Changing the clock sure seems easier than living with the new time.  Even the fall change throws us off our usual routine.  I missed a few clocks or watches last night getting set to new schedule.  They reminded me why my stomach was rumbling an hour earlier than the time on the clock.  Most of us really struggle with the spring time change but this one has its moments.  You don't have much of a choice in the matter when it comes down to it.  The only other option is to be an hour late or early for everything.  Seems like we adjust to the new reality or else never be where we want to be or when we need to be there.

Scripture can do this to us in ways.  We live in a century far removed from the times of the writing of God's word.  Vocabulary or grammar puzzle us when we wrestle with ancient languages.  Words pregnant with meaning way back then sound unfamiliar or even foreign to our day.  This is not to say one cannot grasp what the Bible does say.  One of the myths of study is you need to be a kind of scholar to really understand scripture.  There are some bare facts to know but never fear not having a degree in ancient languages or history.  Good people write books or articles constantly to help us where we fall short.  I know my study is greatly enhanced by those resources that most anyone can understand.  But also be sure these may not make all of the questions vanish.

We talked about the concept of justification this evening in our study.  Here you find one of the basic words that defines our faith.  But trying to come to grips with what such a strange sounding word means can be hard.  Large volumes of books are already out there about this topic.  Most of the significant theological authors over the centuries wrote on this.  My point is that it can be overwhelming to try to handle all of the material.  The usual mistake of mine is to make such studies so complex it loses meaning.  Doing research does not always translate into a good study.  Here is where it becomes a bit like changing your clock.  The goal is to take a word so important from the beginning of church life to find its current meaning in our world today. 

I am not going to do a whole study here on the blog tonight.  What would be life changing for you to know is that such a phrase matters greatly for whatever time we live.  To get a sense of how far God goes to bring you into a divine relationship is not just in the moment but it is eternal.  We see from the Old Testament how He works out this divine purpose in Jesus.  Time and space come together in the cross to open the way for us to know God.  You don't even need to change your clock to figure that one out. 

Bro. Trey