IF GOD wanted one of his Bible writers to draft an epistle to Lancastrians today, it would probably be a lot like the letter to the Romans in the New Testament.

Many of the political and moral problems are similar.

No doubt the Coliseum spent millions on gladiatorial Ronaldo’s while the poor starved.

Romans did their own thing to the exclusion of the Almighty and yet despite this, God’s amazing love for us humans shines through.

In chapter 12 of Romans he inspires writer St Paul to make this appeal, “I beseech you therefore, brothers and sisters, to present yourselves... holy and acceptable to God...”

The word “therefore” is important.

It harks back to the fantastic blessings of the previous 11 chapters and in our present climate of political and economic uncertainty maybe this is precisely what we need to know.

In Chapter Four, God views all who trust him as if, incredibly, they’d never sinned.

Justified by faith, it’s called.

In Chapter Five, we have total peace with God because he’s made us right with him.

Chapter Eight is a tour de force of blessings: We’re made sons and daughters of God, we have a glorious future hope, our prayers are heard, everything works to our ultimate good, we’re his elected people, we are conquerors, and finally, “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

Therefore, he writes to us, give yourselves to me.

Seems like a five-star, can’t-lose deal to me.

Check it out yourself, why don’t you?