The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14:1-21 (day four)

Dear Heavenly Father,

It is that time of year again…cooler air, leaves are beginning to change, the harvest is ripe…and we turn our hearts to thanksgiving. It is a time for us to remember your blessings in our nation’s heritage. You have been generous in Your provision. Cause our hearts to be grateful throughout the year though…Your blessings are not confined to November only. Accept our thanks for the gift of life, thank you for family and for friends. Thank you for your Word that teaches us of you. Thank you for forgiveness and salvation.  Thank you for relationships that sharpen us for your service. Thank you for hope…thank you for peace…thank you for the joy of life. Thank you also for the trials that come our way.  Thank you for the difficult times that teach us to trust you.  Accept our gratitude for your limitless supply of grace. You know our hearts…search us and cleanse us for your glory. There is none beside you…we worship you!     In Jesus’ Name We Pray, Amen.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14:1-21 (day three)

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking.” Just what, then, is the kingdom of God a matter of? If it isn’t a distinct way of living, a particular method of conducting our affairs, a penchant for upending expectations, then why are we learning all this stuff? Paul refocuses our thinking. It is possible for us to get into the habit of calling our behavior “counter-cultural”, when it’s actually a version of “I thank thee that I am not like this tax collector.”   Paul instead grounds the kingdom in God’s sovereign intent for humanity: righteousness, peace, and joy. Don’t look for “better behavior”; look for righteousness. Don’t look for agreement among like-minded people; look for peace. Don’t look for satisfaction; look for joy. Where you find those three, you will find God’s kingdom.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14:1-21 (day two) For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. vs. 15 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. vs 21

In this great body of believers it is not out of the realm of possibility to assume that not everyone will think or act like you. It is also fair to assume that some will think or act counter to what you think wise. Different people have different priorities, this is not a surprise. But if the Body of Christ is to move forward collectively how shall we contend with these differences; especially when they can be so divisive?

Scholar Melanie Ross offers a suggestion in the introduction to her book Evangelical Versus Liturgical? She suggests that we extend the hermeneutic of charity to all those who are ultimately striving for Kingdom work. There are things which we will disagree upon, and some of them may be profound. As we enter this holiday season where we will sit across the table from family and enter into the taboo topics of religion and politics, season your speech with the idea that if we are at the heart seeking to bring others to Christ and we can agree on who he is and what he came to do. This will go a long way towards peace. Happy Thanksgiving.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14:1-21 (day one)

“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.”  v 4.

It is not my job to pass judgement on another believer.  (I can speak TRUTH to him.  Applied with love, God’s Word is a sharp sword and a healing balm.  See Ephesians 4:15.)  I am forbidden, however,  from being harshly critical of his choices or speculating about his relationship to God as indicated by them.  Too many factors are involved.  Things that I do not know.  I am not his master.  Good thing!

“Therefore, do not go on passing judgement before the time; wait until the Lord comes.  HE will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.  At that time each will receive their praise from God.”–1 Corinthians 4:5.

Are you critical of another believer?  Publicly?  Privately?  God wisely tells me.  Judging others is not my job.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14 (day seven) “Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake”–v 5.

Is government good?  In principle?  A necessary check on sinful tendencies in a fallen world?  Important question.  Our national anthem declares us, “the land of the free.” Do we still need laws and limits imposed and enforced on our individual choices?  Yes, says the Scripture.

In Romans 13, Paul declares authority to be part of God’s plan and submission to it a part of every believer’s responsibility.  We have dual motivation for doing so.  Those who break the law face consequences.  Those who believe the Bible submit for the sake of conscience.  Christians are good citizens from both fear and faith.

Are there times when we oppose government authorities?  Yes.  When government overreaches and contradicts the law of God, believers are called to disobey.

In ordinary circumstances, however, a believer remembers that government is good.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 13 (day five)

When you think about “the current times” what goes through your mind? Evil? Uncertainty? Terrorism? Divided Country? Persecution?

Paul had a completely different approach and theology of “the times”. He proposes in Romans 13 that “knowing the time” is a motivation for an attitude of love and acts of love. Throughout Romans 12 and 13, Paul gives a brilliant theology of “the times” worth noting. 13:11 “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

A look back to chapter 12 reminds us that we ought not be naive or unaware of the dangers, temptations, and darkness that are present in the current times. We are to avoid conformity. However, in chapter 13 he offers another perspective. In the current times there is also hope, opportunity, and certainty. “Awaken from Sleep”, “The day is near”, “Salvation is nearer”, .

How do you think about “The Times”? Is there a balance between realism and optimism? Is there concern and joy? Is there motivation to love and show God’s kindness and Glory to anyone/everyone?

Re:Verse reading–Romans 13 (day four)

Paul talks about the fear of authorities and the wrath that will result if we fail to subject ourselves to the rulers over us. An even greater motivator than fear of our authorities should be our consciences. (Verse 5) When we transgress a law, we are not only breaking that civil or criminal law, we are setting ourselves up in opposition to God. A clear conscience before God is more important than paying whatever penalty is due for our transgression. A clear conscience does not always assure that we are not guilty before God, but it is a good place to start. When we can see how our sinfulness breaks the heart of God and brings on us His judgment, it becomes important that we follow all of His commands and maintain a clear conscience before Him. In Psalm 139, the psalmist writes, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” It is a key to our living in a love relationship with God.

Re:Verse reading–Romans 13 (day three)

“Let everyone be subject…” Apparently there is no such thing as everlasting life without submission to others. Whether in biological submission–“honor thy father and thy mother”–or in spiritual submission–“the one in authority is God’s servant”–life that lasts places itself in the presence of others in order to obey or serve or listen or grow. Even the Godhead lives in eternal deference to each of the persons of the Trinity: “[The Son] can  only do what he sees his Father doing”; “[The Spirit] will speak only what he hears”; “This is my Son; listen to him.” Any life that is eternal will always lay itself down for others. There is no life outside of such a fellowship. Let us obey whom we must obey, and serve whom we must serve. Therein lies life.

 

Re:Verse reading–Romans 13 (day one) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. vs 8

If you have ever take any kind of Christian financial planning course you have probably encountered this scripture. It is the most beautiful debt, the debt of love. Not a kind of love that is saccharine, but one that is altruistic. We care deeply for the well-being of our fellow man. Jesus, above all, loved us enough to die for us. If we accept this gift of love, then our duty becomes burden to love others. Are you serving? Can you identify the needs around you? Are you willing to meet them? This, is the fulfillment of our purpose. Owe nothing except that which Christ has given to you.