Keep on Keepin' On
In reading Romans 12:11 it is one mark of a true Christian. Yes, there are others, but let's just focus on the regarding your zeal, your passion, your energy in serving God. Paul writes that the passion shouldn't be lacking when serving the Lord. The spiritual fervor is also part of that passion in serving the Lord. When you read the word, share with or teach others, feeding the homeless, whatever it is, do it with passion. Let that Holy Spirit work through you be the fire that fuels you to serve the Lord. You will know a true Christian by one who is serving the Lord with passion and intensity.
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All Fall Short
We have heard "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But do we know what it means and where that verse applies and in what context it was written? First, it comes from Romans 3:23 which was written by the Apostle Paul. Secondly, the words right before the "for all fall" part are "For there is no distinction:" This was in reference to the disputes Jews were having about being "better" than gentiles and Greeks. Their thinking was that they were better because they were Jewish followers of Jesus, similar to how the Pharisees spoke to people and treated people. God is not making distinctions of this group of people or nationality is better than this one. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, welcome to the family. Period.
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God's Grace is Free
Grace is a wonderful thing. It is an important intangible. Grace is not something you earn. It is given freely. It is a gift. A gift that we all need in our relationships and in our relationship with God. In Romans 11:6 we understand that when it comes to our salvation (our eternal existence in Heaven) that the only reason why we get that chance is grace. The grace comes from God freely. We literally do not have to do anything to receive this grace, other than accept. You don't have to serve 50 homeless people for 10 years. You do not have to memorize 40 Bible verses and wrote 6 essays. All you have to do is accept God's grace that is free to you in order for you to have salvation.
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Out With the Old
I'm sure you have heard the saying, "out with the old, in with the new." It is referencing getting rid of old things like junk in the closet, the garage or that old storage unit that sucks up $50 a month from you. I ask you this, is the stuff that you have so worth hanging on to that you will let it waste money in your bank account? Is there space in your house that you could use that is being taken up by junk? Are there habits and attitudes and old ways of thinking that are keeping you from being a stronger follower of Christ?
I know that sometimes these verse may not make much sense, but the context of them does help explain them. For instance, in Romans 6:4, (see the image below) sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but it is telling you that the act of baptism is a representation of the death of the old way and the birth of the new way. The old is apart from Christ while the new is walking with him. I can tell you from my own personal experiences that after my baptism I still did things that I knew were not right in God's eyes, but it took some time to over come that. But that can be part of the process. We do have to be mindful of that and not let it become an excuse to stay in the old, but as a reminder to walk in the new.
One of my favorite illustrations is in regard to the new wine being poured into old wineskins found in Matthew 9:14-17. New wins being poured into an old wineskin would be a waste as the process that created the new wine would make the old bag expand past its limits and burst/break. Therefore the new wine would spill and the old bag would be useless. God's blessing cannot be poured into your life with old ways of thinking, being and behaving. You have to submit to the will of God. There will be some changes but they are for your own good for God's glory.
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Be Consistent
If you have been reading along or have already read through the New Testament you may have noticed something that I think is remarkable. Some may say it is not, but to me it shows character. When Paul begins his letters to the churches (1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Romans 1:7, Galatians 1:3), he consistently opens up with "peace" and "grace" and shows what he represents in God and in Christ. To some, that is no big deal as he is just writing letters. You will see though that these letters are also letters of direction or correction. I know when some of us are correcting or directing others that we are in charge of, we can become tyrannical. Paul consistently sends grace and love. He does not stray off the path of being loving even when correcting or directing. Why? Because he represents Jesus. We could learn from Paul's example.
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One Another-ing
It is very easy to get caught up in thinking about ourselves and our wants and even perceive those wants as needs. When we truly focus on what God wants from us we can see how important it is for us to honor Him and be loving to one another. During this times of the year there is much discussion regarding politics and a number of divisive things are being said. While not everyone engaged in these discussions are Christ followers, some of these people are or at least believe themselves to be overlooking that in favor of personal wants that are outside of the glory of God. Doing a Google search of "how many one another bible verses" I found a document that counts 59 uses of one another in the New Testament. Here are a few that I would like to highlight.
In Mark 9:50 Jesus is talking about having salt in ourselves. Salt here can be used as a reference to sacrifices that were covered with salt and/or salt being a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, " Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." This does not mean do it on your own accord but have the Holy Spirit in you as that also relates to a sacrifice of self. By that sacrifice of self and having the Holy Spirit in us, we can "be at peace with one another." It is hard to say or do divisive things when you have submitted your will to God. If you stay focused on being served then you are part of the problem.
We have probably covered John 13:34-35 numerous times about loving one another (Jesus's command) and that is how people will know we are Christ followers. But, let's take it a step further. What task is so beneath you that you would never do it? Cleaning toilets? Taking out the trash? Well, Jesus was so humble in his living that something as low as washing someone's feet was not beneath him. How would you sacrifice for your brother or sister in Christ if they needed you to? Would you allow yourself to be degraded in a sense to meet a need for them? Jesus says in John 13:14-15 that since he has done this that we should do the same type of activity as he has shown us an example of how to be.
Finally, I leave you with one more. Being a Christ follower does not equate to perfection from the eyes of others. It means being dedicated to God's will. It means accepting the Holy Spirit as your guide and God's grace through Christ. In Romans 15:7, Paul says something very important that often gets overlooked. He says, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." This does not mean that we accept sin and just say it is okay, but remember where you were when first became a Christ follower. Remember the grace you needed or had. Now apply that to others. We are all works in progress. Love them enough to let them grow.
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Examine Yourself
In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul tells the church in Corinth to examine and test themselves. He asks them if they know that Christ is in them. Paul also tells them if they test themselves they will know that Christ is in them, unless they are disqualified from the test. Disqualified? That was Paul's way of saying you cannot take a test to see if Christ is in you if you are worldly and not one with Christ. So ask yourself today, am I one with Christ?
How does one then test themselves? One way is through reading the various parables and experiences of Jesus and apply the lessons of learned/taught whether they are temptation (the wilderness), faithfulness (mustard seed and power drained), forgiveness (prodigal son) or the young rich ruler (worldly thinking). If you aren't studying Christ's life and his words, then how will you know if you are one with Christ? How will you know if the Holy Spirit is leading you? Do you say things like "It's just the way I am and I won't change" even though that something you do is not of God? Read the scripture in the right context and be Spirit led.
Also, in reading through Ephesians 5:5-7 and also Romans 1:28-32 we see a lists, if you will, of what is not God honoring. Paul calls out the sexually immoral or impure and says that they have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. He also points out that those did not see fit to acknowledge God were given up by God to their own devices. Paul says there unrighteousness, evil, covetousness,
malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. It is one thing to slip up and make a bad decision. There is grace for that from God upon repentance. But, when you accept sin into your lifestyle, that is not of the Holy Spirit. That is not passing the test of Christ likeness. That sin acceptance disqualifies you from taking that test. Look at what loves is and what is in the fruit (evidence) of the spirit. When you are led by that which is of Christ there will be evidence, likewise the opposite.
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Do Not Sit in Shame
When we look at the sword shame you can attribute it to various parts in your life such as guilt, shortcoming or embarrassment. You could feel guilt and shame from getting caught doing something you know you should not have (like stealing). Or you could feel shame from losing a competition (athletic, academic or business). Or you could have been trying to make a solid impression (maybe for a job) and you find out that how you saw yourself is not how you were seen. All these situations and many others can bring about that feeling of shame. It hurts. It hurts in public and it really hurts in private. But remember, God does not want you to carry that feeling. It does nothing good for you nor does it honor Him.
Shame started with Adam and Eve when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam heard God coming he hid. The text reads he was afraid (Genesis 3:10), but if you know you have done something wrong and the person who told you not to do it is coming back and they will see you did exactly what they said not to do, you will feel shame. Shame starts here but it does not end here as we know that God is our shield (Psalm 3:3) and when we do as He commands (for our own good) then we avoid shame.
For those who have accepted Christ we also know that there is no shame in that. When we mess up and repent, we sin no more. We do not carry that shame of the sin with us. That is not necessary. Granted, you will remember what you did and seek to avoid that again, but to carry the burden of the shame around with you does not honor God or your mission to fulfill His purposes for your life.
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Being Loving Like Jesus
For those of you who know me, then you know (other than football and pro wrestling) one of my favorite topics to discuss is relationships. They are vital and date back to the beginning of man- see Genesis 2:4-25 and Adam and Eve. We were designed to be among other people. We were designed to live life with other people and have friends and date and marry and have children. It is great to do these things, but there is a point where those people that we have been living life with do things or say things that we get upset about. It is up to us on what we do with that emotion. Do we submit to the emotion and ignore people that we have known for a long time (or even a short while)? Or do we focus on being loving like Jesus? Hard to do, but here are some reminders.
In Matthew 5 we read through the sermon on Mount. In verse 44 Jesus speaks on what people have been taught and teaches them a new way. He says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This can also be applied to a person you are having a relational issue with. If you and your friend/family member are having an issue and you saw them on the side of the road with their car broken down in the pouring rain or snow, do you just drive on by them and just hope they get help? That is not very loving. Even if they are an enemy for the time being, be loving. If you know of someone or a group of people who is persecuting you, pray for them. Pray that they will let God come into their life and take over their heart. We as Christ followers have to set the standard on being loving, just as Christ loved us by dying for us on the cross.
In Romans 12:1 we read that we are to be living sacrifices to God. We sacrifice those things that please us in moments in order to please God. We worship Him by doing what is right in his eyes with His will. Jesus, while man and God at the same time, showed us what it is like to submit to God's will even when it is truly painful. Yes, what someone said or did was painful, but that does not mean that you have to wish them hell or throw away the relationship forever due to an offense or disagreement. I love to make jokes and while I have brought smiles to many, there are some that I have offended. Their choice was to tell me about the offense and forgive me even if I defended my joke and attacked their sensitivity. There are numerous times where I had to go back and apologize because in the moment I was not walking with the Holy Spirit and needed to seek forgiveness in order to restore the relationship.
I challenge you today to seek forgiveness from someone that you have offended. I also challenge you to forgive someone who did or said something to you that has hurt you. Then I challenge you to make a phone call or see someone to reconnect. This gives them the chance to also apologize for what they may have said. But overall, it allows us to shed what was holding us back relationally and put on a robe of righteousness in moving forward to honor God.
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When the Going Gets Tough
I once read a quote from Winston Churchill who said "If you're going through hell, keep going." Now, that does not mean keep everything the same and just sit there like a dead duck; it means don't give up. But, how can that be applied to our walk with the Christ? Would God ever want us to give up? What does God want from us anyway?
When times get tough God wants us to be patient. The problems do not always just go away over night. During these times we can stay prayerful in our personal time with God. We can pray for wisdom and the strength to endure (Romans 12:12). Know that God will hear you if you are righteous (Psalm 34:17). Maybe that is why things are tough for you. Have you been living a way that God does not want you to live? Have you been treating your body well? Are you surrounding yourself with Christ followers encouraging you to do what is right in the Lord? Have you submitted your will to Christ and accepted God's grace?
Let us also not grow weary (tired) in doing good. It may be easy to try to get revenge on someone who is doing you wrong, but that is not our responsibility. It is easy to be full of wrath when we go through these trials and tribulations, but that leads us away from doing what God wants us to do (Psalm 37:7-9). In our patience and perseverance we will reap if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Every week via text or phone conversation, my accountability partner and I remind one another to stay strong in the Lord. That means don't give up when things get difficult and keep pressing on to do what is right in God's eyes. I encourage you to do the same (Hebrews 3:13).
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Paul's Final Greetings and Warnings
Paul sends personal greeting in this last chapter in Romans. He tells the Roman church that there are numerous people coming and to greet them and details some of the people are that he is sending. It was customary to kiss people upon greeting them as part of the culture. In our culture we shake hands or hug. Sometimes we kiss on the cheek, but not always. When we do that, we can do that with holiness. Not just shake hands and not care about someone, but shake and care as God loved us. Hug with love as if it were from God (Romans 16:16).
Paul then warns the church, which is also applicable today. He warns us about those in the church who cause dissension and problems. People will cause division on the church and create obstacles for others. It can be hard to learn and learn properly for that matter if there are others who teaching the opposite of the doctrine that the church has taught. Paul knew that they did not serve the Lord, but they served themselves. Paul also tells us that the God of peace will crush Satan under His feet. So, while there are those who do wrong, God will win in the end (Romans 16:17-20).
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Christ is our Example
Christ is our example and we should not forget. We are told in Romans 15:1-3 that we are to please our neighbors for their own good and build them up. Build them up could mean encourage and guide/instruct/teach. Our neighbors who need help (weaker in faith) need to be helped by us that can in those ways. We must remember that when Christ came it was not to please himself but to help us by saving us from our sins by dying for us. With Christ's example we see sacrifice, selfless sacrifice. That is our example and not because of culture but because of our understanding of the scripture and our seeking to follow Christ and seek God's will.
In Romans 15:14, as the minister, Paul tells those within the ministry that he is satisfied with them, and then gives them loving affirmations that they are filled with goodness and reaffirms that they are knowledgeable to teach one another. But he also tells them that there are things he has said/written that are to serve as reminders. I love how he brings them up for their growth and points out what he likes but also says that he bring up points to teach and remind others of some vital points to remember.
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Passing Judgment
I love the saying of "small potatoes" as it has meant something is not a big deal. In Romans 14:1-11, we are looking at some "small potato" issues such as day of worship of the Lord and type of food you eat. The food one eats may be due to a dedication to the Lord and that should not be judged by one who eats differently. Both should be eating to honor the Lord which would mean not over or under eating for selfish or worldly reasons (like body image comparisons). Just like no one should judge another for the day they worship God. We are also to accept those at different levels of faith, especially the weaker. The weaker may have not been taught well, may be new in their faith or may be like the Pharisees with legalism. There is a different between weak and rebellious, let the holy spirit guide you.
W
e also need to check ourselves. We do not do it based on what makes sense to us, but we use scripture to gauge what we need to do. We are not to cause others to stumble by subjecting them to the things that they struggle with (Romans 14:13). If you like to have a drink but you you know your friend cannot control themselves with alcohol, then do not drink around them. do not do this out of love for them. This is an example of putting others before yourself. That also means that if there is a potential argument about eating steak and your friend thinks steak is unclean, then just have the steak later after the friend has gone.
Ultimately we all have to give an account to God as Romans 14:12 states. God knows what we have vowed to Him and what we have dedicated to Him for His honor. We must remember that was we encounter others who are also believers and have different dedications to the Lord. Their vows to God are not our business to judge.
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Authorities and Law of Love
We can often forget that just because we disagree with authority on numerous laws and bills and taxes, that doesn't mean that we can just do what we want, especially as Christ followers. Even Jesus paid taxes (Matthew 22:15-22) and wanted others to pay their taxes as well. Through Romans 13:1-7, we are not to be anarchists and oppose all law and submit to our own authority. God wants us to submit to the authority that is in place. We are to oppose authority if they require us to do something that is outside of God's law. We are to pay whatever is owed to someone whether it is taxes, revenue, respect or honor.
One law we should always abide by is the law of love. Paul writes us in Romans 13:8 "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." If you look at the commandments and you love God then you are loving to others which fulfill the other commandments. It isn't about rules and regulations. It is about love for God and love for people, whether you like them or not.
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