Romans 14   Here, Paul gives us some really sound principles to consider and live by:

Accept other believers, even if you don't agree with their convictions.  If God has accepted him or her, then you can too.  ( verses 1-3)

Each of us is individually and personally accountable to God alone.  ( v4-12)
 -   We each have to be sincerely convinced in our own minds of what God desires us to do or not do.
 -   We each are dependent upon God to make us stand.
 -   We each are to give thanks to God for whatever He gives us.
 -   We each live for the Lord and will die for the Lord.


We are called to walk "according to love".   That means we must be careful to:
Not be a stumbling block to others. ( v13, 20-21)
Pursue " the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." (v19)
Not condemn ourselves by doing things that we think might be wrong - " but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean" ( v14)  "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." ( v23)

"... the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men."  ( v17-18)


Father in heaven ,  You are our King and we bow before You.  We want to live in the ways that are acceptable to You,  to live a life worthy of You, pleasing You and giving You glory.  Lead us every day in righteousness, peace and joy, in Your Holy Spirit.  Give us wisdom and grace to walk in love, not judging others for their personal convictions, but being careful to examine our own convictions, living  and walking by faith.  Make us sensitive to Your Spirit's voice and our own consciences, that we do not allow sin to take hold of us.  Continue to renew our minds and transform our lives according to the image of Christ, our blessed Lord.  We ask this in His name.  Amen.

Romans 13  Paul continues to exhort his readers to live totally surrendered to God.  That includes our physical bodies, our minds, our actions, and our relationships.  That also includes our earthly citizenship.  We are to be "in subjection to"  the government, for God has established every authority.

Our first reaction to this might be "OH NO!".  When we think of the flaws and corruption and horrible acts of some governments, we just can't fathom how we can do this.  But, Paul was writing to Roman citizens.... and Rome was not a wonderful place for Christians to be at that time!  How could they put themselves under subjection to Nero?  But, that is exactly what Paul did.  And even more, that is exactly what Jesus did...

Paul says that there are 2 reasons to be subject to the authorities.  First, because of the wrath that will be used to punish those who do evil. And, more importantly, because of our consciences.  Morally we are called to be perfect, without sin, serving God in every area of our lives.  So, when we are obedient, even to an imperfect government, we are doing what is good - what is God's will.  Paying taxes, obeying laws, doing what is right - these are the things that God wants for us, for it reveals His Love in us and through us. 

Paul summarizes these thoughts with a look towards eternity - " The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand.  Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day.... and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh in regard for its lusts."  ( v12-14)

Because the time is coming, when this earth and all of its governments will be gone; because we love the Lord and want to serve Him completely; we present ourselves to God and we subject ourselves to the authorities that He has allowed.  It is ultimately obeying Him when we are law-abiding citizens.

That is also why it is so important to pray for " kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. " ( I Timothy 2:2)

Father in heaven, we thank You and praise You, for You alone are the Sovereign God and You have set Jesus Christ our Lord to have all authority in heaven and on earth.  We bow before You and give ourselves to You.  We are Your servants and will obey You first of all.  We also desire to obey the authority of government, even when we disagree.  Thank You for democracy.  We are blessed to be able to have a part in determining the makeup of our government to some degree.  Help us to be faithful and wise in our voting and participation in that sacred responsibility.  We pray for the leaders of our country and ask that You would bless them with godly wisdom and that You would bring each to know You and to fear You.  May they bow before You and tremble with humble hearts.  May they repent from sin and evil.  We pray this in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Romans 12 - continued....

Thoughts from the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

To present our bodies - means to give the "totality of one's life and activities" to God as a sacrifice or offering.   This offering is holy or set apart to God, which is pleasing to Him.  It is spiritual worship because it is "ministry performed for God".  " A believer's offering of his total life as a sacrifice to God is therefore sacred service."

This offering " represents a complete change in lifestyle".  We turn from conformity to this world, the pattern of this age... "this present evil age", which is firmly put aside.  We must be transformed, a continual transformation, a metamorphosis from the inside out.  "The key to this change is the mind, the control center of one's attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions".  This happens as we keep our mind on "being made new by the spiritual input of God's Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship".  

It is only when we have done this - given our whole selves to God, turned from the evil age, and focused our minds on our Lord, through His Word, prayer, and fellowship - that we can ascertain or discern what God's will is. God's will " is what is good - good, i.e., for each believer".

"As a Christian is transformed in his mind and is made more like Christ, he comes to approve and desire God's will, not his own will for his life. The he discovers that God's will is what is good for him, and that it pleases God and is complete in every way. It is all he needs."

Father in heaven, You are wonderful in all Your ways, kind in all Your deeds, righteous in every aspect.  We give You praise and glory!  You are worthy of all our worship.  We ask that Your mercies flow over us and in us, sanctifying us through and through, conforming us to the likeness of Your Precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Here we are Lord, presenting to You our bodies, minds, and lives.  Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord to Thee.  Amen

Romans 12  This chapter is so full of challenging, yet practical, guidance into living for the Lord, Who has loved us, saved us, justified us, and Who wants to sanctify us through and through.  It begins with His mercies which are so "unfathomable" and "unsearchable" and the riches of His wisdom and knowledge.  In light of Who He is and what He has done for us, we....

Present our bodies to Him as sacrifices in worship.
We present our minds to Him, to be transformed and renewed.
We present our judgements to Him, recognizing His grace towards us.
We present our members to Him, for service according to His Grace.
We present our relationships to Him, to love without hypocrisy, to honor with diligence, to give to those in need, to bless even those who curse us.
We present our emotions to Him,  rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.
We present our positions to Him,  not considering ourselves wiser or better or more righteous than others.
We present our trials to Him,  allowing Him to take the vengeance where needed, and to overcome the evil when present.

Father,  our only hope is in Christ Jesus, the perfect Son of God.  So we bow before You, clinging to Him, and offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Amen.

Romans 11  Paul, writing to Gentiles, explains what has happened to Israel.  God had not rejected the Jews altogether.  He has kept for Himself a "remnant according to God's gracious choice." (v5)
God has chosen some to obtain salvation through His grace, but others have been "hardened". (v7)

Paul argues that one reason for this is so that the Gentiles could come to salvation, making the Jews jealous.  If their failure/transgression is able to bring salvation to the world, then, Paul says, what will their "fulfillment" be?  If their rejection ( of Christ) allows the world to be reconciled to God, then what will their acceptance of Him bring? Paul says it will bring "life from the dead"! ( v15)

God is not through with Israel, Paul teaches.  They are the natural branches of the olive tree.
Those who have not believed in Christ are like branches that have been broken off.  The Gentile believers are like branches from a wild olive tree that have been grafted into the holy tree whose root is Christ. Two truths that we need to take note of here:
1.  The Lord is able to graft the broken branches back in again!
2.  The Lord will cut off even the grafted branches if they do not "continue in His kindness."

The mysterious and wonderful ways of God are beyond our understanding. He has allowed His people to reject His Son.. so that He could show mercy to all people.  He allowed disobedience for all so that He could reveal His mercy to all.  Paul writes, " Oh , the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways." ( v33)

We cannot know God's mind.  We cannot see the greatness of His full purposes and will.  But, we can give Him glory and honor because, " from Him and through Him and to Him are all things." ( v36)

Father, we do give You glory and honor and praise.  For You are the source of all life.  You are the creator and sustainer of all the world, by Your choice and express purposes.  We are thankful for Your righteousness and mercy.  We thank You that all people have hope through Christ Jesus.  We thank You for calling us by name, for choosing us to be grafted onto the holy Vine.  We bow before You and humble ourselves, knowing that we did not earn this, but that it is Your gift by grace and we have it only by faith in our Precious Savior.  Teach us anew the wonder of Your salvation and the greatness of Your love.  May we never forget or take this for granted.  Amen.

Romans 10  "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is their salvation."  ( v1)

My prayer, also,  for unbelieving family members, for friends and acquaintances, for the lost in our nation and for the lost around the world.... salvation.  I pray that they will know that the only righteousness that counts is that righteousness that is through Jesus Christ.  It is only received through faith in Him.

The Word is right here: " ... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." ( v9-10)

Our Lord is Lord of all!
All who call upon His Name will be saved.
" So faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of Christ." (v17)

Paul's missionary heart is poured out in verses 13-17
How can they call on Jesus unless they believe?
How can they believe unless they have heard?
How can they hear unless someone preaches the good news?
How can they preach unless they are sent?

And even then, not all with believe the good news....

But God stretches out His hands, even now, even to the most obstinate and disobedient people... that they would turn and come back to Him.  So, we keep on praying...

Father,  I pray for my loved ones who are indeed obstinate and disobedient to the Word.  I pray that You will manifest Yourself to those who did not ask for You... be found by those who do not seek You.  Have mercy on them, for my sake, for my heart breaks that they are without hope and without Christ.  Send workers into Your harvest field, Lord of the harvest.  Send those who will break up the rocky soil, the hard hearts and stubborn minds;  send those who will plant the seed of the Word of God; send those who will water and tend the tender seedlings; and send those who will reap the fruit of Your harvest.  I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  amen.

Romans 9  Paul has great sorrow and grief because of the unbelief of the Jews.  They had the Law, the covenant, they had the glory, the temple, and the promises of God.  They had the Messiah Himself, but they would not believe.

Paul's point here is that salvation does not come because of what you do or who you are.... It depends only on God.  " So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." (v16)

Abraham had two sons - the son of the flesh and the son of the promise, Isaac.  God chose Isaac.
Isaac had two sons - Jacob and Esau.  God chose Jacob.

God chooses to "have mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." (v18)
God chose to call Gentiles to faith and make them His people too.
God chose to make faith the way to salvation and righteousness.
God chose to make Jesus Christ the only way, the only Name by which we can be saved.

Father in heaven, we hallow and honor Your Name.  You alone are Sovereign and Mighty, God of heaven and earth.  You alone choose to have mercy on us, to call us to faith in Jesus Christ, to believe that He is Lord.  That He died on the cross and was buried and rose again, that we might be saved.
Thank You for the great riches of Your mercy and grace.  Be exalted, lifted us, and glorified today and forever. amen.