Examples

1 Cor. 10:1-13

Man seems to learn best by example, by actually seeing something, how it looks, and how it works. So in this passage Paul did just that for us. He spoke out plainly using the examples of the Israelite people on their wilderness walk to keep us from desiring evil as they did. What better choice since many of the converts were Jewish! Still for the Gentiles these examples carry a heavy weight. 

• First, do not be idolaters-The Israelites sat down to eat, drink, and play. These sound like normal activities, but even the everyday occurrences can harbor idolatry. This was especially meaningful to the Corinthians since they were eating food offered to idols, perhaps even going so far as to eat and drink in a Pagan temple. For us it brings to mind excesses, of the lack of self control in eating/gluttony, drinking/drunkenness, and playing/ pleasure [living just to please self]. 
• Second, do not engage in sexual immorality. That is cut and dried issue. However, a little trickier since our Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage. But of course, all of these are based on God's word not in human courts. 23,000 Israelites were killed in a single day because of this issue. Pretty serious in God's eyes! For us it is a strong warning to believers not to follow the course of our culture that is rampant with sexual immorality and perversion even to the point of legalization. Just because it is legal in America does not mean it is alright with God.
• Third, do not put Christ to the test. Do not doubt His words. What He says He means! For Israel, they were impatient with God's provision of food, water, and meat. Even after He provided, they were dissatisfied and longed for the slavery of Egypt. Their judgment-destruction by serpents.How sad! Are our hearts longing for what the world offers, or are we satisfied with the living Word. Matt. 5 says only in hungering and thirsting after righteousness will we be satisfied. If our feet are planted too firmly on this earth, what the world has looks pretty good. We must keep our eyes focused on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith and remember we are sojourners and aliens on this earth. We are just passing through!
• Fourth and finally, do not grumble. Grumbling...that sounds so innocent. I mean who doesn't grumble. We begin grumbling as children, and by the time, we are adults we are very accomplished at it. Sad! To God grumbling is discontent with what He has decided for our lives. It is saying I don't like this, and telling God that our idea is the better plan. What pride! For this area, we don't have to look very hard to see its infiltration in our lives. 

After hearing this examples, we might get discouraged. Just to think of never grumbling again is a little overwhelming. And besides that, all these judgments were so swift and fatal. Scary! But Paul concluded with some comforting words, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. God has promised he will do it!  He wll give us a way of escape. In Heb. 6:18 it says, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.God  God will always keep His promises. We are the weak link. Knowing this, we must keep our eyes open to see His provision. We must lean on Him for all we need, but at the same time remove ourselves from constantly gazing at the world and what it offers. Paul said simply, Take heed. He gave us the facts, What are we going to do?

Father,

Help me to learn from these examples. Give me a heart of contentment. Help me to see the good in all situations. Keep my heart purely Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

All things to All People

1 Cor. 9:19-27

Even though Paul had freedom in Christ, he had made himself a willing servant of all because he was a servant of Jesus Christ. To the Jews he became a Jew, to the Gentiles he became a Gentile, to the weak he became weak, and all this so that he might preach the gospel and win souls to Jesus Christ. To all people he had become all things that by all means he might save some. He did it all for the sake of the gospel, that he might share with them in its blessings. What dedication! Shouldn't the mindset of all believers? Even though we might not be apostles or traveling preachers, missionaries or pastors, Sunday school teachers, or church secretaries, we still must share the gospel wherever we are and that includes our jobs, our homes, our neighborhoods, anyplace that we are and people are. Why do we think sharing the gospel is so hard? Why are we often afraid to speak up?  

Do we care about fitting in with the world that much?

Paul drove home his point with a sports metaphor. All runners run in a race, but only one runner receives the prize. So as believers we are to run to win the prize. Likewise, athletes have self-control in all things so that they too might win a prize. Their prize is perishable, but the believers prize is imperishable. So Paul said, he did not run the Christian life aimlessly as a boxer beating the air. But he disciplined his body keeping it under control to ensure that he would not be disqualified after sharing the message with so many other people. What is my commitment to my Christian walk? Am I as disciplined as a runner? Do I have self-control in all things? Am I seeking the imperishable prize? Am I sharing the gospel so that I might lead others to Jesus? 

Father,

I am so remiss in sharing the gospel. Forgive me please. Strengthen me in this area. Help me to share Your words and the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. 

In His name,

Amen

Deference

1 Cor. 8

Paul began this chapter by saying that knowledge puffs up but love builds up. How important is this to remember! Keeping love as our motivation transforms our lives. It takes the focus away from self and puts it on others. So from this focal point, [that is of love] Paul addressed an important issue, that is eating foods offered to idols. In truth there was no problem in eating this food because these idols were not real. There is only one true God and that is the God that we worship. As Paul said, for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. There it is in a nutshell. No matter the issue [since we are not surrounded by food offered to idols], the principle still exists. 

So here was the problem. Some weaker brothers were offended by this practice of eating foods offered to idols. So Paul urged believers to take care that their behavior did not become a stumbling-block to weaker brothers by allowing their knowledge concerning the one true God and food offered to idols to offend a brother, a brother for whom Christ died. Thus sinning against our brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, we sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. To Paul Jesus Christ was all important as was the well-being and spiritual growth of fellow believers. And it should be for us as well! If our motive is love and not knowledge, then showing deference will be our top concern. Love motivates how we live, and deference dictates how we live.

I have wondered why deference is such a hard thing. Perhaps it is because of the innate selfishness of man coupled with our materialistic culture.Certainly a first world problem! We have so much that we become entitled thinking the world revolves around us. But it doesn't, and it shouldn't! God must be the one for whom all things exist [that means all things in our world] and for whom we exist [and that means not ourselves or only our select group of friends]. Jesus must be the one through whom all things in our lives are, and the one through whom we exist! It comes down to the motive and the God behind the motive. It is God's world not ours! We are Jesus' possession, His slave! He bought us with the price of His life so all we do, say, or think must be through Him. His love reigns!

Father,

How important it is for me to remember for whom I must live and to whom I owe everything. Take my focus off myself and put it on others.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Sexual Immorality Revisited

1 Cor. 6:12-20

Paul reinforced his teaching on sexual immorality again. This repetition speaks to the importance of this concept. The Corinthians felt that all things were lawful, but Paul said that not all things were helpful because all things had the power to enslave. Paul refused to be enslaved by any fleshly thing because he was a slave of Jesus Christ as are all believers. It mattered not whether it was or is food or sexual immorality.  Our bodies are not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord.

Since our members are members of Jesus if or when we were to be joined to a prostitute then Jesus would be joined to a prostitute as well. Shameful! When we are joined to the Lord then we become one spirit with Him. Such unity as this is a thing to be valued and treasured not destroyed or tainted. It is something to  remember constantly . If I lose my temper, then Jesus is one with me there. If I am a glutton or a drunkard, then Jesus is one with me. If I am irritated and impatient, Jesus is one with me. Whatever I do, He is with me. 

The conclusion of the matter is this: Flee sexual immorality. Paul explained that every other sin committed is outside the body, but sexual immorality is a sin that is against our own bodies. Heavy thought! Our culture would have us believe, that sex is something to be shared with many and is really of no lasting consequence. But that is not so! Especially for the Christian! Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Once I have accepted Jesus my entire world changes. He bought me, I am now His. I can no longer let my flesh rule in any area. I must give all my members to Jesus to be used as He sees fit. I must glorify Him in my body because His Spirit dwells within me. Amazing! How blessed! It shows me how strong the flesh is that I would damage the Spirit of God. How utterly foolish! 

Father,

Give me Your grace and strength to live as I should. Help me to present all my members to Jesus and to crucify the flesh constantly and always. Thank You for Placing Your Spirit within me. Bring it constantly to my mind.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Lawsuits

1 Cor. 6:1-11

Paul developed yet another area that revealed the true spirituality of the Corinthians' hearts: lawsuits. How could believers who have the Sprint of God within them and who are destined to judge with Jesus one day, feel the need to take their legal disputes before heathen courts and heathen judges? So shameful! Paul asked pointedly if there was not anyone among them wise enough to judge between them. To have lawsuits within the body of believers is already a defeat. Why not suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? What a word to a culture that is intent upon suing one another! Are believers willing to absorb the wrong done to them and follow the example of Christ who when He was reviled answered not a word in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten in return. Our actions speak volumes about the condition of our hearts. 

These believers as well as believers today have forgotten that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, that includes the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Such were some of us! But the difference is we are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus. We  are sinners saved by grace with the emphasis on saved. We have been transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might prove what the will of God is! We have been made new so that we present our members to God as instruments of righteousness not as instruments of the flesh. If our behavior is indistinguishable from the world, perhaps we are not truly saved. Perhaps we have not truly named the name of Jesus. 

Father,

Through Your grace and strength help my actions to match my words. Help me to show grace to others not just in legal matters but in every area of my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sexual Immorality

1 Cor. 5

Paul is chagrined to hear that someone within the body is practicing sexual immorality of a kind that would be an affront to Pagans. A man has his father's wife! It is amazing to him that they can still be spiritually arrogant when this is happening. But. apart from this spiritual ignorance, which is sin in itself, what is a church to do when this situation occurs? The text says, with the power of Jesus, to deliver this person to Satan in order to save his soul. What does that mean? My footnote says it means removing him from the church. If he were really delivered to Satan, he would have no spark of the divine nature within himself. His soul would not be saved. But removing him from the church is a different story even though that still seems harsh.

Why would Paul suggest such a strong measure? Because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Leaven is sin. Cleansing out the old leaven, the old sin, makes room for the new lump. Once we are saved and have appropriated all that Christ [our Passover Lamb] did, then we are unleavened. Sin no longer has mastery over us. It no longer enslaves us. So we need to celebrate the body of Christ not with the old leaven of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Following Christ does not mean indulging the flesh, it means walking as He did sincerely and truthfully. He is our Truth. He must control our lives.

Paul clarifies he is not referring to the sexually immoral of the world, but those within the body of believers, with anyone who bears the name of brother. If a brother is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler, the body is not even to eat with this person. Believers are to purge the evil as well as the evil person from among them. Even though it sounds harsh in our world of tolerance and anything-goes, it is what God says. Perhaps it is like Achan who hid the precious things in the floor of his tent. Everything from Jericho was to be devoted to destruction except for what God had specified, yet Achan thought better. Because of his sin, when Israel went to battle with Ai, a very small city, they lost the battle. God's people must be obedient to what God says. It was only after Achan and the things that he hid were destroyed was Isarel able to win the battle against Ai. Sin is serious. God does not take it lightly!

Father, 

Open me eyes to see the sin I am not confessing. Give me a heart that grieves over any sin in my life. Help me never to feel justified in allowing sin.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Power not Talk

1 Cor. 4

Paul continued his teaching on the divisiveness within the Corinthians, that being that some factions claimed Apollos or Cephas and had spoken ill of Paul. It really is of no consequence to Paul because he knew that when the Lord comes he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. It is only then that the record will be established, that commendations will be given. 

He wanted to remind the people of all the blessings that they have received in Christ, and at the same time remind them of the life style of the apostles. The apostles, leaders, and teachers paid a heavy price for the leadership that they exerted. They were weak, while the Corinthians were strong, and while the Corinthians were held in honor, they were held in disrepute. The apostles endured hunger and thirst, lack of clothing, were buffeted and homeless, and labored with their own hands. When they were reviled, they blessed; when persecuted, they endured; when slandered, they entreated. They had become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. Is such a lifestyle as this one to claim as their own apart from the express calling of God? No, but it is one that gives a degree of authority. Paul's words should be heeded.

Paul did not write these things to shame the Corinthians but instead to admonish them as beloved children. Paul felt very much a father to these people. He urged them to follow his leadership and lifestyle even to the degree that he had sent Timothy to them to remind them of all that they had been taught. He assured them that he would come to them if the Lord willed and root out these arrogant people altogether. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? In essence Paul is telling them to listen up. Heed the words of their spiritual father. Cut out the divisiveness, and walk and talk as they were taught. 

Father,

How important and true are Your words! Help me to obey them implicitly and immediately. Let no pride or arrogance seep into my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Suffer Loss

1 Cor. 3

Paul is amazed that by this time he must still address these people as nonspiritual. They cannot be fed solid food, but can only handle the milk of the word because of their fleshly lives. Jealously and strife seemed to dwell among them each claiming a greater spirituality because of the one who brought them the gospel. How foolish! It is only God who gives the increase not man. All men are either planters or waterers, but only God can give a harvest of souls. People who share the gospel are God's fellow workers. You [the receivers] are God's field, God's building. Newly born souls are not notches on the belt of the sharer. They are not numbers to give added significance to a ministry. 

It was because of God's grace that Paul was able to lay a foundation, and then others could build upon that foundation, or vice versa. We are all interconnected and work as a unit with no one claiming any extra credit. And to give even greater impact, Paul cautions the Corinthians to take care because no one can replace the true foundation Jesus Christ. Yikes! Remember who the gospel is all about! Not just for the Corinthians but for us as well. 

If believers build on Jesus, then their works will either be gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble. The fire will reveal the quality and test what sort of work each one has done. If the work built on Jesus survives, then there will be a reward, but if the work does not, that one will suffer loss but not lose their salvation. Saved only by fire! How sad! Our salvation is graciously assured but our works after salvation do matter. I can only imagine how it will feel to suffer loss in the persence of Jesus. Such accountability should shape what we do, think, and say.

Father,

I know that many times I have not had right motives or been going through the motions when I was serving You. I confess. Forgive. I know that many times throughout the day, my heart is fleshly. I confess. Forgive. Help me to live as You would have me live. Help me to be obedient from the heart.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Mind of Christ

1 Cor. 2

Paul came to the Corinthians not in any worldly wisdom but only in Christ and Him crucified. Jesus epitomized his motive and his method. Even though his heart felt some fear and trembling, his message was one of power and of the Spirit because it was of the Spirit and not of himself. He was not concerned about gaining power or recognition for himself, but he was only concerned about bringing glory to Jesus through the proclamation of His gospel so that the faith of those who heard would rest only in the power of God. 

The gospel contains the secret and hidden wisdom of God;  consequently, the world thinks it is folly. But how can we understand something so divine? It is only through the Spirit that indwells each one of us who claim the name of Jesus. No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. As believers we have received the Spirit from God so that we might freely understand the things given us by God. Such knowledge as this can only be taught by the Spirit enabling us to interpret spiritual truths. What a glorious gift! Not only eternal life in heaven, but also a new nature here on earth; not only the written word of God, but also the Spirit to understand and interpret it; not only being partakers of the divine nature here on earth, but also a hope for a glorified body in the presence of His glory; not only salvation by mercy and grace, but also sanctification by mercy and grace. He does not save us and then desert us, but He is involved in every aspect of our lives. He gives us a mission and a ministry, and gives us all the strength and wisdom to accomplish that mission and ministry. What a wonderful Savior we have!

The natural person can not and does not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned. But since we have the Spirit of God, we also have the mind of Christ. In our mind and in our spirit we can discern the secret and hidden things of God because they are spiritually discerned. Amazing! The mind of Christ is given to us. It is ours for the taking. We have complete access to it. But what do we do? Do we often default back to our flawed and foolish minds? Do we struggle day after day in muck of our flesh? How strong is our flesh that it can tempt us away from so many wonderful and divine gifts!

Father,

I confess I have often defaulted back to the flesh in my body and my thoughts. Forgive me. Teach me to make the mind of Christ and Your words my default. Help me! I so need it!

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Room to Boast

1 Cor. 1:18-31

God designed it so that the word of the cross, the gospel, is folly to the unsaved, but to the saved is it the very power of God! God has made foolish the wisdom of the world by choosing the foolish things, the low and despised things, and even the things that are not to reveal His power and to show that man has no room to boast. 

• God chose preaching as His method, a method which would seem foolish to the world.
• This preaching is about Christ who is a stumbling-block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.
• The foolishness of God is wiser than men
• The weakness of God is stronger than men. 
• Not many believers are wise [according to worldly standards], powerful, or of noble birth.
• God chose those who are weak in the world to shame the strong.
• God chose those who are low and despised in the world to bring to nothing that things that are.

God's choices completely counter dict the world, its methods, its decision making, its excesses, and its powerful ones. Whatever the world is, God is not! But He did all this for a reason. By exposing the world for what it really is, His glory and wisdom triumphs! To those He calls, He gives faith to see the truth in what He is and says, and to know they have nothing in themselves worthy of boasting. They will see and know that Christ Jesus is wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Jesus is all and in all. He is our only way to salvation and to the Father. Actually our very understanding of the foolishness of this world is God given as is our faith to believe. We are totally powerless and helpless before God calls us to His kingdom. Jesus is the One who transferred us from the domain of darkness to His glorious kingdom. We need Jesus! So that as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. My boast is in Jesus alone!

Father,

Thank You for choosing the weak and undesirables of the world to be Yours. Thank You that I was one of those. Thank You for Jesus and His cross.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sustaining and Presenting

I Cor. 1:1-17

Paul's greeting to the church at Corinth includes even me. He said, to the church in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. How wonderful! All believers are sanctified in Jesus. It is only through Him and His imputed righteousness that we have any standing at all. Because of this, no man may claim credit in his salvation. God's grace through Jesus Christ has saved and sanctified us. I especially like to the saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In every place, such unity Christ brings! We are one with all the saints because we call upon the same Lord and the same name, Jesus. 

Paul goes on to attest to the fact that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them. There was evidence of their salvation in the way they lived, thought, and felt. They were not lacking in spiritual gifts with which they could edify the body of believers as they waited for the revealing of Jesus Christ. That is the same for us! We are waiting for Jesus to return and while we wait His Holy Spirit does His work in us gifting us with our spiritual identity so that we may serve the body as well. While we wait Jesus will sustain us and present us guiltless in the day of His return. Guiltless! All because we are covered in the blood of Jesus and the righteousness that only He can provide. It is through Him that we are called into the fellowship of the Son, a fellowship that includes all believers and is the fellowship that we are united with all the saints.

After all these positive comments, Paul hits the negative; disunity. How could the body not be united since we all call upon the same Lord, since we all are waiting for the return of Jesus, since we are all gifted with our spiritual identity, since we all are sustained by Jesus, and since we all will be presented guiltless in the day of His return. Yet, they were not. They were claiming some kind of status because of who led them to Christ or who baptized them. How foolish! The vessel used is not to be worshiped. Only Christ is! Actions and thoughts like these empty the cross of its power. The gospel should be the only thing of importance. It is what unites believers, and it is what empowers the cross of Christ.

Father,

Give me a spirit of unity with believers worldwide. Help me always and only to call upon Your name. Thank You for sustaining me now and presenting me guiltless in that day. I long for Your return and praise You for all that You have done.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unity In Marriage

Rom. 15:5-6

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. 

I have prayed verse 5 for my marriage for years asking God to help us live in harmony with one another. In a marriage setting, I think that this verse has a slightly different meaning. Harmonious living seems to speak of being free from strife, strife over many things not just disagreements over the word of God, free from strife over all the petty little things that the flesh reveals in the close setting of a marriage. Of course, in a marriage there are big things as well, abuse verbal, emotional and even physical. But for me the strife comes from not listening to each other, helping each other in many areas, understanding one another, and having emotional needs met. Now that I write them down it doesn't really seem like something I should get that upset about. But when the flesh is seeking for control, things are magnified. So praying that God will help us live in harmony in accord with Jesus is vital. 

I like how Paul mentions the God of endurance and encouragement. He is the God of exactly what we need in a marriage, endurance and encouragement. And what is the purpose of this unity? It is not just so that the home runs more smoothly [which is nice] or that neither one of us are at odds with the other [which is also nice], but it is so that we can glorify God. When strife exists, there is sin, and sin keeps us from glorifying God. Our relationship with God should be our highest priority. Nothing should be allowed to deter it, especially marriage squabbles. Paul's conclusion is to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us! He loved and forgave us when we were black with sin. Can we not extend this love and forgiveness to our spouse? Love as Christ loved us. Forgive as Christ forgave us. Welcome as Christ welcomed us. The reason and purpose for our marriage is so that we might grow holier, grow up in our head, into Christ, and glorify the God and Father of Jesus. How can we do that if there is no forgiveness or love? Shouldn't our spiritual priorities extend into all areas of life? Yes, I must say yes. This prayer is vital for our marriage as is our obedience to His word.

Father,

Thank You for being the God of all that we need to live together in harmony. Teach us how to glorify You in all that we do and say in our relationship with each other. Grant us Your encouragement and endurance. Open our eyes and hearts to see You first in any situation. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Judging One Another

Rom. 14

The point Paul is making is two fold. First he says don't judge one another, and secondly we must now lives for Christ. In Christ's kingdom it makes no difference if you abstain from something or if you do something. It makes no difference who you are whether rich or poor, important in this world's standing or of no consequence. These things make no difference, and why is that? Because if we live we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Our entire life must be lived to and for Jesus. Because of this we must never pass judgment on another, and never put a stumbling-block in the way of another brother. 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. Consequently, our lives must be consumed with what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 

I think the crux of the problem is we tend to live for ourselves. 'We' are the most important person in our world. Sad! We must remember that now we live to Christ. Our world must be turned upside down. In this world's system, men live for self, and our flesh cries out to live for self as well, but the new man, the born again man must say no. We must crucify the flesh and no longer present ourselves as slaves to self  but as slaves to God, to Jesus Christ. When we live for Christ, then we no longer judge others. We are all one in Christ. We all must grow up into Him who is our head. He eliminates the petty wars we wage against one another when He transforms our focus from self to Him. 

Father,

I confess so many times I think of self and have judgmental thoughts toward others. Lord, continue Your work in me, cleansing and changing me from the inside out. Spirit, keep me focused on Jesus continually. I know that whatever is not of You is sin. It is my desire to live as You would live. Fill me with Your grace and strength so that I might live this way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Speeding or Stopping

Rom. 13

Submission to the authorities is a hard concept to grasp. Somehow we think that we know better on many issues, especially on speed limits and stop signs in neighborhoods. We often think why stop here when no one is around, or why drive so slowly when the road is deserted, and we are late or in a hurry. But Rom. 13 gives some black and white answers. It says be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. If we resist, we are resisting what God has put in place. But why has he put them in this position to make these laws? Romans says that these authorities are God's servants for our good, and if we disobey they are there as an instrument of God's wrath. So we obey knowing it is for our good, to avoid God's wrath, and for the sake of our conscience. The same goes for taxes. We pay taxes to whom they are owed and show respect to whom deserves it. 

I read an article by Piper on this very issue where he equated obeying the speed limit with worshiping God. If we obey because God desires it, then the time we spend driving more slowly or stopping at stop signs, is a time of worship. It gives us time to reflect on Him because we are slowing down our pace of life. We are making time for Him and for obedience to His word. In many areas we need to look behind the circumstances and see the One who ordained them all, the One who put our entire life in its realm even down to the smallest detail, and the One who gives grace and strength to obey Him and endure life as it comes our way. He is the author of our lives. He know what is our good. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 

Father,

I see so clearly how you have structured my life to revolve around You and to obey You in all that I do. Give me Your grace and strength to be steadfast, unwavering even when circumstances seem to be going against me. I love You and thank You for all that You have put in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Heart and the Mouth

Rom. 10

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, Paul said this of the word of faith that he preached to the Romans, and also to us. In our mouth because if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that He was resurrected, then we will be saved. It is with the heart that we are justified, made as if we never sinned [which is only through the blood of Jesus that covered all sin]. It is with the mouth that we publicly declare that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  If we believe we will not be shamed, disappointed, disillusioned, or condemned. We will be saved whether we are Jew or Greek. With God, there is no distinction of ethnicity or race. God accepts all who believe, and gives the riches of His glory to those who call on Him in truth. So the conclusion is faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Just as Paul preached the word of faith that was salvation to those who heard and accepted, we must also share the word of faith so that it may be a word of life to those who hear. 

Father,

Thank You for blessing me with faith to believe, for giving me the riches of Your glory, Jesus Christ and Your Holy Spirit, and for adopting me into Your family. Open my eyes and my mouth to see the opportunities to share Your gospel the word of faith.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

God's Purpose of Election

Rom. 9:14-33

It is not the children of the flesh [Israel] who are called the children of God, but it is the children of the promise [Gentiles] who are counted as offspring. Why? Because it is not of works or the law but it is by faith, by believing in what God has done. This supports God's purpose of election which is not because of any human works but because of Him who calls, because of God who says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 

Even though this may sound unfair to the human ear because humans like to think they have power over their lives, that they can determine their human outcome. How foolish! Even nature itself has shown that way of thinking false. Who can stand against a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or even a car accident or death by the hand of a random individual? No one. But more to the point, who can answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"  Foolishly, man does speak to God like this, but to no avail. God is God, and His way supersedes all else. 

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What could the reason be for such an action? Could not God have wanted to reveal the riches of His glory and power to vessels of His mercy [those who believe by faith] and, in order to do that would have had to show patience with the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? He has shown us what we are saved from and how great a gift of mercy, faith, and grace He has given us. He has patiently waited for all to believe for all to reach repentance. He has waited to call His people beloved [Gentiles] who were not His people [Israel]. The final analysis is that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness by the law received a righteousness by faith and have become the beloved children of God. 

Father,

Even though it is hard for me to hear and understand election, I must trust that You know what is right because You are God. By right of creation, I am Yours. I praise You that You have chosen me to be Your beloved child.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Separation

Rom. 8:18-39

Paul's focus and hope are revealed in his words, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. His vision was centered entirely on the glory that was yet to come. This should not sound foreign to us, but it should be our focus and vision. Nothing in this life compares at all to the glory of the kingdom yet to come, and if we have trouble really believing that then we are planted way to deeply in this earth and this world system. We should be short-timers here, aliens and strangers just passing through. 

Paul explains how not only people but also creation itself longs for heaven, and in fact, is groaning for that transformation. We eagerly wait for the completion of our adoption as son, the redemption of our bodies. It is our salvation and our hope. Now we have the first-fruits of the Spirit but then we be glorified. God foreknew and predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. Not only that but God called and justified us, and on that day, will glorify us. 

Now the Spirit knows our weaknesses even in how we should pray. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and according to the will of God because He is the Spirit of God Himself. For this reason, we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. Not to say that suffering or bad things won't happen to us. Earlier in this chapter we learned that to be His child, a son, and a joint heir with Christ, we must suffer. But it is all in the will of God.  It is all for a reason and a purpose. And it is for our good because it leads us closer and closer to Him and to that day we will be with Him. 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? What a glorious truth! Everything that happens in our lives is in His will, was set in place before the foundation of the world, and is ultimately part of our path to His glorious kingdom. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

Not even being slaughtered or intensely persecuted will change what God has set in place. Nothing at all! For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Father,

What a glorious passage! Thank You so much for having my life and all of its circumstances securely in Your hand. I know that I will never be separated from You and that I can never snatched out of Your hand. I know that You will be with me in the hard times, in the times that would normally make a person cave. But You, Your Spirit, and Your Son will be with me strengthening me to endure. Thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Son and an Heir

Rom. 8:1-17

What a glorious passage! First we read there is no condemnation for us because we are in Christ Jesus. He satisfied the righteous requirement of the law when God put upon Him the sin of the world when He died on the cross. He paid the price for all sin. But still not everyone has availed themselves of His gift of freedom. Christ did not stay on the cross. He was buried and rose again. This resurrection life makes us new in Christ. To have what Christ offers, we must believe in Him and even be in Him. 

As a believer we are no longer people of the flesh. Christ has severed our bondage to sin and flesh. Our new spirit is life and peace. Consequently, we are not enslaved to the flesh, but now we live according to the Spirit which means that we put to death the deeds, thoughts, and emotions of the flesh. 

If we are led by the Spirit of God, we are Sons of God!! For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. How unbelievable is this! Not only have we been freed from our bondage to the flesh, but we have been given new life, a life that includes son-ship as well as heir-ship. We become a fellow heir with Jesus Christ! The Spirit of God teaches us that this is true because He lives within us and is our constant companion and guide. However, v. 17 throws in a little catch. Provided we suffer with Him! To be made new in Christ must include suffering as well. We can't be in Christ without walking where He walked, and that includes suffering and sometimes death. 

Father,

You have given me so very much! Jesus and Your Spirit, new life in Christ, grace, peace, truth, love, eternal life, a hope to anchor my faith, a future with You. For all these and so much more, I thank You. For letting Your Spirit live within me, I praise Your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Slaves to Sin or Slaves to Righteousness

Rom. 6:15-23

Paul develops the idea of slavery. In his mind we are either slaves to sin or slaves of God. The truth is we are slaves to the one we obey. If we choose to be a slave to sin, the outcome is death. But if we choose to be slaves to God, the end is eternal life. It seems as if the choice is a no-brainer. So what's the problem. Could it be that we choose life in our heads, but in our lives we tend to fall back to the flesh? Could we lamely attempt to have the best of both worlds? If so, we will be the losers. God does not share His place with anyone.

Humanly, we have naturally presented ourselves as slaves to sin, impurity, and lawlessness. Even if we were not that bad, or in fact considered ourselves a good person, we were still sinners. There was no human way to deal with the consequences of our sin. We could never actually be sin free. But thanks be to God who made the way possible. Jesus Christ set us free from sin by paying the penalty for sin Himself., and this freedom is ours! What then? We are to present ourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Our allegiance must change. God must become preeminent! We are not freed to nothingness but freed for sanctification, for growth in the Christian life. 

Before when we were sin-slaves, we were freed from righteousness, but now as God-slaves we are freed for righteousness because righteousness can only be achieved in and through Jesus Christ. We are to grow up into Him who is our head, Jesus Christ. The fruit of our freedom in Christ leads to sanctification, and its final end is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Wow! What a glorious life is given to us! All is new and different. All now is Jesus.

Father,

Thank You for not freeing me from sin and leaving me on my own. But You freed me for Yourself, for righteousness in Jesus Christ. Lord, teach me to grow in Jesus. Strengthen me to grow into sanctification. Attune my ear to hear Your Spirit every moment throughout this day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Dead or Alive, Don't or Do!

Rom. 6:1-14

Can we who died to sin still live in it? What a question! Paul endeavors to develop the answer to this question logically. He explains that if we were baptized into Jesus, we were baptized in His death. [Something we know in our heads and actually hear at baptisms] Just as Christ died, was buried, and then rose again. So must we! Before we can have resurrection life, we must die! Life and death do not peacefully co-exist.

Our old self was crucified so that our body of sin might be brought to nothing thus eliminating our slavery to sin. If we have died, we have been set free from sin. But at the same time, if we have died, we shall also live with Him. Of course, we all want and cling to eternal life with our entire beings. But do we espouse our death to the flesh with the same degree of passion? 

Since Christ was raised from the dead, He will never die again. Death no longer has dominion over Him! His death was to sin, and His life is to God. So too for us! We must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Consider it! What does that mean? In the footnote of my Bible it says, "dead to the pervasive love for and the ruling power of sin. Christians must realize  that the mastery of sin has been broken in their lives." If not, are we the walking dead? Zombies? 

But how? Verses 12-14 proffer an answer. Don't let sin reign in our bodies. That command implies an action on our part. Don't do it! Just like an alcoholic, don't drink or put yourself in a place where drink is a temptation. Don't obey sin's passions or give any part of yourself as an instrument of unrighteousness. Don't do it! Just don't! Instead give all of yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness. Sin has no more dominion over you so don't live like it does! Perhaps it like someone who has received a great inheritance, millions of dollars, yet chooses to live as a homeless person. He does nothing with the inheritance. Merely lets it go untouched! We have received the great gift of grace. Are we using it, to strengthen our resolve or even to give us resolve? Are we using it to become an instrument of righteousness?

We are not under law but under grace. Grace for every moment of our lives. Grace to keep us from caving to the passions of our flesh. I notice that Paul has included an 'instead'. If we clean out sin, we can't leave an emptiness. Like it says in the gospels, 7 more demons will come in to take the place of that one. We must put something in its place. And that is using all ourselves for righteousness. Don't should not be the only word in our heads. Do should be in there just as strong if not stronger. 

Father,

By your grace, strengthen me in my resolve against sin. Open my eyes to see where I have fallen and then to quickly confess and repent. Teach me to grieve over this sin. 

In Jesus name,

Amen