside a trash can at the L'Enfant Plaza stations in Washington, DC. He pulled out a violin and began to play. In the next 43 minutes, as he performed six classical pieces, 1,097 people passed by, ignoring him.

No one knew it, but the man playing outside the Metro was Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on a $3.5 million Stradivarius. But no crowd gathered for the virtuoso. "It was a strange feeling, that people were actually...ignoring me," said Bell.

God also knows what it feels like to be ignored. The apostle Paul said that God has sovereignly planted evidence of His existence in the very nature of man. And creation delivers an unmistakable message about His creativity, beauty, power, and character. Although God has revealed His majesty, many refuse to acknowledge and thank Him. But God will hold everyone responsible for ignoring who He is and what He has revealed: "They are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful" (Rom. 1:20-21).

Let us acknowledge and thank the Virtuoso of heaven, who has wonderfully revealed Himself to us. __Marvin Williams
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`````````````The treasures of the crystal snows,```````````````````
`````````````And all the wonders nature shows,```````````````````
``````````````Speak of a mighty Maker's hand````````````````````
``````````That all in love and wisdom planned. __Bosch`````````````
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All creation is an outstretched finger
pointing toward God.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 1:18-23*************

18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men,
who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, 19 because
what may be known of God
is manifest in them, for God
has shown it to them. 20 For
since the creation of the
world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the
things that are made, even
His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are
without excuse, 21 because,
although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as
God, nor were thankful, but
became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish
hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise,
they became fools, 23 and
changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an
image made like corruptible
man--and birds and four-
footed animals and creeping
things.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book of Romans was most likely written form Corinth around
AD 57 during the apostle Paul's third missionary journey (Acts
20:2-3). Paul desired very much to visit Rome (Rom. 1:10-15). He
wrote to the Roman believers about his desired visit and to solicit
support for future missionary work in Spain (15:23-24). In his letter,
Paul explained the theological foundation of the gospel--that all of
mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, are sinners and saved through
faith in Jesus (Rom. 1-11). Paul eventually arrives in Rome (AD 60),
but as a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:16,30). __SKT