Tuesday 4th June

The day started off really warm and sunny but with some cloud over the Alps to the south. We entertained Matthew for a while and then I went for a walk to take some photos in Challex. The news tells us that many parts of Europe are victims of floods, especially Prague and Passau. They have and torrential rain for the past couple of days and the river levels are set to rise further.

I drove Becky to Geneva for her driving lesson at 1pm. We parked in Cornavin and walked to the lake with Matthew who was really well behaved. After the lesson we drove to St. Genis to have Matthew weighed. We waited ages because the nurse was so incredibly slow and repeated herself many times. Our slot took half an hour and could have been completed in 10 minutes. Matthew is still underweight at 5.85 kg and 4.5 months. However he looks like a really healthy and happy baby and we feel there's no need to worry.

M and I went to Migros to shop for the evening stir fry. Over dinner we spoke about Matthew's weight problem and I agree with Andrew that the nurse is overstating e problem.

Romans 2:17-29 : But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve the things that are superior, because you* are instructed by the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal? 22 The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples? 23 Who boast in the law, by the transgression of the law you dishonor God! For just as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” For circumcision is of value if you do the law, but if you should be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if the uncircumcised person follows the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be credited for circumcision? And the uncircumcised person by nature who carries out the law will judge you who, though provided with ⌊the precise written code⌋f and circumcision are a transgressor of the law. 28 For the Jew is not ⌊one outwardly⌋g, nor is circumcision ⌊outwardly⌋h, in the flesh. 29 But the Jew ⌊is one inwardly⌋i, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, whose praise is not from people but from God. 

Once again Paul warns against hypocrisy and complacency. Being subject to the Jewish law does not make a person righteous. It is only strict observance of the law in every detail that can make a person righteous under the law. The law does not allow for slippage and is totally unforgiving. Forgiveness and righteousness, as Paul will say later, comes only through Jesus.