“Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.” Romans 16:17
Paul’s final warning to the Christians in Rome is one that we should take to heart also. We have to be careful to know the truth of God’s Word so when we hear something that’s not true we won’t be swept away by smooth talking or deceptive words. We should always test what is said to see that it a lines with what the Bible says. It’s easy for scripture to be taken out of context, twisted, and sometimes even misinterpreted by accident. It doesn’t mean you have to be a scholar to read the Bible, it just means you need to take time to read it and know it for yourself instead of letting other people tell you what it says. God want’s to speak to you directly and the greatest way He will do that is through His Word.
Father, I want to know your Word so I will live by it, teach it correctly, and see others impacted by it. I pray this short and simple prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.” Romans 15:5 (NLT)
What does it mean to live in complete harmony with each other? That can be a tuff questions! Does it mean that I let people take advantage of me? Does it mean that I let things go that should be addressed? Do I turn a blind eye to someone who is struggling with sin? The answer is no! To live in complete harmony with others is to live is harmony with God! That’s a big statement. But we have to understand that as believers, we are called to live above reproach. As believers, if we let a ourselves, or another person continue to live in sin, act harshly toward others, live legalistically and not address it in a loving way, we are threatening the harmony of the church.
As Christ Followers, we are called to Love! Love God and Love others! Sometimes the deepest form of love comes in holding ourselves and others accountable and challenging them to be more like Christ. Now there are right ways and wrong ways to do this. Galatians 6:1 says,
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believeris overcome by some sin, you who are godlyshould gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
In Matthew 18:15-17 it says,
“‘If another believersins against you,go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.’”
You see, harmony has to be protected as much as it is to be encouraged. Yes it can be difficult, but in the end, it can make everyone closer and stronger when done it’s done in the way the Bible tells us to do it!
Father help me live in harmony with others! Help me challenge others to live above reproach first by doing so myself. Let me be an encourager and protector so I can live in harmony with you and others. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen!
“For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.” Romans 14:7-9 (NLT)
Let’s face it, it’s easy to major in the minors and minor in the majors. You may have to read that twice. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the things that don’t matter as much as the things that do matter. In college I avoided many “conversations” (because Bible Students don’t argue … yea right) that wanted to shift the focus on things that we may never know until the day that Christ Returns. Now please hear what I am not saying, you should know what you believe, and should continue to learn, but not at the expense of what Jesus has called us to be and do.
Remember, our first priority as Christ Followers is to “Love the Lord our God with ALL of our Heart. The second is to “Love others as I love myself.” When I get caught up in holier than thou “conversations” it’s easy to loose focus of these two things. Let’s not minor in the majors and miss out on the most important things. Lets focus on living each Day for the Lord, loving the people around us, and when those conversations come up, lets not let them take center stage causing us to forget that in the end, all who have called on the name of the Lord will be saved!
Father help me to love you with all my heart, and to love others the way I love myself. Help me to stay focused on the things that really matter and not on things that can cause debate. Let me live today with no regret taking advantage of every opportunity you give! I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen!
“Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” Romans 13:14 (NLT)
Everyday we pick out clothes from a closet or draw to be presentable for the day. Our close may reflect what the day looks like whether is be a work day, play day, or church day. Sadly, many Christians only wear the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday when they pick out their Church clothes. I remember how I used to act different on Sunday’s than I did any other day of the week, why, because I was putting on the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, but sadly, Monday morning would come and I would change into my everyday but Sunday clothes.
Maybe you were/are like I was. However, one of the things that I have learned over the years, is to simply ask God to go with me throughout the day. By doing this I am putting on the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. It changes the way I think, talk, and act. I begin to see thing s the way Jesus see’s them and I begin to listen to God’s whispers as I go though my day.
Father, today, I want to be clothed with the presence of Lord Jesus Christ. May my thoughts, my talk, and my walk, be impacted because of the silent surrender of my heart to His presence in my life. May others see Him in me, so you can be given all the glory. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen.
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NLT)
The words I Love You, are powerful when used in the right context. My wife and I tell each other that we love each other when we leave or before we hang up the phone on a call. I do this because if something were to happen to me, I want my last words said to her, I Love You!
But let’s be honest, sometimes, it’s easier to SAY, I Love You, than it is to SHOW, I Love You! The depths of our love will be revealed in our private and public lifestyle. Think about it for a moment. Husbands and Wives lie, cheat, flirt, have affairs, and look at porn in private, but when in public, they say they love their spouse, and act as if they have a perfect marriage. Friends, gossip, talk trash, and even talk bad about other friends in private, but in public they claim they are BFF’s. Christians, don’t read their Bibles, don’t pray, don’t share their faith, don’t worship in private, but in public, they sing in choirs, serve in ministry, lead an aspect of ministry, and pray out-loud. Is this what our love has come too?
I’m tired of just going through the mundane of shallow talk without seeing the evidence in my walk. I don’t want to be a person that is guilty of Saying I Love You, but then not Showing that Love by the things I do, whether I am alone, or in the public eye.
Father help me do as your word says, not to just say that I love you and others, but to really love you and them. I want to live in away that reveals that love in my private and public life. Help me to trust you where I am weak, and celebrate areas you have given victories, and may the relationships I have, be strengthened through this commitment! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!
“For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36
Today’s reading is a little more difficult to read and feel like there is something to grasp. or apply immediately. But what is being explained is important for us to know because we have benefited so greatly from it. As I read it again a 2nd time, every time Paul address the Gentiles and uses the name Gentile, I replaced the word Gentile with my name. WOW, talk about personal now! Here is how verse 13 would read;
“I am saying all this especially to you Dan. God has appointed me as the apostle to you. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you have, so I might save some of them.” (v. 13-14)
Just think, God want’s to make others jealous of our relationship with Him, so they will want to experience His Love, Grace, Mercy, & Forgiveness. However, the question I have to ask myself is this: Will my life (everything) cause others to be jealous of my relationship with God, or push them away? I want to live in away that leaves people wanting what I have, so I have the opportunity to share with them all that God has done in my life and tell them how He can do the same in theirs!
Father today, help me live authentically! When people see me let them see the difference that you have made and are continuing to make. Let it be a conversation starter and help me to be more aware of opportunities to share with others the truth of the Gospel so they to can experience a relationship with you! In the power of Jesus Name I pray, Amen!
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NLT)
This is the Gospel! But let’s be honest, this sounds easy, but requires much! When I confess that Jesus is Lord …. that means that He is Lord of ALL THINGS, not just the things I want him to be Lord of. So to live this verse means to live in a constant state of surrender where I confess daily that Jesus is Lord by the things I say, the things I hear, the things I watch, the things I do, which adds up to the way I Live.
When I confess these things, and believe that Jesus is Lord of All and that God raised him from the dead, I will be saved. Thank you Jesus!!!
Father today, I want to confess you in all areas of my life. Help me to surrender every detail to you daily! It’s in Jesus Name I pray, Amen!
“But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Romans 9:31 (NLT)
It’s easy to think I have to work harder, faster, smarter, to achieve greatness. But when it comes to our relationship with God, we can work harder, faster, and smarter and still miss Him completely. We may feel pleased with ourselves, we may have even seen some people encounter Christ a long the way, and others may even applaud our efforts, but if we do all of these things and forget the simple act of surrender, we run the risk of missing God ourselves.
For me, sometimes the greatest thing I can do is to stop what I am doing, and focus on what He requires of me, and to rest in His Grace and Mercy. I confess, it’s much easier to want to do things, to work more, to work faster, harder and smarter, because it makes us feel like we are making progress. It’s much harder for me to sit still and seek the Lord. I have to remind myself not to get so busy doing ministry, that I forget about the person God wants me to be and become. A relationship with God does not come from working harder, faster, smarter, it comes from the solemn surrender of the heart where we admit our sin, believe that Jesus is the Way, repent of the things we have done, we surrender every detail of our lives to Him, and ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of our lives. This is the essence of what it means to be a Christ Follower
Father today, instead of getting caught up in all the things that have to be done, let me be still in spirit knowing that you are Lord and i do these things not to feel better about myself, but to advance your Kingdom, and make your name known. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen
I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. Romans 7:21 (NLT)
Have you been here? It’s almost as if Paul was watching my life and talking about himself so I would see the reality of who I really am. Let’s face it, sometimes its easier to hide behind our good stuff and not deal with the things that are sinful and causing us to stumble. I have good intentions and desire to be more like Christ and but seem to get tripped up with certain things over and over again. Thank goodness my relationship with God is not dependent on what I do, but dependent on what Christ has done for me, past present and future. Now, this doesn’t give me an excuse to keep on sinning, but gives me the confidence that when I do mess up, I can seek God, ask for forgiveness, repent of that sin, and have a fresh start.
This also shows me how much I need a Savior. Because I have a sinful nature, I have to remember it is natural for us to sin. This is why the Bible talks so much about the fight that is going on over every thought, action, and re-action you make. There is a spiritual battle going on that I feel, but may never physically see. When I listen to the Spirit, I am able to fight against these desires more effectively. This is why it is so important to know God’s Word. When I know God’s Word, I have a better chance of standing my ground when temptation comes my way. It’s not a matter of if temptation comes, it’s a matter of when temptation comes, the real question is, will I be ready?
Father today, let me have a deeper understanding of the work that you are doing in my life. Help me to know you in a deeper way, help me to appreciate what you have done for me in a way that reflects how I live. Let me not take the Cross for-granted. Help me to stay in your Word, so I can know Your Word, and Your Word can change me from the inside out. By doing this, I will be more prepared to stand my ground the next time the enemy tries to tempt in the areas that I seem to fall victim to over and over again. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
