Daily Word

But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Spirit. Romans 15:15-16. Paul functions, so to speak, as a priest relative to the gospel, and the offering he presents to God is Gentile converts. This offering is pleasing to God since it is set apart into the realm of the Holy (sanctified) by the Holy Spirit. How much different would your approach to evangelism be today, sharing the gospel with your neighbor, co-worker, friends or family be if you considered it the outcome of those whom were converted as an offering to God knowing very well that it is pleasing to Him?

To good not to share...

Written by a man of God whom I've never met in person, but have become friends with through Facebook: As I head to bed tonight I wonder what has happened? It seems to have happened so quickly. Even over my life time 4 years is just a blink. Just a thought. But we as a nation have plummeted into a pit of hate, despair, envy, murder so dark and so deep I fear we may never come out. Our hope is not to be found here. Our change will not come from a city filled with the greed of ages. I find myself a stranger in a strange land. Unfamiliar with the new customs we are expected to abide by. The religions of the pagan world surround me. Our history is mocked, our faith stolen, our hearts broken. Strange new temples dominate the skyline. Prayers from far away lands and evil gods now cover our cities. Yet still we wonder why has he forsaken us? Where have all the good people gone? How are we to live without the light, the compass, or the grace shown by our Father? Our nation I am afraid will stumble, fall, and collapse on the shards of those who came before us. A wasted venture. A failed promise. For when people are afraid of freedom what can we do? If we cannot imagine the daring, the brave, the fearless things. We cannot imagine the next day. Because security is fleeting. Freedom is dangerous. Without the fear of failure the excitement of success would not be so grand. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness now are terms from a mystical land. Terms to be viewed as idealistic but not practical. Life we know is subject to our own terms. For only then can we sacrifice our future on the altar of lust and power. Your safety is meaningless unless the most innocent are keep from harm. Our lives revolve around snookie, snoop, and where Michelle and oprah go on vacation. We have no time for virtue, love, or faith. Things long since tossed to the side for progress sake. Forward for forwards sake. Money, sex, and drugs are the fuel we burn now. Celebrity the new gods of today. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. More than just a word. Freedom is what we have been handed down. Slavery is what we will hand down. God forgive us. For if this mighty ship. This beautiful city on a hill is not saved now. Where will freedom go? She like so many of our children will be placed upon the altar of self. To never rise again.

Daily Word

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. Romans 15:14. Paul’s reference “My Brothers” is a further indication of deeply felt emotion. Paul graciously assures the Romans that his lengthy exposition of the gospel is not intended to raise doubts about their spiritual understanding. Their knowledge of the gospel and ability to apply it practically in mutual admonition is not in question. To “instruct” translates the Greek noutheteo, “instruct, admonish, warn, counsel,” which is often used of warning against wrong conduct. Paul encourages ordinary Christians (those who have greater maturity and wisdom) to give one another practical, real-life wisdom and counsel. Unfortunately, today there is such a tremendous lack of maturity in the body of Christ that when most are given any type “noutheteo” they quickly squeal defensively a misinterpreted understanding of having judgment cast upon them. Iron sharpens Iron, today be as ready to be sharpened as you are to sharpen others!

Daily Word

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles., and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “ The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” Romans 15:8-13. The Circumcised refers to the Jews here. In fulfilling God’s saving promise to the Jews, the Lord’s truthfulness and faithfulness to His Word are demonstrated. Paul cites several OT verses which emphasize the inclusion of the Gentiles into the people of God along with the Jews. If the first reference is from 2 Samuel 22:50, citations are provided from the historical books, the law, the writings, and the prophets. The one people of God, both the Jews and the Gentiles, will praise God forever for His great mercy extended to them in Christ Jesus, showing that the worship of God is His ultimate aim in salvation history. Does your act of worship towards God go beyond Sunday morning worship?

Daily Word

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:5-7. Unity in the church is essential if God is to be glorified. Paul has demonstrated that humanity, which has fallen short of God’s glory, is restored to it in Christ’s reconciling work. How much of an effort do you really make to live in harmony with others, and what is preventing you from being part of the one voice glorifying God?

Daily Quote (Sun)

“ Christ and… is a perverted gospel, which is not the gospel. Christ with out the “and” is the sinner’s hope and the saint’s confidence…for salvation itself, Jesus is not only necessary, but He is enough.: ~ H. A. Ironside

Weekend Quote (Sat)

As love to God prevails, it tends to set persons above human injuries, in this sense, that the more they love God the more they will place all their happiness in Him. They will look to God as their all and seek their happiness in portion in His favor, and thus not in the allotments of His providence alone. The more they love God, the less they set their hearts on their worldly interests, which are all that their enemies can touch. ~ Jonathan Edwards

Daily Word

For what ever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4. It is basic NT teaching that OT scriptures were written by divine inspiration for the benefit of Christians. Paul expresses confidence that all of the OT was written down for the instruction and encouragement of God’s people, thus indirectly implying that all words of the OT are words of God, words that He wisely directed to be written not only for His purposes at the time they were written but also for later centuries. We cannot have a clear understanding of NT scriptures without understanding and applying that of OT scriptures. Everyone who tries will eventually fail because there is nothing partial in God. God is a God of completion and without the OT the NT cannot be completed. How often do you apply OT with NT understanding?

Daily Word

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, ”The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” Romans 15:1-4. Paul considers himself one of the “”strong”. He sees the misinformed conscience of the “weak” as real weakness, yet he emphasizes the responsibility of the “strong” to support the “weak.” He does not encourage feelings of pride, or flaunting one’s freedom in matters offensive to the weak. Paul quotes from Psalm 69:9, one of the most frequently quoted Psalms in the NT. The willingness of the Messiah to deny Himself and suffer for the benefit of others should serve as an example to the Christians in Rome. How much effort to you put into building up those around you compared to that which you invest into building yourself up? 1.10.13

Daily Word

The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14: 22-23. Paul urges the strong “”strong” to enjoy the fact of their liberty of conscience in God’s presence (while refraining from publicly exercising it). Meditate on this for a moment…What does it mean to you to have liberty of conscience and how do you apply it in your walk?

Daily Word

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Romans 14:19-21. The believer’s responsibility is now stated positively: avoiding the destruction of others is complemented by promoting “peace” and the things that “up build.” For the “strong,” this includes both maintaining fellowship with the “weak” and also encouraging them to understand the liberty that is theirs in Christ. When such aims are in view, freedom to eat and drink will be made subservient to them; the well being of the brother will take precedence over the enjoyment of meat and wine. How different would your day be today if the well being of those around you took precedence over your selfishness?

Daily Word

So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:16-18. Christians whom are strong in the faith are urged to weigh the importance of exercising their freedom against two considerations: a) the use of their freedom may bring division and disrepute on the church; b) God’s kingdom (and therefore our freedom) is not a matter of food and drink, but of the blessings of grace. Since freedom does not consist in these things, it cannot be lost by our refraining from them. While God alone is our judge, the impact of our actions on others plays a vital role in fellowship and evangelism. In what way does the impact your having on those around you demonstrate more of… worldly passions or Holiness in Christ?

Weekend Quote (Sun)

“Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in persevering the faith and radical in applying it.” ~ John Stott

Weekend Quote (Sat)

When conscience begins to awaken by God, we either become subtle hypocrites or saints, that is, either we let God’s law working through conscience bring us to a place where we can be put right, or we begin to hoodwink ourselves, to affect a religious pose, not before other people, but before ourselves, in order to appease conscience - anything to be kept out of the real presence of God because wherever He comes He disturbs. ~ Oswald Chambers

The pride of self...

RT @Lance A. Dustin Failing to trust in God is to simply fuel the flames of your pride...

Daily Quote

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for everyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat do not destroy the for whom Christ died. Romans 14:13-15. In the context of Jewish faith, “destroy” means to cut off from the covenant community. To encourage behavior that weak believers’ consciences forbid is to encourage them to go against their conscience, a serious and dangerous act. We have only to look at the world around us, and our selves in every day life to fully grasp this. How many times a day does the world and the flesh battle with you to go against your conscience? Has it at times proven itself to be a serious and sometimes dangerous act?

Daily Word

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:8-12. Christ alone is Lord and judge of His people. The cost to Him of this privilege was immense and exposes the inappropriateness of believers judging or despising their brothers. We must give an account of our own lives to the Lord, as those being judged, not as those who judge. Confronting sin in a fellow believer with integrity and sincerity in an attempt to help that person return to the righteousness of Godly living is not passing judgment as so many people seem to believe. However, pointing out the sin in a fellow believer with no intention of anything other than exposing and gossiping is the judgment spoken of here. Have you ever thought about standing before almighty God to give your account? Will you be one with many words, and excuses or one weeping and in silence?

Daily Post

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5-7. A pattern of holy days characterized the Jewish year, and its probably to these that Paul refers, and not to the Sabbath. If the Sabbath were in view it would have been more natural to say, “One man considers the Sabbath above the other days.” Verses 6,7 appeal to what is shared by both groups, namely the desire to honor the same Lord. That both belong to Him puts minor divisions into perspective. Who do you have sit in division with in your life hat needs to be put into perspective and reminded that they belong to God?

Daily Word

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Romans 14:1. Our basic attitude as Christians towards fellow-Christians is one of welcome and acceptance based on God’s attitude to us in Christ. There must be charity toward the “weak” person whose conscience is still bound by scruples from which the gospel normally sets us free. Meditate on this for a few moments…is there yet something that you have set to allow the gospel to set you free from?

Weekend Quote

Think often on God, by day, by night, In your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you; why, then, must God be neglected? ! Brother Lawrence