17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b]
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Its is so easy to read this section and think 'He's not talking to me'. After all I'm not Jewish. I'm not circumcized (I'm a girl so it doesn't really matter). Still there are a couple of ways of looking at the above. First you could replace Jew with 'Grew up in the church'. I know the law. I do boast in God. And sometimes I feel/act very superior because of my knowledge of the bible and theology. But I so easily commit adultery against God. I so often break the law, that I claim to know so well. And as a lawbreaker I have very little weight. In fact if it wasn't for the New law which Jesus brings to life with his death, I would be waiting for a death sentence.
Second you could of Jew it could be 'Catholic' or 'Presperterian' or 'Whatever denomination'. Too often we think of our theology or our denomination, as the best. We have it RIGHT. Everyone likes to think that they are on the winning team, but we forget that Jesus' is the team that's winning. Not the Catholic's or Protestants. Every Sunday my church stands up and recites the Apostle's Creed. As part of this we state 'I believe in the Catholic Church' meaning: The whole body of Christ. We have to stop seperating ourselves from the rest of Christ's Body.Together we are the circumcized of heart and spirit.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
What should we do as Followers of Christ
We have no excuse for judging others...because when we judge we are no better then those we judge. WOW! SO TRUE! This hits close to home for me, I often find myself judging others for what they say or do and in all reality I have said or done something similiar and I am not perfect by any means.
Kinda going along with this, as humans we can't be rightous before God if we are just going through the "Christian" motions; reading the word, speaking the gospel, or going to church (though these are important). God needs us to be his hands, feet and body. We need to practice what we preach; go out and love people, bring Gods light and joy into the world, serve others and not be selfish.
This passage makes me think of the WWJD braclets...WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? If we say we are his followers shouldn't we make our goal be to do what he did? Jesus LOVED people, he CARED about people, he lived the word, he spent time with people others judged as not worthy. Writing this makes me hope and pray that anyone who calls themselves a Christian will not just share the words of the gospel or just go to church but will share their life as a testament to the word by doing what Jesus did.
Kinda going along with this, as humans we can't be rightous before God if we are just going through the "Christian" motions; reading the word, speaking the gospel, or going to church (though these are important). God needs us to be his hands, feet and body. We need to practice what we preach; go out and love people, bring Gods light and joy into the world, serve others and not be selfish.
This passage makes me think of the WWJD braclets...WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? If we say we are his followers shouldn't we make our goal be to do what he did? Jesus LOVED people, he CARED about people, he lived the word, he spent time with people others judged as not worthy. Writing this makes me hope and pray that anyone who calls themselves a Christian will not just share the words of the gospel or just go to church but will share their life as a testament to the word by doing what Jesus did.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
this first part of Romans 2, I think can be split into two different parts. verses 1-11 are about judgement and then 12-16 are about Gods law.
verses 1-11 talk about judgement and how we should not judge people, because if we judge people we do the same things.
2:1-3 "1 you, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same thing 2 Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth 3 So when you a mere man pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you thing you will escape God's judgement.
If you take a minute to think about this you will probably be able to think of time when you judged someone for what ever reason. Then think that thing that you are judging them about, have you done that something before. The answer is most likely YES!
the next part few verses (12-16) talks about God's law, these four verses talk about the law and what happens if someone dose not know the law and if someone has heard the law. You could change the word law to the word. so if you have heard the law or the word of God then you will be judged by the law. But if you have not heard the law or it has not gotten to you just yet because you live in never never land, you will be judged by your laws and what is right
2:12 " All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart fromthe law, ands all who sin under the law will be judged by the law"
Now we know the law so we know what we will be judged be the law. (NO we do not live in never never land)
verses 1-11 talk about judgement and how we should not judge people, because if we judge people we do the same things.
2:1-3 "1 you, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same thing 2 Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth 3 So when you a mere man pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you thing you will escape God's judgement.
If you take a minute to think about this you will probably be able to think of time when you judged someone for what ever reason. Then think that thing that you are judging them about, have you done that something before. The answer is most likely YES!
the next part few verses (12-16) talks about God's law, these four verses talk about the law and what happens if someone dose not know the law and if someone has heard the law. You could change the word law to the word. so if you have heard the law or the word of God then you will be judged by the law. But if you have not heard the law or it has not gotten to you just yet because you live in never never land, you will be judged by your laws and what is right
2:12 " All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart fromthe law, ands all who sin under the law will be judged by the law"
Now we know the law so we know what we will be judged be the law. (NO we do not live in never never land)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Romans 2:1-16 (rena)
Romans 2:1-16 Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. 2:3 And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment? 2:4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! 2:6 He will reward each one according to his works: 2:7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 2:8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 2:9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 2:10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 2:12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 2:14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 2:16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
Therefore. I love this word in Paul's writing. It means we have to take what he wrote before and apply it to what will follow. Mainly because we fail at seeking God first in all things, we must not pass judgement on others who do the same as us.
This reminds me of Matthew 7:3 When Jesus tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before we worry about the speck in our brother's eye. However, Paul puts it in even stronger language. 2:5b "you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath." Basically you are securing your punishment and possible rejection from God.
I must admit I too often put my own thoughts, hopes, dreams, wishes, and fears ahead of God. And since I put all of that stuff, which isn't necessarily 'bad', above God, I treat myself more important. Basically I make myself the most important thing in the universe. When that happens it is far too easy to selfishly obey my own truth and wishes. To treat others as lesser then myself. When I'm the center of the universe, I will always come first. But just as at one time scientists believed that the earth was in the center of the solar system and later had to change it to being the sun. So I must remove myself from being the center. I must put God in his proper place. When God is at the center, what I do is not for my good. Rather I do all things to mirror God's love and forgiveness. I am put on equal ground with the other sinful beings on the terrestrial globe.
I pray that I would be constantly reminded to put God in the center of my life. That out of having Him in the right place, I might be loving and forgiving to those around me. That I might share God's mercy and grace.
Therefore. I love this word in Paul's writing. It means we have to take what he wrote before and apply it to what will follow. Mainly because we fail at seeking God first in all things, we must not pass judgement on others who do the same as us.
This reminds me of Matthew 7:3 When Jesus tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before we worry about the speck in our brother's eye. However, Paul puts it in even stronger language. 2:5b "you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath." Basically you are securing your punishment and possible rejection from God.
I must admit I too often put my own thoughts, hopes, dreams, wishes, and fears ahead of God. And since I put all of that stuff, which isn't necessarily 'bad', above God, I treat myself more important. Basically I make myself the most important thing in the universe. When that happens it is far too easy to selfishly obey my own truth and wishes. To treat others as lesser then myself. When I'm the center of the universe, I will always come first. But just as at one time scientists believed that the earth was in the center of the solar system and later had to change it to being the sun. So I must remove myself from being the center. I must put God in his proper place. When God is at the center, what I do is not for my good. Rather I do all things to mirror God's love and forgiveness. I am put on equal ground with the other sinful beings on the terrestrial globe.
I pray that I would be constantly reminded to put God in the center of my life. That out of having Him in the right place, I might be loving and forgiving to those around me. That I might share God's mercy and grace.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Romans 1:22-23
So I know that I have not written in a long time so here is my Romans 1:18-32
Romans 1:22-23 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23. And exchanged the glory of immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
This hits me kind of hard, when you think about it everything that we look at, that we don't look through the eyes of God is and could be seen as sinful. To prove this just watch TV for a few minuets. It's a fact that sex sells, if you want to sell something put a hot women in your add and just like that you have sales. Now as Christians if we look at that and think, "she looks nice " or "I wish I looked like that" then we have pretty much said that that picture is more to us then he almighty God. Now don't worry just because of this it does not mean that we can't look at anything. If we look at the same picture of a good looking women and say: "wow she has the God given gift of Beauty," so that when you look at people you think of what God made them for. I know that God made everyone for a reason even the people that don't know or love him. Take the person that is in your life that you know, but they not your frenids and they are BAD people. Maybe they have had sex outside of marriage, or they do drugs. Are we to look at them and say that there is not a reason for their life? NO. There reason for this life might not be to glorify God, but maybe it is to have you love them, since God tells us to love everyone.
This part about not seeking other things shows up a lot in the Bible. In Psalms 4:2 " How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?" When we seek something that is not of God we are seeking false gods or you could call it addictions. To me an addiction is not just drugs or something like that, but something that takes time away from God, or that something that takes up a lot of our life like FB games. FB games have become the addictions. Now I know that I am not perfect by a long shot, but I am going to try not to spend more time with other things then With God
Romans 1:22-23 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23. And exchanged the glory of immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
This hits me kind of hard, when you think about it everything that we look at, that we don't look through the eyes of God is and could be seen as sinful. To prove this just watch TV for a few minuets. It's a fact that sex sells, if you want to sell something put a hot women in your add and just like that you have sales. Now as Christians if we look at that and think, "she looks nice " or "I wish I looked like that" then we have pretty much said that that picture is more to us then he almighty God. Now don't worry just because of this it does not mean that we can't look at anything. If we look at the same picture of a good looking women and say: "wow she has the God given gift of Beauty," so that when you look at people you think of what God made them for. I know that God made everyone for a reason even the people that don't know or love him. Take the person that is in your life that you know, but they not your frenids and they are BAD people. Maybe they have had sex outside of marriage, or they do drugs. Are we to look at them and say that there is not a reason for their life? NO. There reason for this life might not be to glorify God, but maybe it is to have you love them, since God tells us to love everyone.
This part about not seeking other things shows up a lot in the Bible. In Psalms 4:2 " How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?" When we seek something that is not of God we are seeking false gods or you could call it addictions. To me an addiction is not just drugs or something like that, but something that takes time away from God, or that something that takes up a lot of our life like FB games. FB games have become the addictions. Now I know that I am not perfect by a long shot, but I am going to try not to spend more time with other things then With God
Friday, February 22, 2013
Romans 1:18-32
WOW though Rena said it...these verse describe our current culture to a tee. How sad is it that throughout history, societies have fallen because we as humans want to be in control rather than given God control and allowing him to help us through life. Why can't we learn? God is very patient with us! Especially seeing as I can think of many times throughout history that cultures fell to sin and destruction because they didn't heed God's commands, nor did they acknowledge his love, or him at all.
Lets see similarities... between Babel, Rome, USA uh, scary thought. Babel fell into disarray and confusion and people could no longer understand each other. Rome went from the height of power, prestige, and a huge empire to crazy rulers, and losing everything. USA is going down this path now, we need God more then ever, yet we as a nation keep turning away from him and pushing him out of our lives. Why is it that we think that it is easier to do as we please and then realize the consequences of our actions, words , thoughts rather then listening first and following God's plan and live like he would have us live. You would think that since we have the freedom to choose we would pick God's way and stop fighting him and fight the real battle against sin.
God please help us to turn back to you! Father, help this nation and your world to realize how much we need you and how we can't choose the right path with out you leading us. We are sinners by nature but Father please help us return to you and be as children who hang on those they love. Please rebuild our families , rebuild our schools and teachers, rebuild our relationships with one another, and rebuild our governments with you at the center. The only way in which we can escape what has happened to other societies throughout history is to have your forgiveness and grace and move forward with you is command.
Lets see similarities... between Babel, Rome, USA uh, scary thought. Babel fell into disarray and confusion and people could no longer understand each other. Rome went from the height of power, prestige, and a huge empire to crazy rulers, and losing everything. USA is going down this path now, we need God more then ever, yet we as a nation keep turning away from him and pushing him out of our lives. Why is it that we think that it is easier to do as we please and then realize the consequences of our actions, words , thoughts rather then listening first and following God's plan and live like he would have us live. You would think that since we have the freedom to choose we would pick God's way and stop fighting him and fight the real battle against sin.
God please help us to turn back to you! Father, help this nation and your world to realize how much we need you and how we can't choose the right path with out you leading us. We are sinners by nature but Father please help us return to you and be as children who hang on those they love. Please rebuild our families , rebuild our schools and teachers, rebuild our relationships with one another, and rebuild our governments with you at the center. The only way in which we can escape what has happened to other societies throughout history is to have your forgiveness and grace and move forward with you is command.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Romans 1:18-32
Romans 1:18-32 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The depravity of human beings to not only destroy themselves, but to destroy each other is all together to evident in our society and the world. We remove God from schools and then blame him for the horrid violence that has recently plagued schools. We remove God from our societies and wonder where he is when things go terribly wrong. It is so easy for use to give into all that our flesh desires.
We have exchanged God for the newest iphone, the coolest car, the TV, and Hollywood. Reality stars, actors, politicians, and sports athletes become our heros and our gods. The world in its great wisdom has found easier and quicker ways to issue the planet into oblivion. Christians, are cast as stupid, silly, and weak. Christ becomes a ploy used by sports stars to be seen as humble and politicians to justify their opinions. God leaves the world to stumble over itself. Lets it become a mess. Why?
Firstly because we choose wrong. Rather then standing by the truth God had given us, we fell, we eat the apple. And this act is repeated through out the ages of humanity by each and every one of us. We choose ourselves at some point over God. Christ is the only one who lived a blameless life, the only one who turned away from the apple and choose God's truth.
Second God leaves us because he created us with the ability to choose. We have freedom to follow his ways or our own. Its only when we give up our own freedom and choose to put ourselves under God, that he really steps into our lives and starts changing things.
Even those of us that choose God, who search after his truth, find ourselves constantly pulled towards sin. Its far too easy to do what we want and rely on our own power. It is a fight. A war with many battles, some of which we will probably loose. But praise God, we have him on our side and even more importantly he is there to pick us up when we do fall down. No man made god, no hero (no matter how great) can do that.
The depravity of human beings to not only destroy themselves, but to destroy each other is all together to evident in our society and the world. We remove God from schools and then blame him for the horrid violence that has recently plagued schools. We remove God from our societies and wonder where he is when things go terribly wrong. It is so easy for use to give into all that our flesh desires.
We have exchanged God for the newest iphone, the coolest car, the TV, and Hollywood. Reality stars, actors, politicians, and sports athletes become our heros and our gods. The world in its great wisdom has found easier and quicker ways to issue the planet into oblivion. Christians, are cast as stupid, silly, and weak. Christ becomes a ploy used by sports stars to be seen as humble and politicians to justify their opinions. God leaves the world to stumble over itself. Lets it become a mess. Why?
Firstly because we choose wrong. Rather then standing by the truth God had given us, we fell, we eat the apple. And this act is repeated through out the ages of humanity by each and every one of us. We choose ourselves at some point over God. Christ is the only one who lived a blameless life, the only one who turned away from the apple and choose God's truth.
Second God leaves us because he created us with the ability to choose. We have freedom to follow his ways or our own. Its only when we give up our own freedom and choose to put ourselves under God, that he really steps into our lives and starts changing things.
Even those of us that choose God, who search after his truth, find ourselves constantly pulled towards sin. Its far too easy to do what we want and rely on our own power. It is a fight. A war with many battles, some of which we will probably loose. But praise God, we have him on our side and even more importantly he is there to pick us up when we do fall down. No man made god, no hero (no matter how great) can do that.
Romans 1:12&16
So I am going to look at two verses 12 and 16
12 that is, you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
This verse strikes me. I just spent a good long night wih my best friend Levi. Most of the night we talked about the things that we both have been struggling with. We talked till two in the morning poring out each others hearts to each other. After we woke up this morning I realized how much I need a good friend that has strong belief. Then I read this verse Romans 1:12 " that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith". After I had read this it really hit me we can't go thru this world with out someone to help. If we try to fight the battle that is given to us, whatever it is; lust, wanting of what ever, we can't fight it alone. That why we need The Lord to help us fight. Along with The Lord it is a great help to have a friend that is going thru the same stuff as you, that way you both can keep each other on track. I just want to close in prayer about this:
Thanks you Lord for this day, thank you also for my frenid Levi, he has helped me a lot with finding out what I need to do. Lord I pray that I can be come the strong place in someone's life, and also help me to be come the friend that I want to be. Amen.
The second verse is 16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
This is kind of a cool verse we can tell people about he good news of God, but we should not beat our selfs if they do not except it just keep trying. So if we do that the next time that you get that push to go and talk to some one different, just do it, and leave the rest up to God to do the rest. Also don't think of what others will thing. Because it does not matter what they think but what God thinks.
12 that is, you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
This verse strikes me. I just spent a good long night wih my best friend Levi. Most of the night we talked about the things that we both have been struggling with. We talked till two in the morning poring out each others hearts to each other. After we woke up this morning I realized how much I need a good friend that has strong belief. Then I read this verse Romans 1:12 " that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith". After I had read this it really hit me we can't go thru this world with out someone to help. If we try to fight the battle that is given to us, whatever it is; lust, wanting of what ever, we can't fight it alone. That why we need The Lord to help us fight. Along with The Lord it is a great help to have a friend that is going thru the same stuff as you, that way you both can keep each other on track. I just want to close in prayer about this:
Thanks you Lord for this day, thank you also for my frenid Levi, he has helped me a lot with finding out what I need to do. Lord I pray that I can be come the strong place in someone's life, and also help me to be come the friend that I want to be. Amen.
The second verse is 16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
This is kind of a cool verse we can tell people about he good news of God, but we should not beat our selfs if they do not except it just keep trying. So if we do that the next time that you get that push to go and talk to some one different, just do it, and leave the rest up to God to do the rest. Also don't think of what others will thing. Because it does not matter what they think but what God thinks.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Romans 1:8-17 Reminds me of Camp...
Romans 1:8-17 Reminds me of how I feel about camp. I love the people and the atmosphere at camp and long to see them. I pray for my sisters and brothers and camp family on a regular basis even though I am no longer working there and many of us dont see each other very often. Camp was one of the first places I felt that I could be an encouragement to others and also encourage kids through what God did threw me. However, like Rena, I think that most of this feeling of longing to see people is mostly selfish. I want to feel as if I am needed and as if I am doing something with a purpose, I also selfishly love the being with people who are like minded and who want to love kids.
Rena I will be praying for you. I also feel that I need to grow in prayer and faith so I ask that you also pray for me. Thanks for being a support and a loving sister!
Rena I will be praying for you. I also feel that I need to grow in prayer and faith so I ask that you also pray for me. Thanks for being a support and a loving sister!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Romans 1:8-17 (Rena)
Romans 1:8-17
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift..." I've never really prayed for this. I understand the longing that Paul describes. The deep heartfelt longing to see someone. Even in now with facebook, blogs, cell phones, and skype, there is nothing that compairs to physically seeing someone face to face. There is a realness to it that can not be duplicated, even with all our technology.
Still when I do venture homeward to see family or even just travel to see friends. I never pray that I would be able to do this so I can impart a spiritual gift, that we can encourage each other in faith. I'm more interested in just seeing people, in getting from them some satisfaction that I'm indeed loved. Or I feel some obligation to go and be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But to truely pray that I might do something, not for my sake, but for the growth of another. That we might together, despite our fallen human nature, grow closer to God, is never really been a part of my prayer.
I am continually struck by my need to grow deeper in prayer. Deeper in my faith. I hope that you will pray that I might be open to God's teaching in my life, that I would come more often in prayer before Him. And pray that although we are seperated by distance, that when we do see each other that we would be more intentional with our time.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift..." I've never really prayed for this. I understand the longing that Paul describes. The deep heartfelt longing to see someone. Even in now with facebook, blogs, cell phones, and skype, there is nothing that compairs to physically seeing someone face to face. There is a realness to it that can not be duplicated, even with all our technology.
Still when I do venture homeward to see family or even just travel to see friends. I never pray that I would be able to do this so I can impart a spiritual gift, that we can encourage each other in faith. I'm more interested in just seeing people, in getting from them some satisfaction that I'm indeed loved. Or I feel some obligation to go and be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But to truely pray that I might do something, not for my sake, but for the growth of another. That we might together, despite our fallen human nature, grow closer to God, is never really been a part of my prayer.
I am continually struck by my need to grow deeper in prayer. Deeper in my faith. I hope that you will pray that I might be open to God's teaching in my life, that I would come more often in prayer before Him. And pray that although we are seperated by distance, that when we do see each other that we would be more intentional with our time.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Romans 1:1-7 (Theo)
So I like verses 5 when it talks about getting grace and apostleship
That kind of reminds me of youth group, we were talking about what happens when the Holy Spirit gives you one of these nudges to go talk to someone that you don't know you and does not have Christ in their life. I can tell you that most of the time we put the voices in our head out and then we don't act on them.
It is kind of like running the first steps are the hardest and then it get easier.
If you feel the nudge to go and talk to someone new, go and see what could happen, the worst thing that could happen is they just blow you off like your Crazy, but you crazy, crazy for Christ that is.
I challenge each one of us to talk to someone and see what could happen.
That kind of reminds me of youth group, we were talking about what happens when the Holy Spirit gives you one of these nudges to go talk to someone that you don't know you and does not have Christ in their life. I can tell you that most of the time we put the voices in our head out and then we don't act on them.
It is kind of like running the first steps are the hardest and then it get easier.
If you feel the nudge to go and talk to someone new, go and see what could happen, the worst thing that could happen is they just blow you off like your Crazy, but you crazy, crazy for Christ that is.
I challenge each one of us to talk to someone and see what could happen.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Romans 1:1-7 (Audrey's thoughts)
I enjoy the fact that when Paul speaks at the beginning of Romans he calls upon the prophesies of who messiah would be. He states "...his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh." Paul also writes "...declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace..." and with this grace we are meant to be apostles. An apostle is defined as any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world. Though this term is applied to the early Christian, its meaning is still relevant for us today, for we are meant to share the message of Jesus Christ's grace, mercy, love and salvation with our world (the people we know).
Rena thank you for your thoughts/information for both were informative and interesting to me. Also thank you for starting this, though it will be a challenge for me as I am rarely online ;) it will be nice to share thoughts and study the word of God.
Rena thank you for your thoughts/information for both were informative and interesting to me. Also thank you for starting this, though it will be a challenge for me as I am rarely online ;) it will be nice to share thoughts and study the word of God.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Romans 1:1-7 (Rena's thoughts)
Here we are at the begining. To follow (we hope) is a collection of thoughts and meditations on scripture. We're starting in Roman's because Rena made an executive call as the eldest and creator of this blog. Join in as we learn from each other and together. Feel free to add your own thoughts and questions and comments.
I always love the way Paul begins and ends his letters. They are like a bookcase which surounds the main volumes and wisdoms nestled on its shelves. Paul wraps all that he writes in pray. And here at the beginning he tells us what this whole letter is going to be about.
Romans was most likely written by Paul when he was living in Roman Corinth. Romans is a letter to the Roman church. It speaks to the plan that God has for salvation and the grace we have in our faith in Christ. (For more information check out this introduction at About.com). Paul was writing not only to the Hebrew people who had be transplanted in Rome, but also the others (gentiles) who grew up in very different faiths.
Paul was a scholar of the Jewish faith. He knew of the promises made to the Jewish people. His culture had been worshipping Yahweh, and waiting for the promised Messiah for hundreds of years. Paul not only presents Jesus as this Messiah, but makes a powerful statement. 'by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord'. For Paul this statement is fundamental, the foundation on which everything else is built. Because Jesus has risen, salvation, grace, love, joy, and hope, are possible not just for the Jews, but for any who would call him Lord. For Paul it is of utmost importance that the Roman believers understand fully what the resurrected Jesus means.
It is important to me that as we (the Moore kids) start this devotional, that we remember that it is Christ who should be at the center of what we believe and what we do. The simple and profound realization that Jesus didn't just come to die, that he came to be raised, would permeate our lives. Sister and Brothers we are called to belong to Jesus and to be his holy people. I pray that realization would grow in us and grow through us.
~Rena
Romans 1:1-7 (NIV)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always love the way Paul begins and ends his letters. They are like a bookcase which surounds the main volumes and wisdoms nestled on its shelves. Paul wraps all that he writes in pray. And here at the beginning he tells us what this whole letter is going to be about.
Romans was most likely written by Paul when he was living in Roman Corinth. Romans is a letter to the Roman church. It speaks to the plan that God has for salvation and the grace we have in our faith in Christ. (For more information check out this introduction at About.com). Paul was writing not only to the Hebrew people who had be transplanted in Rome, but also the others (gentiles) who grew up in very different faiths.
Paul was a scholar of the Jewish faith. He knew of the promises made to the Jewish people. His culture had been worshipping Yahweh, and waiting for the promised Messiah for hundreds of years. Paul not only presents Jesus as this Messiah, but makes a powerful statement. 'by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord'. For Paul this statement is fundamental, the foundation on which everything else is built. Because Jesus has risen, salvation, grace, love, joy, and hope, are possible not just for the Jews, but for any who would call him Lord. For Paul it is of utmost importance that the Roman believers understand fully what the resurrected Jesus means.
It is important to me that as we (the Moore kids) start this devotional, that we remember that it is Christ who should be at the center of what we believe and what we do. The simple and profound realization that Jesus didn't just come to die, that he came to be raised, would permeate our lives. Sister and Brothers we are called to belong to Jesus and to be his holy people. I pray that realization would grow in us and grow through us.
~Rena
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