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Romans

April 23rd - Romans 15:1-13

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), the great preacher, asked the operator of a local livery stable for the best horse he had. Brooks explained, "I am taking a good friend for a ride and I want the very best for the occasion." As the livery man hitched up a horse to a buggy, he said, "This animal is about as perfect as a horse could be. It is kind, gentle, intelligent, well-trained, obedient, willing, responds instantly to your every command, never kicks, balks, or bites, and lives only to please its driver." Brooks then quietly said to the owner, "Do you suppose you could get that horse to join my church?"
Yes, what a powerful church we could have if we all had those qualities! We are naturally prone to think only of our own desires and wishes and to forget the good of others. Paul said in Romans 15:2, "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification."
The more we grow in grace, the more we will think about the needs of others. In our church life we should not think only of ourselves but always be willing to yield our desires for the good of the whole. Our example is the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, for even He "did not please Himself" (v.3).
What kind of church member are you?

April 22nd - Romans 15:7
     Christ's followers are called to live an "inclusive" lifestyle. By this I mean that we are instructed in God's Word to reach out to those who might not be accepted by others. But we get so comfortable with our church friends that we may feel it's too much to ask.
     In The Covenant Home Altar, Erika Carney wrote, "When I was growing up, my mom was deeply involved with the various activities I participated in. She would often tell me, 'Make sure Heather feels included,' or 'Ask Julie to be your partner,' or 'Invite Kristen to sit with you and your friends.' I sometimes dreaded hearing those words. What if I just wanted to be with my friends? Why should I have to make sure that other people were having fun?"
     Erika's mother was teaching her daughter to obey the principle taught in Romans 15:7. We are to welcome and accept Christians who may not feel comfortable in our particular group.
     Some people are excluded because they are withdrawn, angry, or defensive, or because they seem strange or demanding. But these things shouldn't matter. We are to receive fellow believers "just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God" (v.7).

April 21 - Romans 15:1-13
      Charles de Gaulle, former president of France and leader of the free French during World War II, was a devoted father to his daughter Anne, who was mentally handicapped and needed constant care. People who viewed de Gaulle as the aloof soldier and political leader were astonished at the tender and loving care this towering man lavished on his little girl. De Gaulle spent hours playing simple games with Anne, and at night he held her hand until she fell asleep.
     That’s a great picture of the strong bearing the weak. Paul includes himself among the strong Christians who have an obligation to avoid harming their weaker brothers and sisters.
Paul has great personal liberty in Christ. But he uses it to serve others, not as a source of pride. The apostle is ready to lay his personal rights aside for the sake of someone else’s spiritual growth, and he wants that attitude to be the model for others.
     Verse 2 suggests that weaker Christians have an obligation here too.
All of us need to practice the kind of self-denial the Savior practiced when He absorbed the insults and abuses of the cross to redeem us. If the church, the body of Christ, can display a spirit of unity in the way we serve each other, we will bring great glory to our Lord.
     Paul sums up the issue of Christian liberty by saying, “Accept one another” (v. 7). He could put this in the form of a command because we have been accepted by Jesus Christ. In fact, Paul is convinced that Christ would give believers the strength needed to do anything He commanded (Phil. 4:13).
     When you think of strong Christians who helped you grow in Christ, do some names and faces come to mind?

April 18th – Romans 14:23

     Dr. Harry Ironside (in Illustrations of Bible Truth) gives the following illustration...

     Sandy was a thrifty Scot who objected to needless laundry expense, so when he wore a dress shirt to a banquet, he put it away carefully for future use. On one occasion when dressing for such an event, he took a used shirt out of the drawer and examined it with care, hoping to be able to wear it that evening. Not being quite sure of its strict cleanliness, he took it to a window, where he was looking it over under a better light than the room afforded. His wife, Jean, noticed him shaking his head as though fearful that it would not pass careful scrutiny.
     “Remember, Sandy,” she called to him, “if it’s doubtful, it’s dirty.”
     That settled it. The shirt went into the discard and another—a fresh one—took its place. Jeans’ words may well speak to every believer concerning things about which conscience raises any question whatsoever. Although all things are, indeed, legal for a true Christian, he will try to do only those things which please his Lord. When he encounters questions not specifically mentioned in Scripture (smoking, movies), he should consider the various Scriptural principles that are given as guideposts to help him make such decisions. One of those is given in this verse, namely, he should be
able to do it in full confidence that it is pleasing to Christ.
     Some of the principles, with typical supporting Scriptures, may be noted as follows:
(1) The act has positive value and is, without question, pleasing to the Lord (Ro 14:23 1Co 10:23; Col 4:5);
(2) The act is consistent with our new life in Christ (Col 3:1-4; 2T i2:4; 2Co 5:14,15);
(3) We can sense the positive leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19-20 Ga 5:16-18);
(4) The act will not diminish our Christian influence (Ro 14:13,21 1Co 8:8-13; 1Th 5:22);
(5) The act does not pose a danger of our becoming addicted to it (1Co 6:12; Ep 5:18; Ja 1:14,15)
(6) It can be done consistently with the example set by Jesus (1Pe 2:21 1Jn 2:6 Php 2:5)
(7) It can be done in confidence that it brings glory to God (1Co 10:31 Col 3:23).

     This is certainly not an exhaustive list of relevant principles or appropriate Scriptures, but is at least indicative of what to look for.

April 17th – Romans 14:22

     I may have complete liberty to partake of every kind of food, knowing that God gave it to be received with thanksgiving. But I should not needlessly flaunt that liberty before those who are weak. It is better to exercise that liberty in private, when no one could possibly be offended.
Two ideas are included in this phrase. The first is, “Keep it private” — that is, do not parade it or make it a point to show that you are above the weak scruples of your brothers; and the second is that this faith or firm conviction is not to be renounced but retained, for it is founded on the truth.
(Stedman): So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. {Ro14:22a NIV} Unfortunately, that is not a very good translation. It suggests that you are to keep quiet about your liberties, that you do not say anything to anybody, that you keep it between yourself
and God. That really is not what Paul is saying. What he is saying is, "if you have faith, have it between yourself and God." That is, let God and God's Word be the basis for your faith, and nothing else. Be sure that what you are doing is not because of pride on your part, because you want to show off how free you are -- you are doing this because God has freed you by his Word. And, Paul says, if you do that, > blessed.      Paul does not require the strong to abandon their convictions about thing not condemned by the law. Instead he encourages them to have faith about such issues. Although mature believers may refrain from eating meat in front of weaker believers, they can still believe that Christ gives them the freedom to eat all types of food (see v2) privately before Him (see v5).
     Before God: that is, in the sight of God. Since God sees and recognizes it, this conviction need not be displayed in front of men. It is to be cherished in our hearts and used in a way that is acceptable to God. Being right in itself, it is to be piously and not ostentatiously paraded and employed.
     Charles Spurgeon, at the height of his fame, was one day walking down the street and saw a sign which read, “We sell the cigar that Charles
Spurgeon smokes.” Upon seeing this sign Spurgeon gave up the habit. He came to see that what was for him a freedom might cause others to stumble.
“Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”

April 16th -  Romans 14:14

     What something does to a person determines its quality. One man may be able to read certain books and not be bothered by them, while a weaker Christian reading the same books might be tempted to sin. But the issue is not, “How does it affect me?” so much as, “If I do this, how will it affect my brother?” Will it make him stumble? Will it grieve him or even destroy him by encouraging him to sin? Is it really worth it to harm a brother just so I can enjoy some food? No!" If someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. Paul is saying essentially "Don't violate your conscience." If a weak brother thinks it is wrong for him to eat pork, for example, then it is wrong. To eat it would be to violate his God-given conscience.
     For various reasons, there are certain things that we all know are not sinful but that we do not feel comfortable in doing or even being near. And as long as we feel discomfort about any such thing, we should avoid doing it—even if it would not cause offense to other believers. If we ourselves consider anything to be unclean, then to us it is unclean.
      Ray Stedman comments that...”I liken this to crossing a swinging bridge over a mountain stream. There are people who can run across a bridge like that, even though it does not have any handrails. They are not alarmed by it, they can keep their balance well. They are not concerned about the swaying of the bridge, or the danger of falling into the torrent below. That is fine; some people can do that. But others cannot. You watch them go out on a bridge like that, and they are very uncertain. They shake and tremble; they inch along. They may even get down on their hands and knees and crawl across. But they will make it if you just give them time, if you let them set their own speed. After a few crossings, they begin to pick up courage, and eventually they are able to run right across. It is like that with these moral questions. Some people just cannot see themselves moving in a certain area that they have been brought up to think is wrong; they have difficulty doing so. As in the case of the swinging bridge, it would be cruel for someone who had the freedom to cross boldly to take the arm of someone who was timid and drag them across, to force them to run across. They might even lose their balance and fall off the bridge and suffer injury. This is what Paul is warning about in [V15]:"

April 15th Romans 14:13 "Let us no longer have the habit of criticizing
one another."

  This statement summarizes what we have covered so far: we are not to judge one another which is in harmony with what the Jesus instructed [Mt
7:1] It is the unloving attitude of contemptuous superiority by strong believers and the equally unloving attitude of self righteousness by  weak believers (v3) by which they judge one another. From Paul’s day to ours, those wrongful judgments have been major causes of disrespect, disharmony, and disunity in the church.
    We sometimes criticize others unfairly. We don’t know all their circumstances, nor their motives. Only God, who is aware of all the facts, is able to judge people righteously.
    John Wesley told of a man he had little respect for because he considered him to be miserly and covetous. One day when this person contributed only a small gift to a worthy charity, Wesley openly criticized him. After the incident, the man went to Wesley privately and told him he had been living on parsnips and water for several weeks. He explained that before his conversion, he had run up many bills. Now, by skimping on everything and buying nothing for himself he was paying off his creditors one by one.
     “Christ has made me an honest man,” he said, “and so with all these debts to pay, I can give only a few offerings above my tithe. I must settle up with my worldly neighbors and show them what the grace of God can do in the heart of a man who was once dishonest.”
Wesley then apologized to the man and asked his forgiveness.

April 14th Romans 14:18
He that serves Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. Dean Howson renders this verse thus: “He who lives in these things as Christ’s bondsman is well-pleasing to God, and cannot be condemned by men.” There are two rules, therefore, to be observed by us when we consider our behavior in that great borderland which lies between the dark and light, the clearly wrong and clearly right. We are all conscious of habits and tastes, of inclinations towards certain forms of amusement and recreation, of methods of life, which do not contravene any distinct law of God, but are certainly open to question. It is such things that fall within the scope of these two principles.
First, we must always remember that we are Christ’s bondservants. — Let us look then, every day and hour, and as to the mental habit, every moment,
upon Jesus Christ as our Master. Saintly George Herbert chose that to be, as it were, his best — beloved aspect of his Savior; “My Master, Jesus.”
“An oriental fragrancy, my Master.” Let us do the same. Let us wear the word next the heart, next the will; nay, let it sink into the very springs
of both, deeper every day. And as each fresh question arises in our life, let us stand close beside Him, noticing the expression of His face, asking
Him what He would desire, and always reckoning that the least suggestion of his preference is law. “None of us lives to himself for, whether we
live, we live unto the Lord.”
Second, we must always bear in mind the spiritual life of others. — We are to put no stumbling block, or occasion for falling, in another’s way. It
is good neither to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor to do any other thing, whereby our brother is made to stumble. Let us each of us please his neighbor for good ends, to build him up; for Christ pleased not Himself.

Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily Vol. 5
 

April 10th- Romans 14:1-12

     Dr. Graham Scroggie was speaking at the Keswick Convention in England
on one occasion when he was approached by a young woman who had been
greatly stirred by his message on the lordship of Christ.  Walking up
to him at the close of the service she said to him, “I want Jesus
Christ to be Lord of my life, but I am afraid God will send me
overseas as a missionary and I don’t want to go.”
     Opening his Bible to Acts 10:14, Dr. Scroggie explained the absurdity
of Peter’s answer.  You will remember that God had given Peter a
vision of a sheet in which were all manner of four-footed animals,
wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air.  And a voice came
to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  But Peter answered, “Not so,
Lord.”  Dr. Scroggie went on to explain, “A slave never dictates to a
master.  Therefore, to say ‘Not so, Lord’ was quite improper!  Now,”
advised Dr. Scroggie, “I want you to cross out the two words ‘not
so’” and leave the word ‘Lord’;  or else cross out the word ‘Lord’
and leave ‘not so.’”  Handing her his pen, he quietly walked away.
     For some time she struggled.  Then he returned.  Looking over her
shoulder he saw a tear-stained page.  The words “Not so” were crossed
out. With a glad light in her eyes he left her as she repeated
affirmatively, “Lord!”  “Lord!”  “Lord!”  No longer would she
dictate.
     She was now His disciple and He was her Lord and Master.  Are you
prepared to look up into the face of Jesus and say as E. H. Swinstead
has written?

Lord of every thought and action, Lord to send and Lord to stay
Lord in speaking, writing, giving, Lord in all things to obey;
Lord of all there is of me, now and evermore to be.
 

April 9th – Romans 14:1-12

During His life and ministry here on earth Jesus demonstrated His right to pardon men and women.  Recall the occasion when the paralyzed man was
borne by four men who uncovered the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching and laid him at His feet. The scripture states, “Son your sins are forgiven you (Mark 2:5).  When His authority to forgive sins was challenged by the scribes who were sitting there He declared, “The Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10).
Christ alone has the right to pardon us as Lord.  Because of this, it is only reasonable for us to serve and surrender to the Jesus as our Savior and our Lord.
How about you?  Examine your life.  You have asked Jesus to be your Savior, but do you continue to ask Him to be Lord of your life?

Good morning.

Are you looking forward to the "great adventure" today?  What's so great about it you ask?
It's a day the Lord has made and he will direct you to opportunities to glorify Him.  Take advantage!

PD

April 8th – Romans 14:1-12

Americans like to pride themselves on their “can-do” spirit.  It was this conviction that helped a scruffy band of colonists defeat the great British army.  It was this gritty determination that rode with countless tiny rattletrap wagons full of families moving out to settle the vast wild spaces of U.S.
Immigrants from a hundred different countries seemed to catch that spirit the moment they set foot on shore.  Indeed, it has often been first or
second-generation Americans that have embodied it the best.  America’s songwriter for the 20th century, Irving Berlin, caught this “can-do” notion in his musical, “Annie Get Your Gun.”  In it, sharpshooter Annie Oakley engaged in a one-upmanship boasting match with her competitor Buffalo Bill Cody, boldly singing “Anything you can do I can do better; I can do anything better than you!”
There is another competition between adversaries however that demonstrates just how impossible some battles are to win.  For some of us the “battle
of the bulge” is an ongoing war, whose every victory or defeat is broadcast by summer’s shorts and swimsuits!  But for every 10 people who exist on salads with fat-free dressing and diet sodas, there is that one deviant cretin, munching on cheeseburgers and fries, slurping a chocolate shake and having brownies with ice cream for dessert, all the while still looking as slim and fit as a professional model, or athlete!
Ever since the Reformation and the birth of Protestantism, the church has found it easier to create new congregations rather than to tolerate genuine diversity within the ranks.
Paul’s bottom line here is that you and I are united by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  When we accept Christ’s Lordship, we have consented to share the position of being a slave or servant in the house of the Lord.
As you read this admonition, realize that it has been given to allow individual Christians like you to strengthen our fellowship through a sense of interdependence and acceptance.
Don’t focus on what makes you different.  Focus on what you have in common!

April 4th - Romans 14:13
LIVING WITH OTHERS IN VIEW

Let . . . no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Romans 14:13

To become a Christian is easy — for it is just receiving God's grace through faith in the Savior. To live the sanctified life, however, is extremely difficult, especially since the pathway to Glory is narrow, and our instructions for travel include such admonitions as: "pray without ceasing," "be ye perfect," and "love thy neighbor as thyself." In fact, we are told to curb even legitimate desires, if they tend to offend a weaker brother (Rom. 14: 19-21). Paul warns in our text that we must be doubly careful not to put a "stumbling block or an occasion to fall" in the way of a fellow believer.

I have read that tourists in the Alps are cautioned at certain points by the guides not to speak or sing or even to whisper, as the faintest breath might start reverberations in the air which could loosen a delicately poised avalanche from its place on the mountain, and bring it crashing down upon the villages and fields in the valley below. Chuck Swindoll wisely points out, "There are men and women who are walking under such a stress of burdens, cares, responsibilities, sorrows and temptations, that one whisper of censure, criticism, complaint or unkindness may cause them to fall under their load. Let us beware, therefore, how we conduct ourselves, for it is a crime thus to imperil another soul."

Recognizing the seriousness of life, every Christian who is consecrated at all must guard against being an offense to others. Let us walk carefully and prayerfully today lest some thoughtless word or deed impede the spiritual progress of a fellow believer!
 

April 3rd  -  Romans 14:1-11

    The Ainu people of northern Japan tattooed large mustaches on their daughters before the Japanese government banned the practice at the end of the 19th century. Soot was rubbed into small cuts around the girls’ mouths to gain the desired effect. The tattooing began when a girl was two or three, with a few marks added each year until she was married. The practice finally died out not only from the law, but because the Ainu began to marry ethnic Japanese who did not consider these “beauty marks” acceptable.
    This illustrates the issues Paul addresses in Romans 14. What is considered acceptable can vary widely, not only from group to group but even from person to person. Since this is also true of believers, we need to know how to treat people who differ from us.
    Defining acceptable cultural practices was a very hot topic among first-century Christians. So many of them came to Christ out of a pagan environment that otherwise ordinary activities like eating meat or observing special days became burning spiritual issues (see 1 Cor. 8 for an example).
    Rather than being drawn into controversy over a specific item, Paul presents biblical principles for handling “disputable matters.” These are morally neutral issues, not essentials of the Christian faith, like the deity of Christ, that are beyond dispute. Also, the “weak” Christian here is one whose conscience is more sensitive, not someone who is morally or spiritually inferior.
    The first principle affirms that differences of opinion are acceptable in these areas. We need to realize that we don’t have to defend our position or attack the other person’s. We’re accountable to Christ in matters of personal conviction, not to each other, so there’s no room for either judgment or pride.
    Paul takes us to the real issue in disputable matters-–the motive of our hearts

April 2 – Romans 14:1-15
     Novelist John Steinbeck's wife once brought him a paperback book called, appropriately enough, John Steinbeck. In it the author purported to comment on Steinbeck's life and work. Steinbeck, who often felt he had been misinterpreted by commentators, read the book with great interest, then remarked, ""This book doesn't seem to be about me, but it's pretty interesting about somebody.""
     Famous authors never seem to lack for people who think they understand perfectly well what was in the authors' minds and hearts as they wrote. The fact that they miss the mark so often and so badly reminds us of the difficulty of judging other people's motives.
     Discerning the inner motives of others is more than difficult. Sometimes, it's next to impossible--and when we misjudge, we can do a great deal of damage. That's why the Bible forbids us to pass judgment on one another.
     Jesus' famous prohibition against judging others has itself often been misinterpreted. Matthew 7:1-5 prohibits the kind of hypocritical judgment that ascribes evil motives to others while the person doing the judging harbors even worse motives and attitudes. Paul also focused on the issue of motive, as shown by the context of today's ""one another"" verse: Romans 14:13. The situation in Rome centered around questions concerning ""disputable matters"" (Rom. 14:1).
We might call them matters of conscience or of personal conviction, such as diet (vv. 2-3).
     When another Christian does not see eye-to-eye with us on an issue we feel strongly about, it's easy to make a snap judgment about that person's spirituality. Or when a fellow Christian makes a decision that is obviously wrong--meaning the opposite of what we would have done--it's tempting to say, ""Well, she did that only because...""
     Do you ever find yourself offering your ""opinion"" (i.e., judgment) on why other Christians do what they do? We've all done so. If you're a parent, you know how it hurts when your child accuses you of being cruel or unfair when you've made a decision you believe is in that child's best interest. That's how much it hurts when we misjudge others.

April 1st  -  Romans 14:6-9

    Ray Stedman has written…"the favorite indoor sport of Christians...is trying to change each other. As this passage indicates, this has been a major problem in the church for centuries. All through the history of the church, the problem arises from the attitude that most of us share, I am sure, that God is clearly pleased with the way we live -- but there are those others around. They drink beer and play cards; they go to movies; they smoke cigars; they work on Sundays; they wear lipstick; they dance; they play musical instruments; they use zippers instead of buttons. There is an endless list of things that can be included, debatable matters that the church has never been able to settle because of a misunderstanding of the principles that are set forth here in this very passage. We are dealing, of course, with the problem of Christian taboos, all the no-no's of the Christian life that we encounter from place to place, and from time to time. We are facing the question of how much fellowship you can have with somebody who lives in a different way than you do, who does things that you do not approve of as a Christian."
  It’s very important to note that this whole section dealing with this problem is part of an extended commentary of the Apostle Paul on the command of Jesus to love one another. This is part of how you love one another. First, love must be serving. That is its nature; love serves. That is why we are given spiritual gifts, so that we might serve one another. Paul emphasizes that in Ro 12. Second, he tells us that love must be genuine. It cannot be phony, it cannot be "put-on" love. It has to be real.  In Rom 13, we learn that love must be submissive, especially to the authorities, to the state, and the powers that be, because they are put there by God. And in the latter part of Ro 13, Paul tells us that love must be universal; we owe love to everyone without exception. "Owe no man anything, but to love one another". That is a universal debt which we must continually be paying to everyone we meet.
Now, in Ro 14, we learn that love must be patient and tolerant of other people's views. It begins with our actions towards someone whom we regard as less enlightened than ourselves. ["weaker brother"] Think about who that is for a moment and then listen to what Paul says to do about it.

March 31st  -  Romans 14:1-11

Canadian Missionary J. Goforth gives a beautiful illustration of what every believer wants to hear someday.  When he was fifteen years of age his father put him in charge of their second farm, which was twenty miles from the home farm. "Work hard," said his father. "At harvest I'll return and inspect." In later years Goforth stirred many an audience as he told of his arduous labors that summer, of his father's return in the fall and of how his heart thrilled when his father, after inspecting the fields of beautiful waving grain, turned to him and smiled. "That smile," he would say, "was all the reward I wanted. I knew my father was pleased. So will it be, dear Christians, if we are faithful to the trust our Heavenly Father has given us. His smile of approval will be our blessed reward."
Who does God's work will get God's pay,
However long may seem the day,
However weary be the way;
Though powers and princes thunder "Nay,"
Who does God's work will get God's pay.
He does not pay as others pay,
In gold or land or raiment gay;
In goods that vanish and decay;
But God in wisdom knows a way,
And that is sure, let come what may,
Who does God's work will get God's pay.
— Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
Thank you, our Father, for these searching words which make us all feel a bit guilty. We have all been guilty of this, whether strong or weak. We have judged our brother, and condemned him. Forgive us for that, Lord. Help us to see that we have been usurping Your place, Lord Jesus, in doing so. Help us to stop that, and to begin to answer only for ourselves before Your throne, and upholding and praying for our brother or sister if we feel they need it. Grant to us, Lord, that illuminating understanding of truth that sets us free. We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.

March 28th – Romans 13:11-14

“If we had to buy time, would there be any difference in how we would spend it? Would the days of our lives be used more wisely?” That’s what time management consultant Antonio Herrera asked the participants in a seminar he conducted on the subject. Then Dr. Herrera became more specific. He asked, “What if you had to pay in advance $100 an hour for the time allotted to you? Would you waste it?” The answer should be obvious. Of course, we can’t put a price tag on the minutes and hours we possess. They are given to us freely. But that doesn’t excuse us from using them conscientiously, carefully, and wisely. The giver of time is God Himself, and that places a far greater value upon it than any monetary figure could suggest. We must therefore use our time intelligently, taking advantage of opportunities it provides for us to serve the Lord and to do His will.
    Kent Hughes says that believers...ought to be like the little boy whose family clock malfunctioned and struck 15x so that he rushed wide-eyed to his mother crying, “Mommy, it’s later than it’s ever been before!” What sanctifying logic! We should also keep in mind that if Christ does not return in our time, He will certainly come individually for us in death.
Each ache, pain, gray hair, new wrinkle or funeral is another reminder that it is later than it has ever been before. It is time to love our neighbors as ourselves. IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK. Redeem the time!"

March 27th

Here are some thoughts written by F.B. Meyer on the subject of "Putting on Christ."  I pray that these words will be an encouragement, as well as an
exhortation for you this special day.


WE CAN all start afresh! However far we have ascended, there is something higher; and however far we have fallen, it is always possible to make a
fresh start. We need to take our place in the School of Christ and be taught by Him (Eph  4:20-21).

"The old man" which we must "put off" is clearly our former manner of life. If we have not put it entirely away, let us do so now by an immediate act of faith in the living Spirit. It does not take long for a beggar to put off his rags and take instead a new suit of clothes, and it need not take a moment longer to put away habits and thoughts, ways of speech and life which are unworthy of the children of God. Do it now, and look up to the Holy Spirit to keep renewing you in the spirit of your mind.

But more than this, let us "put on the new man," which is the life of Jesus Christ, that ideal which is in the likeness of God, and which the Lord created for us by His blessed life and death and resurrection. But to enable us to live this life we need the daily help of the Holy Spirit. He entered our hearts at the moment of regeneration, and has been with us ever since. We may not have realised His entry, but we believe it because of the assurance of 1Co  6:19; see note Romans 8:9; Eph  3:16. For my part, I like to begin every day, before lifting my head from the pillow, by saying, "Thou art within, O Spirit of Christ, though I feel Thee not."

If the Holy Spirit be ungrieved He will witness to our sonship; He will enthrone Christ as King of our life; will keep the self-life in the place of death; will give us a hunger for the things of God; He will give power in witness-bearing. In order to have a strong and blessed Christian experience, the one thing is to see that we do not grieve the Spirit. I do not think that we can grieve Him away, but we may greatly limit and restrain His gracious work by insincerity of speech, the nursing of an unforgiving spirit, any kind of over-reaching or fraudulent dealing, impurity of speech, or failure in love. We may be bound, so as not to be able to move our arms, by a number of cotton threads, quite as tightly as by a strong rope-thong. Let us take care not to grieve Him by such inconsistencies.

March 24

Romans 13:11-14

    The following notice was posted on the bulletin board in a business office: "It has come to management's attention that workers dying on the job are failing to fall down. This practice must stop, as it becomes impossible to distinguish between death and the natural movement of the staff. Any employee found dead in an upright position will be dropped from the payroll."
    This humorous description finds a serious parallel among Christians. We can go through the motions of obedience without any real heart involvement. Behind our business-as-usual appearance is a lack of enthusiasm for righteous living and serving God. We need Paul's admonition: "It is high time to awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:11).
    We must remain intense in our desire to please the Lord. Centuries ago the psalmist prayed that he wouldn't settle for a casual religious experience (Psalm 119:1-8). He longed for a total commitment to love what God loves and hate what He hates. He sensed that he would have to
give his whole heart, mind, and strength to the task.
    We will accomplish much for the Lord if we set our will against the current of the world and the pull of our sinful flesh. Let's not fall asleep on the job.

A Tiny Little Minute
Just a tiny little minute.
Sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me;
Didn't ask it,. didn't choose it.
Yet, it's up to me to use it;
Must give account if I abuse it.
Just a little minute.
ANONYMOUS

March 6

Romans 13:9

    When Jesus commanded the rich young ruler to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 19:19), what did He mean by the words "as yourself"? And what did the apostle Paul mean when he repeated those words in Romans 13:9?
    The statement by our Lord and by Paul is not a command to love ourselves more; it's a recognition that most of us already look after our own welfare in reasonable ways. That is, we love ourselves enough to feed and clothe ourselves, to keep a roof over our heads, and to avoid being cheated or injured. In practice, we should love our neighbor at least that much.
    But there's more. In John 15:12, Jesus also commanded His disciples to love one another just as He had loved them. He used the Greek word agape, which signifies an active love that is unconditional, self-sacrificial, and for the good of others. This love is often more of a decision than an emotion. Author David Walls wrote, "We cannot command feelings, but we can command an active determination of our will."
Even when we don't feel love for someone, if we choose to show love our feelings will usually follow. Let's take the initiative to love our neighbor every day.

March 5

Romans 13:9 More thoughts on Coveting…

    Coveting anything which belongs to my neighbor is wishing he did not possess what God has given him. Coveting his possessions is desiring my good and my gain at my neighbor’s expense. This attitude is that which will hinder me from seeking or contributing to his good.
To illustrate this, suppose my neighbor has an antique which I want badly. I covet this antique and wish I had it rather than my neighbor. I learn that he has suffered some serious setbacks and is likely to go bankrupt. I could give or loan my neighbor enough money to prevent his bankruptcy or even offer to buy the antique at fair market price. But if I covet it, I will be tempted to do nothing good to help my neighbor to escape financial disaster—then buy the antique at a liquidation auction at a fraction of its value. Coveting predisposes me against doing good to my neighbor in order to gain at his expense. Coveting, even though only an inner attitude and motivation at first, is harmful to my neighbor.
Paul’s teaching in verses 8-10 may be summed up in this way: We are to view our neighbor from the perspective of love. When we do, we will seek his good, avoid doing what is harmful to him, and thus fulfill the law.
    Even more, the Christian should look beyond himself to others with a spirit of obligation, an obligation rooted in gratitude toward God and in love toward others. Unfortunately in our culture, we look to others with a very different attitude. We might be able to capture the essence of this attitude with the term “expectation.” In our sinful, self-seeking flesh, we do not look upon others with an obligation to serve them at our expense, but to be served by them at their expense. We live in a day of expectation, not obligation.

March 4

Romans 13:9
    Do you realize the repercussions that are derived from coveting? Coveting underlies all the other sins dealt with in the commandments Paul quotes,
for it leads to committing adultery (desiring another's wife), murder (desiring another's life), and stealing (desiring another's goods).
    When your neighbor drives up in a new automobile, how do you feel about it? Sometimes we say, “I wish we had the car and they had one just like
it.” What we really mean is that we would rather have that car than see them have it.
    Paul is saying that our love for our neighbor is revealed in what we do rather than in what we say. He is not putting the Christian back under the Law; he is saying that love manifests itself in not committing adultery, not killing, not stealing, not coveting. You can talk about love all you want to, but if you commit these acts against your neighbor, you have no love for him and you are breaking the law (not fulfilling the law).

March 3

Romans 13:8
    "How does loving one’s neighbor fulfill the Law?
The Ten Commandments contain two divisions, sometimes called the two tablets. The first division gives us vertical, God ward commands such as,
“You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3).
The second division contains horizontal commands which pertain to human relationships. Each of the divisions can be summed up with a single comprehensive commandment, just as Christ explained in Matthew 22:37-40 & Mark 12:30-31 when he was asked to explain which is the greatest
commandment.  Keep both the vertical and the horizontal commandments and you will keep the whole Law!
Here in his letter to the Romans, Paul is assuming that his readers have a vertical love for God, but do they have a horizontal love for others? If so, they are fulfilling God’s Law. When we love our neighbors we will refrain from breaking the horizontal relational commands. How’s your horizontal?

Feb 29

Romans 13:1-7

     Here is somewhat of an oxymoron that I’ve been thinking about.  There is a sense in which all of us are called to be godly rebels. It happens because we have dual citizenship. As believers we are citizens of heaven. As members of the human race, we have citizenship in America or in some other country. The conflict is inevitable because the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man are often at war with each other. Many times our Christian faith will force to stand against the status quo and take positions that are unpopular and politically incorrect.
     As a Christian, I see much around me that deeply disturbs me. As an American, I pray for leaders who will obey Micah 6:8 and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before Almighty God. For the most part, that prayer has not yet been answered.
     Some time ago Richard Neuhaus was on his way to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania. When he arrived at the airport, his host spent over an hour detailing everything that was wrong with our country, our society, our culture, our families, and our schools. When his host had finished his dreary litany of our national ills, Pastor Neuhaus said,  “These may be bad times, but they are the only times we are given. And we must remember that despair is a mortal sin.”
     How true. These are indeed the only times we are given. We only have one president at a time, and God has raised him up “for such a time as this.” He deserves our support and our prayers, even if we may disagree with him from time to time.
     With the upcoming election at hand, this is something to get our arms around as we prepare for a new administration.

Feb 28

Romans 13:1-7

We’ll all have to contend at times with unsaved husbands, mean-spirited parents, cranky bosses, and teachers who can’t wait for the end of the semester. Sometimes we’ll work for people we can’t stand. Or live with people who treat us cruelly. Or suffer under a government that consistently promotes evil. What do you then? Actually, you have many options. You can rebel. You can fight back. You can suffer in silence. You can complain to others. You can get angry and try to get even.        You can appeal to the authority over you asking for a redress of your grievances.
The most important thing is the attitude of your heart. You must submit to the one in authority in the sense that you must believe that God has put that person in your life for a purpose and that God’s will is somehow being done in your through that person even if you don’t see it and don’t understand it. God says, “By me kings reign.” He takes responsibility for raising up one leader and pulling down another. He stands behind the ballot box and behind the armies that march and the navies that sail. He is the Unseen Hand at work in the nations of the world.

Feb 27

Romans 13:1-7 Whom Should We Fear?


    In a sermon once, I heard a preacher say that we should fear only God. But I don't agree. Peter exhorted servants to be subject to their masters "with all fear" (1 Pet. 2:18) , and Paul said that wrongdoers should be afraid of civil authorities (Rom. 13:4) . A hierarchy of fear is an integral part of living on our sin-cursed planet. Our moral responsibility is to put the things we fear in their proper place.
    A boy whose friends urged him to experiment with illicit drugs told me he was afraid they would think of him as a coward, but he resisted because he was more frightened of the consequences. A young man who volunteered for dangerous military duty admitted he was scared of being wounded or killed, but he had a greater concern about what would happen if the enemy won the war. Both of these young men did what was right because they recognized the priority of certain fears.
    The Bible teaches that our greatest fear should be of displeasing God. A believer who is told that he must either commit evil or face the firing
squad should be more concerned about disobeying the Lord than being shot. That's what Jesus meant when He said, "Do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28).
    Fear is part and parcel of life here on earth. But this strong emotion can serve us well if we let our fear of God be supreme.

Feb 26

Romans 13:1-7
Paying taxes is a Christian duty. Tax evasion is not only a crime; it’s also a sin. Ray Stedman, who was a pastor for many years in California,  tells how in his early years he found himself frustrated because he paid so much in taxes to a government that in his opinion wasted most of the money. So one year he wrote a check to the “Infernal Revenue Service.” It made him feel better, until they cashed the check. Then he changed it to the “Eternal Revenue Service” but they still took his money. Finally, he said “I repented of all my sins and now hope to pay my taxes cheerfully.”
Well, most of us may never get that far. It’s hard to be cheerful about sending that much money to Boston and to Washington. But at least we can
have the satisfaction of knowing that when we pay our taxes, we’re doing exactly what Jesus ("Render on to Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God
what is God's.") and Paul told us to do.

Feb 25

Romans 13:1-2  Thinking About Prayer and Politics


In 1787 a convention was called in the United States to revise the Articles of Confederation.  For weeks delegates reviewed ancient history and analyzed modern governments, searching for insights. But nothing suited the infant nation.

Finally, a distinguished gentleman named Benjamin Franklin rose and said, "In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarce able to distinguish it when it is presented to us, how has it happened that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings?" Mr. Franklin believed there was a sovereign God who could provide guidance to those who sought it.

If ever there was a time to follow that prayerful example, it is now. Paul said that governments are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1), and that we are to
pray for those in authority over us (1 Tim. 2:1-2). This prayer principle also applies to the election of our leaders. We must become informed and
vote prayerfully for those who shape our laws.

Because God has instructed us to do so, we can--indeed we must--unashamedly and boldly mix prayer with our politics.
Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens. --Webster
 

Feb 22

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome - This is not a "suggestion" but a command to be carried out at all times.  In Greek, this grammatical construction calls for the stoppage of something already being carried out. The idea then is Stop being overcome by evil, implying that some were allowing this to happen.
  "Stop being conquered by this harmful, wicked thing or person."
      How can one stop? For one thing you know that God will repay and that satisfies the righteous indignation).  We must not allow the evil done to us by other people to overcome and overwhelm us. And we must not allow ourselves to be overcome by our own evil responses, which are present and totally unredeemed or unimproved in all believers until we are glorified! The indwelling Spirit now enables us to overcome our flesh. Believers need to remember that our own evil is more detrimental to us than is the evil done to us by others.
Consider this…if my bad temper puts you in a bad temper, you have been overcome of evil.
      Don't be surprised. Be aware! Be "empowered" by His Spirit to stand firm against the onslaught of evil, even being supernaturally enabled Anyone can return good for good and evil for evil. But Paul is teaching that the only way to truly overcome evil is with good. If we return evil
for evil, we only add fuel to the fire of the evil doer.
George Washington Carver once said, “I will never let another man ruin my life by making me hate him.”  As a believer Carver empowered by the Spirit
would not allow evil to conquer him. Instead he choose to overcome evil with good.
Edwin M Stanton (1814-1869) treated Abraham Lincoln with venomous hatred, declaring on one occasion that it was foolish to go to Africa in search of a gorilla when "the original gorilla" could be found in Springfield, Illinois! Lincoln took  this "gorilla warfare" all in stride and later Lincoln appointed Stanton as his secretary of war, because he felt that Stanton was the most qualified for the office. After Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton called him the greatest leader of men. Lincoln's restraint in returning “evil for evil,” proved too great a weapon for Stanton who was overcome by Lincoln's selfless restraint!
 

Feb 21

Romans 12:20

  "Heap burning coals" - Obviously this is not literal but figurative language.  Is the heaping coals of fire on his head something good in the eyes of our enemy or is it something bad? This metaphor could refer to a "burning conviction" which kindness places on our enemy.
  Other commentators feel heaping burning coals refers to the practice of lending coals from a fire (this was the best that one has to give another person because the fire from coals was very valuable in the ancient world and necessary for warmth and cooking) to help a neighbor start their own.
  Such an act of kindness would be appreciated by the recipient.  It reminds us of the phrase "Killing them with kindness."  However as the world uses this aphorism, it is selfishly, fleshly motivated. Such is not to be the case with believers who can only carry this action out in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
  In his commentary, William MacDonald writes, “If the live coal treatment seems cruel, it is because this idiomatic expression is not properly understood. To heap live coals on a person’s head means to make him ashamed of his hostility by surprising him with unconventional kindness.”
  A missionary was teaching a class of young girls about kindness. She told them about Jesus, who said that a person who gives a cup of water
in His name "will by no means lose his reward" (Mark 9:41)   The next day the missionary watched as a group of weary men walked into the village square, removed their heavy backpacks, and sat down to rest. A few minutes later, several little girls shyly approached the surprised men and gave them all a drink. Then they ran to the missionary. "Teacher!" they shouted. "We gave those men a drink in Jesus' name."
  Although Mark 9:41 applies primarily to showing kindness to believers in Christ, we know that we are to "do good to all" (Galatians 6:10) and even give our enemy a drink (Romans 12:20).
  Showing unexpected kindness to strangers or enemies will not always change their hearts.  But sooner or later, someone will wonder why we were kind, and we will have an opportunity to tell about our Lord, who was kind even to His enemies (Romans 5:10).
 

Feb 20

Romans 12:19   What is Better than Revenge?


   For centuries, Albanian clans were known for their bloody family feuds.
They considered it cowardly not to avenge the death of one of their own. Sometimes retaliation would set off a chain reaction that left 25 to 30 people dead before it ended.  This bloody tradition continued until 1990, when a group of Albanian peacemakers settled a large number of those clan conflicts. The change came about because the people found something they desired more than revenge. They wanted to become a part of the wider European community, and also to unite in defending themselves against a common enemy.
   So too, church fights and family feuds will end when Christians find something they want more than the bitter excitement of a grudge match.
Holding a grudge loses its appeal when the combatants realize they are cutting themselves off from the support and enjoyment they need, which
Christian fellowship provides. Getting even doesn't look so appealing when they see how their angry words and belittling comments play into
the hands of the devil, who is trying to destroy them. Why pay the high price of getting even? We have so much more to gain by dropping our
grudges and extending forgiveness. That's so much better than revenge!
   If you find yourself looking for ways to get even, why not look for ways you might turn an enemy into a friend?
   Believers at war with their brothers and sisters cannot be at peace with their Father!

Please think about this today!!!
 

Feb 19

Romans 12:18-21

   We all want a word that always works, an easy solution, a quick fix. But some things in this broken world can't be fixed no matter what we do. And then there are some situations clearly when you may be forced to defend yourself in an abusive situation.
Someone has well said, “The more I get to know the human race, the more I love my dog." Dogs are loyal, dependable, eager to please, and quick to
forgive and forget. Don't you wish people were more like that? But sometimes no matter how hard we try to have a good relationship with
someone, it doesn't work.
   Note the qualifying phrase "as much as depends on you."  Some people problems may never be resolved, for just as it takes two to quarrel, it also takes two to reconcile. If we do our part and the "irreconcilable difference" remains, there is still a plan to follow.
   In this situation, it is important that we not harbor resentment or try to retaliate with the weapon of silence (pouting or passive aggressive behavior, the "silent treatment" - you know exactly what I mean don't you!).
   As those with a new power supply (the indwelling Holy Spirit and a new nature), we need to make a conscious effort to work at overcoming evil
with good, and let God work out the problem. We need to keep following the steps given in the following verses in this chapter (Romans 12:9-21) until our people problems are resolved. But regardless of whether they resolve, we must still continue the practices Paul lays out for surrendered  believers.
   Paul gives us some excellent advice in Romans 12 on how to handle "people problems"
     Be affectionate – Rom 12:10
     Be prayerfully patient Rom 12:12
     Bless your persecutors Rom 12:14
     Be humble Rom 12:16
     Don't take revenge Rom 12:19
     Defeat evil with good Rom 12:21
   As Solomon wisely advised when we encounter a hard situation, try a soft answer... A gentle (soft, tender, not harsh or negative) answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word (lit = "words of toil" = critical, cruel & meant to cause mental anguish) stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1)
   If you answer a man with a harsh, negative, critical word, it stirs up the hearer's fleshly nature (including the old flesh nature latent and
present in believers), and soon you have a quarrel on your hands.

Feb 18

Romans 12:15-21

George Fox, the great Quaker, recorded this prayer in his diary:

I prayed to God that He would baptize my heart into all conditions so I might be able to enter the needs and conditions of all.

At first thought, that principle would seem easy to follow. But when another person’s blessing and happiness is at our expense, or when their favored circumstances or notable accomplishments make ours seem barren and dull, the flesh does not lead us to rejoice but tempts us to resent.

A sorrow shared is
But half a trouble.
A joy that’s shared is
A joy made double.

Paul exhorts us to be considerate of the feelings of others instead of waiting for them to be considerate of our feelings. Because believers are a body, when one part hurts, everyone feels the pain & conversely when one is joyful, should rejoice. (1 Cor 12:25-26).  Empathy is the capacity for sharing vicariously the feelings and emotions of others. Our tendency even as believers is to be jealous when others rejoice, and to pass them by when they mourn. God’s will is that His children become a family where the joys of one become the joys of all and the pain of one is gladly shared by all the others. The elder brother in the account of the prodigal son provides a clear example of the failure to join in rejoicing (Lu 15:25-32).  On the other hand, the Gospels record that upon meeting Mary following the death of her brother, “Jesus wept” John 11:35).

Feb 15

Feb 14

Romans 12:9-21
    Abraham Kuyper was a pastor, newspaper editor, theology professor, author--& eventually, prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905.
He gave 2 principles that guided his unusually productive service for Christ.
    First, Kuyper said devotion to the Lord ""must permeate and give color to our feelings, our perceptions, our sensations, our thinking, our imaginations, our willing, our acting, our speaking."" And second, Kuyper worked to exalt Christ in all areas of life--""#in the home, in the school, and in the state.""
    Abraham Kuyper's principles provide us with an appropriate real-life application of today's verse. Our privilege and responsibility to serve God as managers of His kingdom extend to His family and to those outside the faith, as Kuyper's life illustrates so well.
    Devotion and ""brotherly love"" (v. 10) should mark our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. There are a number of practical ways given here to express your love.
    For example, you can honor other Christians above yourself. This may involve helping someone else achieve a goal and be recognized for it, or simply yielding your self-interest in a given situation so that the larger group might benefit.
    Verses 12-13 give multiple ideas for God-honoring service. You can be an encouragement to other Christians by your joy, patience, and faithfulness in prayer. We have seen an example of giving to God's people who are hurting (the offering for the poor in Jerusalem, see the June 10 study). Hospitality was also a vital ministry in a day when traveling teachers, evangelists, and other servants of God needed a place to stay.
    Paul also has plenty to say about the way we should relate to unbelievers. The theme of this section (vv. 14, 17-21) is returning blessing for cursing and good for evil, which is what Jesus did when He was faced with persecution and hostility.
    Good stewardship may even require that we meet the needs of people who have made themselves our enemies (v. 20). You won't find much of that
kind of thinking in our culture, but then God doesn't run His kingdom by the world's standards.
    Most Christians would probably say they are stronger at serving within the body of Christ than outside of it.
    For one thing, we have so many more opportunities in the Christian world. But some believers are hard-pressed to give solid contacts with non-Christians that provide a chance for service. Today, why not evaluate yourself in this area? And if necessary, ask God to bring you in contact with people who need Him.

Feb 13

Romans 12:10-13

    In his book, Are Christians Destroying America?, author Tony Evans relates the story of a farmer who was known for his generosity. His friends couldn’t understand how he could give so much away and yet remain so prosperous. So one day one of his friends asked him how he did it.
    “Oh, that’s easy to explain,” the farmer replied. “I keep shoveling into God’s bin and God keeps shoveling into mine, but God has the bigger
shovel!”
    This is not another lesson on giving, but the farmer’s story illustrates nicely that the principle of hard work and its benefits applies in both the material and the spiritual realms. Specifically, the point is that as we work faithfully and diligently in both areas, we will have not only enough for ourselves, but also enough to share with fellow believers in need.
    In Romans 12:10-12, Paul is clearly talking about spiritual zeal, being diligent in our service for the Lord. It’s worth noting that the word “lacking” in verse 11 is translated “slothful” in the King James Version. Paul’s message is unmistakable: laziness in our spiritual service is as unacceptable as laziness in our daily work.
    Paul goes on to say: “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (v. 13). This exhortation is part of a long list of imperatives that carries all the way through to the end of Romans 12.
    In other words, one way to avoid spiritual laziness is to share our material possessions with those in need. And we can do that only as we are diligent in our own work. This interplay between diligence in the material and the spiritual realms is also suggested in Hebrews 6:10-12.
    One benefit of working hard is the joy of being able to contribute to God’s work. Paul’s instruction to lay aside a portion of our income each
week for His work (1 Cor. 16:2) assumes that we Is your spiritual energy level where it ought to be? Here are a few checkpoints that may help you
answer that question:
1) Is worship with fellow believers a regular priority, or an occasional  pastime?
2) Is it a delight or drudgery for you to spend time in prayer and Bible study?
3) Do you look for ways to serve others in the body of Christ, or do you look for the nearest exit?
4) Is your giving habitual or haphazard?

Feb 12

Romans 12:9-14

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. - Romans 12:11

    Dr. George Sweeting, Chancellor at Moody and a faithful servant of God, says too many people are quitting too soon, giving up even though they
still have years left to serve the Lord. When asked why people tend to quit when things get tough, Dr. Sweeting says, 'Perhaps it's because we
lose sight of two important facts. First, God loves us in spite of everything . . .. Second, God can be fully trusted. [He] is too wise to
make a mistake and too loving to be unkind.'
    Those are great words of encouragement from a ministry friend and Christian leader who has walked with the Lord for a long time. We know
Dr. Sweeting would say 'amen' to the exhortation in today's verse.
Whatever your level of millennium-related anxiety, the word to you from God's Word is to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep doing the
things that matter, and don't let some doomsayer throw a bucket of ice water on your spiritual fervor.
    Notice what the Apostle tells us to do in these verses. First, we are to actively pursue what is good (v. 9). He means that we are to
consistently ask ourselves, 'How can I show goodness in this situation, even when I may feel like getting revenge?' Then he tells us to be
intentional about loving others, especially our Christian brothers (v. 10). And finally Paul tells us to focus on the spiritual rather than the
material matters of life (vv. 11-13).
    Do you have challenges?  Do you feel like quitting?  Worried about what’s going to happen (not knowing the unknown)?  Here’s something to
remember!
    Whatever unfolds, God has equipped you & the Christians around you with every necessary resource to answer the challenge. There may be cases in which our church, or church family finds themselves in special need.
That's our cue to step in and use our spiritual gifts and material goods to meet the need.
    Every line of today's reading has important implications for us as we serve together. If affliction or trials come, we'll need patience to deal with them. And we can't abandon hope, or prayer.   We must always be ready to serve one another as the needs arise.
    Are there fellow Christians in your neighborhood or church who may need your care and attention in a special way? Don’t be afraid to reach out
to them.
I would like to suggest that as a church family, we survey the needs around us and offer our help.
There's nothing wrong with anticipating problems and being ready to deal with them.

Feb 11

Romans 12:9-21

    In a recent issue of Worldwide Challenge magazine, writer Susie Hilsman tells the story of Franz Mohr, the former chief technician for the Steinway piano company. During his career, Mohr tuned pianos for legendary pianists such as Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein. “I’m playing more in Carnegie Hall than anyone else,” Mohr once joked, “but nobody listens to me!” Franz Mohr is also a committed Christian who is helping reach the classical music world for Christ.
    A gifted piano tuner, serving others so that they can perform at peak level, is a wonderful illustration of the way Christians should use their gifts to serve one another. Franz Mohr’s humorous quip about his own piano “concerts” reveals a person who has no problem with the fact that others are in the spotlight. Rejoicing when someone else is honored takes real Christ-like love, because it rubs against the grain of our human nature.
    In this section of Romans, Paul doesn’t waste any time helping us put our salvation into action. Romans follows the apostle’s familiar style of explaining the theological truth of our position in Christ, and then showing how that theology works in everyday practice.
    A warm, “brotherly love” for our fellow Christians expresses itself in serving and honoring them, sharing their joys and sorrows, and even meeting their physical needs. That’s a lot easier to do with our friends than with our enemies, but we’re not off the hook even with people who repay our good with evil.
    The world teaches us to love our friends and hate our enemies. But Christ redefines the way we relate to all people. Our reaction to people who hurt us needs to be like Christ’s, who refused to retaliate even against those who crucified Him.
    Romans 12 contain several warnings against pride and conceit (v. 3, twice in v. 16), and several exhortations to practice humility (vv. 3, 10,16).

Feb 9

Romans 12:3-8

    Scottish pastor Alexander Maclaren said, ""Many Christians fall prey to a spurious kind of humility that surfaces when they are asked for any
kind of Christian service. They reply, ""I do not feel at all competent. I am sure I could not teach. I do not know enough about the subject. I
have no abilities for influencing other people.' ""
    Maclaren is right on target. We are so used to hearing about a Christian's need for humility that we can forget the nature of biblical humility.
Real humility is not denying that God can do anything worthwhile with us. It involves a balanced, sober minded assessment of our place in the body
of Christ.
    The Holy Spirit has given all Christians special aptitudes and calling for His service. The Bible calls the God-given abilities spiritual gifts, and they include the power to be used for the benefit of the entire body. These gifts are another identifying mark of Christ's body.
    In the process of introducing the Roman church to the subject of spiritual gifts, Paul delivered two crystal-clear verses on the nature of the church (vv. 4-5). The church functions just like the human body is designed to function: many distinct members are joined into one unit, each member doing its part to make the body work. Moreover, every member of a healthy body takes its cue from the head.
    Since the church is called to worship, serve, teach, and evangelize, it makes sense that Christ's body would include many kinds of gifts. And it
follows that God has the right to choose which member will be given which gift (1 Cor. 12:11).
    Paul includes a partial list of spiritual gifts to illustrate his point. We are not told whether the New Testament lists of spiritual gifts include every possible gift. We do know that the gifts mentioned here, and those we will study tomorrow, are sufficient to meet any church's need.
    Although spiritual gifts and ministries differ among individuals, gifting never ""excuses"" us from doing things to which everyone is called. For example, we are all called to serve and encourage. But people who are gifted by the Holy Spirit in a certain area will often excel in that type of service, sensing special confirmation from God as they exercise their gifts, and blessing the entire body in the process.
    If you have ever been confused about spiritual gifts, you're in good company. Part of the confusion comes from the idea that a spiritual gift is really only a natural interest or ability raised to a higher level. But the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts as He sees fit, to fulfill God's plan for
each of us in the church. Whatever your gift or gifts, thank the Lord for making you a useful member of His body.

Feb 7

Romans 12:1-8
    Commenting on Romans 12:1, Dr. John Witmer of Dallas Theological Seminary says, ""The word 'bodies'...represents the totality of one's life and activities, of which his body is the vehicle of expression."" In other words, God demands our all. This isn't an unreasonable demand because of the mercy God showed in Jesus Christ, saving us from eternal death and giving us eternal life with Him. This is the basis of Christian stewardship, since a steward is a person who takes care of someone else's property and is accountable to the owner.
    Romans 12:1-2 is a powerful summary of what the Christian life is all about. Our lives are a stewardship, on loan to us from God to be lived
for His glory. Thus, it makes sense that we would submit ourselves to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by renewing our minds so
that we think like Christ.
    We can express our commitment to Christ in the way we use our spiritual gifts. These are not just natural talents, but supernatural abilities
God gives to each believer to benefit Christ's body.
    God has a definite will when it comes to how we should use our gifts for maximum blessing. Notice that the seven gifts mentioned here are not
listed like items on a grocery list. For example, the gift of ""prophesying,"" or strengthening and encouraging people from God's Word (1 Cor. 14:3), is to be done a certain way: ""in proportion to his faith"" (Rom. 12:6)--or better, ""the faith."" That is, the prophet's teaching needs to agree with the revealed truth of the Word.
    Other people express their complete devotion to the Lord in the way they give with unusual generosity, lead with diligence, or show mercy ""cheerfully"" (the same word as the ""cheerful"" giver in 2 Cor. 9:7).
    The wisdom behind God's plan for the use of our gifts is obvious in verses 4-6, where Paul compares the church to a human body with many
different, but cooperating, members. We are all given different spiritual gifts, but these different gifts are meant for use for the good of everyone.
    It's our goal to help believers evaluate themselves with ""sober judgment"" so they can do the best job possible as God's managers.
    This is very important in relation to spiritual gifts. How can you evaluate yourself accurately in this area? Here are some guidelines. If
God has gifted you in a particular way--for example, giving or showing mercy--you'll be drawn to this area, you'll have the resources and the
opportunities to carry it out, and you'll find people are encouraged when you exercise your gift
 

Feb 6

Romans 12:1-8

      D. L. Moody was gifted in business and skilled in leadership, abilities that drew the attention of more than one person in the Chicago business
community of the late 1800s. Mr. Moody had a number of opportunities to leave his ministry and enter the business world, but he was sure of his
calling and refused to abandon the work God had given him. In other words, D. L. Moody wouldn’t allow himself to be pressured into someone
else’s mold. It wasn’t that the business offers he received were wrong in themselves. They just weren’t the will of God for Moody’s life, & he
knew it.
    Paul would have identified with D. L. Moody. The apostle had that same single-minded focus, and he called on all believers to make a similar,
life-changing commitment. This isn’t too much to ask in view of all that God has done for us, as outlined in Romans 1-11.
    This commitment is so important that it is expressed by a form of the verb “offer” which refers to doing something in a “decisive, conscious
manner.” Certainly the dedication of our total being to Christ may need to be renewed at times. But there needs to be a decisive moment when we
turn away from the world and offer our lives to the Lord.
    A decision like this is bound to be reflected in our everyday experience, which is the point Paul makes in this section of his letter to the Romans we have labeled “The Practice of Righteousness” (12:1--15:13). For example, if we are committed to Jesus Christ we will be able resist the world’s attempts to mold us.
    A committed Christian life will also express itself in service to the body of Christ (vv. 3-8). This service is to be performed in a spirit of
humility by people who have a healthy, realistic view of themselves shaped by God’s work in their lives and the gifts He has given them.
    People who have made the commitment of Rom. 12:1-2 are able to “think christianly,” which means passing everything through the grid of God’s
Word to see if it aligns with the truth.
 

Feb 5

Romans 12:3


   On a visit to the Beethoven museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she could play a few
bars on it; she accompanied the request with a lavish tip, and the guard agreed. The girl went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata. As she was leaving she said to the guard, “I suppose all the great pianists who come here want to play on that piano.”
   The guard shook his head. “Padarewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”

Feb 4

Rom  12:2;  2Co  3:18

  In our texts the word rendered transformed, or changed, is the same as is used in Mat  17:2; and this must have been in the mind of the Apostle when he said, "Be transfigured," and "we are transfigured into the same image." How can this transformation be effected? First, from within, by the renewing of the mind and second, by beholding the glory of the Lord.
  The renewing of the mind is a complicated task. This is no matter for emotion or ecstasy, but of bringing our minds into close and constant contact with the truth as contained in the Bible. You do not have to study yourself in the mirror, to see whether you are becoming transfigured; but as day by day you keep your mind in God's Word, without your realizing it, you will become transfigured. Moses did not wish that his face shone. It was for the crowd that waited for him at the foot of the mountain to see it, not for him.
  Our Lord said: "Abide in Me and I in you." This is somewhat mystical and profound; but He said again: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you"--that is surely within our reach.  F. B. Meyer is quoted as saying, "It is not too high, not too deep, not too inward, not too mystical, and when the Master asks that His words shall abide in me, He can mean nothing else than that I shall often recall and recollect His words, and shall repeat them to myself at all times."
  As a man thinks in his heart so is he; and if we think those thoughts of self-giving, which characterized our Lord's forecast and determination on the Mount of Transfiguration--if we are animated by the resolve to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God; as we focus our minds on His mind--the transfiguring glory of that high resolve will insensibly pass into our faces, thus transforming our meanest actions and magnifying our simplest words.
  We are to behold and magnify the Glory of the Lord. The mirror again is Holy Scripture. We find there the reflection of our Lord's highest glory, which is consistent, not in His Creative but in His Redemptive work.
  As we gaze on Him who, for our salvation did not hide His Face from shame and spitting, but became a willing Sacrifice on our behalf, we shall be changed!
 

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