The Devotional - R051

The Devotional

Comment:

What does it mean to refrain from extreme right or extreme left living? In today’s world we mostly look at the political arena as rightwing or leftwing thinking; we see this as modules that control the government and in this we have become comfortable in being one or the other. However in Proverbs 4:27 Solomon says that we should not turn to the right or to the left as these are road to evil. Solomon meant for his son to keep his heart obedient to the truth of God’s Word. Concerned for his son Rehoboam who will one day be king of Israel, whom most of Proverbs is directed. Before Solomon turned away from the LORD and before his son became king over Israel, Solomon understood the call of God to keep one’s heart with all diligence. Out of the heart spring the issues of life, the thought is that if you do not exercise your heart in “wisdom and right living” evil will prevail from it since the heart will have no strength or divine viewpoint. An undisciplined heart produces a deceitful mouth and eyes that are controlled by evil and a countenance that looks to the right or to the left for the issues of living. In this we see that where our eyes are pointed our feet will follow. Proverbs 4:18-27

Challenge: Romans 15:7-13

We often need to be reminded that the apostle Paul is not speaking to a crowd of unbelieving people. Remember back in chapter one of Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Yes his letter is still speaking to believers in Christ here in chapter 15, those whom God the Father calls saints. Basically this means that we have rejected the weak heart of right and left evils and have put on a divine view of righteous and holy living through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore we are receive one another, just as Christ also received us (or you) to the glory of God. Do we understand that receiving one another glorifies God?

The apostle Paul reveals the settling work (Justification, Sanctification and Glorification) of the LORD Jesus Christ that both the circumcised and the gentile is called by God. Jesus is the minister (High Priest) of this covenant of reconciliation in that the gentiles would have the same provision of grace to believe, Hebrews 7:20-28. The apostle says this was done to confirm the promises made to the fathers. I take this to mean to the believing Jew a confirmation that God the Father has revealed from the Old Testament writings of the prophets that the gentile’s invitation to the gospel of Jesus Christ is continuing or progressive truth that the promises of God are yea and amen.

Laced all through the promises of God to the Jew are messages that proclaim mercy for the gentile who believes, this is more than a merger of one religion into another. Do not ever think that God is a religion, no God does not call us to religion. He calls us to His Son, the Son of His love. It is the call to Righteousness and Holy living, as we have viewed for the last fifty studies into the Book of Romans. God is not willing that anyone should perish, His will is that ALL of mankind would be saved. The LORD God has not slacked off regarding His promises and mercies to mankind. He is longsuffering toward all peoples, therefore His call is a call of repentance. 

I leave you with this, this morning: For God so loves the world that He gave His only begotten Son (sacrifice), that whoever believes (changes their mind) in Him should not perish (lose their soul) but have everlasting life. John 3:16 and verse 36.

The Devotional - R050

The Devotional

Comment:

Some years ago I was going into the grocery store. In the parking lot were a young man and woman counting what money they had. They were very concerned about the cash in both their hands as if they did not have enough for whatever it was that they needed. They were distracted from everything and everyone around them, also it seemed the woman was close to tears. I had a five dollar bill in my hand for a prescription that I was to pick up, I got close to the couple and reached down to the ground and came up and handed the man the five and said; “here you must have dropped this as it seems you are looking for it. He grabbed the money without a word and the woman’s eyes revealed some relief. There was only a nod and they both took off for the store.

Challenge: Romans 15:1-6

Bearing the weaknesses of those who are weak is one of the most rewarding moment that the children of God can participate in. Seeking to help people in time is not really a search for those who are weakened, so it is not an active ministry, yet it is a ministry of meeting the moment. We must be ready! Ready to recognize and ready to act, so it is not a ministry to please our fleshly desire or to gain favor or fame.

So why then is there a need to be ready to reach out to someone who is weak? Sometimes in these moments we are able to read into the lives of those we about to help as God the Holy Spirit will revealed His will in the matter. To ignore this would be very wrong and I am sure we have all tasted the bitterness of ignorance on both sides of this. We please those who are weak, because the LORD God who is Our Father is asking us to build up (edify) those in need. That is to comfort and provide peace.

Putting on the LORD Jesus Christ and making no provision to sin is to be Christ like in any moment in time; helping the weak can cause shame, even persecution, yet the LORD Jesus willingly placed Himself in harm’s way and all of our reproach fell on Him. Not for one moment did Jesus ever do anything to please Himself, yet He willingly pleased His Father by being obedient, even to lay down His Life, so that the Father could reconcile all who would come to faith in Christ – 2 Peter :17.

Therefore the ministry of helping those who are weakened by life’s struggles need our help, but they do not need it for our good pleasure or profit. It is the comfort of the Holy Scriptures that has brought us to where we are as mature children of God therefore we have hope, enough hope to share with others in that they too will grow and be able to share with someone in need.

In all we are to be “one mind” in this we will altogether have the same testimony speaking in agreement and bringing glory to God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. Have a godly weekend!

The Devotional - R049

The Devotional

Comment:

There is not one line of communication that cannot be misinterpreted, simply someone can say to you or me; “How are you doing?” the guilty person will say, “What? What do you mean by that question?” Answering a question with a question is that the first question is either misunderstood or rejected by the other because something is amiss. Real communication is not easy, but there is an approved way of communication to talk with another brother or sister in Christ. I believe that chapter 14 of the epistle of Romans is instruction on the law of liberty and the law of love, which I feel is one, yet some do not, but in any case this is how God is able to bless His children with mature relationships. Those who are clothed in the Righteousness of Christ and who are actively rejecting the desires of the flesh, these are fulfilling the law of love and walking in the law of liberty – Romans 13:14. 

Challenge: Romans 14:14-23

In the first thirteen verses of Romans 14 we looked briefly at the law of liberty. When we were younger most of us liked those popular “moon pies” remember those chocolate Pattie-cakes with the marshmallow sandwiched between them. What was unique was that both of those patties were identical and because these were held together by the marshmallow they were inseparable. Even when a bite was taken, both sides of the moon pie remained in harmony with each other. This is the way I view the law of liberty and the law of love. Most of us want the liberty to the point of being selfish, we seek to separate the love patty from the marshmallow and usually end up with a sticky mess.

The last half of Romans 14 concerns the challenge of the child of God to live in harmony with another child of God by fulfilling the Will of God on earth as it is in heaven. Yesterday was a hint from me that the LORD’s instruction on how to pray was pointed in the direction of living before God in liberty and love.

“OUR FATHER (all of the children of God have the same Father) His residence is HEAVEN, His countenance is HOLY, His KINGDOM is coming, His WILL for you and me is laid out in SCRIPTURE on earth and His WILL is perfectly being carried out in HEAVEN this very day. Our FATHER meets our every NEED; our daily BREAD is provided and our SIN is FORGIVEN, even as we fulfill the law of LOVE by forgiving those who sin; Our FATHER protects us by delivering us from every TEMPTATION, if we allow Him to do so. Therefore in His KINGDOM our eternal STATE there is POWER AND GLORY FOREVER” – Matthew 6:9-15.

All is summed up with the apostles statement in Romans 14:17, “for the KINGDOM of God is NOT food and drink, BUT righteousness and peace and joy in the HOLY SPIRIT. Thus we ought to be spiritually willing at all times to pursue PEACE and those things which build each other up. The command: Do not destroy (purposely or ignorantly) the work of God by condemning what another person holds as righteous or holy.

You know as I do that if I consider something as holy and righteous before God, my conscious is clear to serve God in that way. Yet if I am offended by what I do I seek to make changes so that I do not continue to condemn myself, I am accountable to God, just as you. But this does not give me a holiness or a righteousness to condemn another for what I feel for me is unholy. Have a wonderful and godly day!