Romans 14 In this chapter Paul addresses another potentially explosive topic.. differences of conscience. He uses the example of those who believe that they can eat anything.. and those who think that it is wrong to eat certain things (meat) and eat only vegetables.  There was also a disagreement over holy days.. some still believed that certain days.. the Sabbath.. the Feast days.. should be kept according to the Law.. others felt that this no longer applied to them.  

Paul's teaching helps us know how to deal with these differences.. " accept the one.. " Accept the one who disagrees with your opinion.. because "God has accepted him."  Paul tells us to .. "let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.. "   The one who chooses to eat meat and gives thanks for it.. and the one who does not and gives thanks also... are equally living for the Lord. It is the Lord who judges and not us. We each give account to God for our choices. 

The biggest problem with this is that we need to be careful not to cause our brother or sister to stumble.. because we are free to "eat meat".. they choose to do so also, but in their minds it is still sinful.. so.. it is sin for them to do it.  We have unintentionally caused someone else to sin.  This is not loving or righteous and does not bring peace and joy to our fellowship. 

What we do need to do is serve Christ .. and each other.. pursuing peace and building up one another in faith. We need spiritual discernment in all things.. Come Holy Spirit and fill us now!

Father in heaven, help us to have understanding and discernment in all things.  We desire to serve You and seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness.. to love others and to humbly submit ourselves for the sake of Your Body.. that there be unity and encouragement and grace that flows through us and from us into a world that needs Your Light.  Whatever our differences might be.. help us to not judge but to build up each other in faith.  Strengthen my faith Lord Jesus.. that all I do will be pleasing in Your sight. Amen. 

 Romans 13  Being a follower of Jesus.. walking as He walked.. transformed by His Spirit.. we are called to be righteous and to do good.  Paul gives some practical teaching here... 

The first, and perhaps most shocking to his readers, is to "be in subjection to the governing authorities.."  We can't even begin to imagine this when we think of the evil of someone like Nero or Herod. Roman soldiers were not that much different than say.. the Nazi's during WWII.  They were cruel and evil, led by cruel and evil leaders. Yet, Paul tells us, these authorities were "established by God."  He allowed it.. for His own purposes.  He still allows it.. China, North Korea, Russia, etc... We don't understand, but we don't have to.. we just need to trust Him. 

Our part is to do good... to obey the law.. to be subject.  The rest is in God's Mighty hand.  We are to "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." 

The second thing that Paul teaches is that we are to "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."  The commandments, Paul says, are "summed up in this saying, ' You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "   Love..does not "commit adultery.. murder.. steal.. covet.. " or commit any other sin against others.  Just one thing to remember.. LOVE. 

"And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us then when we believed." ( v11)  We must put aside the actions and attitudes of the world and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ.."  For He is coming soon!

Father in heaven, we desire that Christ be in us and shine through us.. to love.. to obey.. and to serve.  Fill us once again.. that Your Spirit will flow from us.. Living Water for a thirsty world.  Thank You for the Word and for Your promises. Thank You that You have good plans for us.. for me.. that  no matter what..I am Yours and You will no let me go.  We give You praise and honor and devotion.. for You alone are worthy of all our worship. Be exalted O God.. above the heavens and in all the earth, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Romans 12 " I urge you therefore... "  Because of the kindness of God.. the grace that He has given to us.. His gracious choice to preserve a remnant of His people and to extend His grace to the Gentiles.. Because Jesus did what no one else could do.. because of the "mercies of God".. we need to "present [our] bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship." 

There is no Temple in Jerusalem any more.. there are no burnt offerings to be offered.. there are none needed because Jesus paid it all!  But, those of us who know the kindness of God.. the greatness of His salvation through Jesus Christ.. are called to present our whole selves to Him.. this, Paul says, is our "worship".  This is how we serve Him.. how we honor Him.. how we live and abide with Him. 

We must begin by being "transformed by the renewing of [our] minds.."  No longer conformed to the way that the world thinks and teaches.. we allow the Word of God to fill our thoughts and dictate our actions.  We allow His Spirit to "prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  He gives us discernment and shows us His ways.. He helps us examine our lives and choose that which is acceptable in His sight. 

He helps us to understand that all we have.. we have been given by His grace. 

He helps us to know that even our faith has been "alloted" to each of us according to His measure. 

He gives each of us gifts to serve others and urges us to use what He provides with diligence and humility.. and love. 

He will work in us.. as we allow Him to transform us.. and make us like Jesus.. so that our character is like His.. loving without hypocrisy; abhorring what is evil; clinging to what is good; being devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor.. 

His good and perfect will.. is for us to be "...fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality... blessing those who curse us; rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep..."

He wants us to trust Him in every circumstance.. not taking vengeance but allowing Him to judge as He desires.  He wants us to seek peace.. and to "overcome evil with good."

This is a life that has been presented to God as a "living sacrifice".  This is the "good" that He wants to work in our lives.  

May God have His way in me.

Father in heaven, I present myself.. by body, my soul, my mind.. all of me.. to You.. a living sacrifice..Have Your way in me.  May I live for You..  constantly abiding in my Savior, Jesus Christ.. may I be all that You have called me to be and do the things that You have shown me to do.  Renew  Your Spirit in me each and every day..that I might please You.. honor You.. and grow in love for You. Thank You for the grace that You have chosen to pour out on me.  I deserve nothing and You have given me everything.. How can I ever thank You enough?  May Your name  and Your praise be ever on my lips! Amen!

 Romans 11 Paul turns back again to his discussion about Jews and Gentiles.  The question was asked about whether or not the Jews were rejected now.. by God.. since the Gentiles were now being saved.  Paul's reaction is "May it never be!"   He goes on to explain that God has chosen to keep a remnant of Jewish believers.. "according to God's gracious choice."    When Elijah thought he was the only faithful Israelite left.. God told him that there were ".. seven thousand men who have not bowed to Baal.."  God did not change His ways in Paul's time and He hasn't changed His ways now.. 

God chooses to save people.. by His grace.

".. if it is by grace, it is not longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.. " (v6) And "Behold the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness.. "  (v22) This grace.. this kindness and mercy of God.. is offered as He chooses.  As hard as it is to understand.. God sometimes gives "a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not.. "  In the case of the Jews..who failed to believe.. the result was salvation coming to the Gentiles..  Hallelujah !

But, Paul reminds us, God is not finished yet.. He has a perfect plan.. for the Jews as well as for the Gentiles.. a fulfillment of His promises to Israel is coming.. reconciliation will happen.. deliverance will come.. God has not forgotten His covenants with Abraham or with David.. 

Paul clarifies this further with his illustration of the olive tree.. The Gentiles were "wild branches".. grafted into a "rich root" ( Jesus)!  The Jews who would not believe were natural branches that were cut off from the root.. but "God is able to graft them in again."  He is also able to cut off the wild branches that were grafted in.. if they fail to stay faithful in Christ.  What we need to remember is that it is the Root that holds us all together... by His kindness and grace. So, whether Jew or Gentile.. salvation is by God's gracious choice.. 

"Oh the depth of the riches  both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways!"  Paul writes.  God's ways are higher and His thoughts greater! We may not understand, but we can trust Him.  We can also pray.. for when we call on His name He hears our prayers.. He opens the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf.  All our hope is in Him.. in the heights and depths and greatness of His love towards mankind. 

Father, thank You for showing us such kindness and grace, that we have come to You and are made Your own.. grafted into the family of God through the Root.. Jesus Christ our Lord.  May the people of God, the nation of Israel, hear Your Word and repent and be saved.. to fulfill all Your purposes for them.  May the nations of the world bow before You and exalt Your Holy Name.  Open eyes and ears, Lord God, that they might hear the Word and come to faith.  Send forth workers into Your harvest fields that many more will be saved.  Open the eyes and ears of our own unsaved loved ones, Lord, we plead! For we  pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Romans 10  "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." Oh yes!  This is our heart's desire and prayer for those we love too! But.. . Paul is praying this for those who were pursuing righteousness on their own merit.. those who were stumbling over Jesus.. those who had their sights on getting rid of this troublesome Paul..  Those who had the Law, but missed the Lawgiver's purpose and plan.. those who had zeal but no knowledge of God Himself. Those he loved but who wanted him gone.. 

"For Christ is the end (the goal) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."  This is the Good News that we have been  given. By faith we receive this gospel and are saved.. ".. 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." (v8-10) 

Gentiles have the same opportunity as the Jews, Paul teaches...the Lord is Lord of all and "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."  But... 

"How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"

"So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."  The Word has gone out across the world and some have received it with joy.. but others are "obstinate people" and refuse to listen.  And so.. we continue to pray.. 

Father in heaven,  I know some of those obstinate people.. they have heard the truth but have hardened their hearts and refused the grace so wonderfully offered.  Again we pray.. open their ears to hear and their hearts to receive the Truth.. that they might call upon the Lord and be saved.  This is our earnest prayer and our hearts desire, Gracious Lord.  Grant mercy to our loved ones.. the ones in our hearts right now.. that they might repent and call upon Jesus. We ask this in His name. Amen. 

 Romans 9  Paul had a great love for his people, the Jews.. to the point of sorrow at their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.  He wanted more than anything that the people of God.. who had received so much from God.. the covenants, the Law, the promises... would also receive the Son of God, born from the root of David "according to the flesh". 

But, there is a truth that has been revealed that we all need to take note of.. God said, " I will have mercy on whom I have mercy; and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  

God makes choices..  He chose Isaac and not Ishmael.  He chose Jacob and not Esau. He chose Pharaoh.. and hardened his heart so that He could "demonstrate [His] power.." (v17)  

And like Paul's readers, we want to question God about how He makes His choices.. but Paul reminds us that God's ways are far greater than what we can understand.. He is the Potter and we are the clay... He can make us however He chooses.  What we can do, is be thankful!  For.. "He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon the vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us.. " 

God called Jews and Gentiles both to come to Him.. He took people who were far from Him and drew them near.. He took "her who was not beloved".. and called her "Beloved"!  He chooses to save those who pursue Him by faith.. and not by their own works.  He chooses to keep a remnant for Himself.  He chooses to reveal Himself according to His own will.. and it is all of grace. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful to be able to come before You.. knowing that it is only because You have chosen to show us mercy and lovingkindness.  By grace You have revealed Your Word to us, You have sent Your Son for us, and You have opened our eyes and ears that we might come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We pray for those who are still walking in the darkness of sin and plead with You to have mercy on them also... open their eyes and change their hearts.. for nothing is impossible for You.  Let the Word of Christ go out across the land that more will hear and believe.  We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Romans 8:28-39  "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

Paul has led us through a deeper understanding of what Christ has done for us.. coming to do what the Law could not accomplish.. becoming the propitiation for all sin.. reconciling us with the Father.. bringing us freedom as we die to sin and are raised up to everlasting life... now, he returns to his message of what lies ahead.. "For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (5:10)

This is the "much more".. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." ( 8:29)  His plan is to take "all things" and use them to bring about a holy, miraculous, wonderful transformation in us.  

He has known us all along. He put this plan into action before we were even born.. and He is calling us to it.  He has justified us and He will "glorify" us!  Think on that!  It is truly amazing!

"What then shall we say to these things?"  God is for us.. He did not spare His own Son, "but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"  We are His chosen ones. We are the ones that Jesus died for.  We are the ones for whom He intercedes at the right hand of God.  There is absolutely nothing that can stop God from accomplishing His purposes for us!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress,

or persecution, or famine,

or nakedness. or peril or sword?" (v35)

NO!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, 

nor things to come, 

nor powers,

nor height, nor depth,

nor any created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v38-39)

Father in heaven,  You are good and Your lovingkindness is without end.  Your plans are perfect and Your purposes will be accomplished. Hallelujah!  Thank You for these truths that we can cling to when things seem too hard or we feel overwhelmed.  Remind us continually that You have given us everything so that we can "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."  Though we walk through the shadows.. we do not fear the evil for Your rod and Your staff comfort us.. Your mercy and kindness follow us... we are not alone.  Your love will not let us go..  Come and make Your Presence known as we call upon Your Name today. Thank You! All praise and honor and glory to the Name of our God and Father and to the Son!  Amen!