DAY #243: Romans 15:1-21

The strong believer must never be self-centered, but must be concerned for the spiritual welfare of his neighbor—the weaker person beside him or her in the congregation. To please others is done with a goal in mind—to encourage and build up that other believer in the faith. There is a fine line to walk—the stronger person should not push the weaker one to change his or her ways before he or she is ready; neither should the stronger person pander to the scruples of that weaker one by allowing such scruples to become rules for the church.

Strength is not independence from God, but total dependence on God. Strength in the church doesn’t come from each believer being completely independent, but from mutual interdependence. Truly strong believers are those who are willing to limit their freedoms in order to care for and love their weaker brothers and sisters.

Paul admonishes strong believers not to please themselves but to please God and others. Scripture records stories of those who pleased God, those who didn’t, and those who failed but learned from their mistakes. We are to endure as Christ endured and be encouraged by the examples of other believers. This gives us hope as we wait patiently for God’s promises.

Harmony is not an optional behavior for believers. They must have the attitude of Christ Jesus toward one another. Doing so would allow all believers to join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God. This should be the ultimate purpose of each believer and of the entire church. If our goal is to glorify God, we cannot be caught up in dissension, disagreements, or arguments, especially about trivial matters.

Paul knew these believers were mature, but he wrote this lengthy letter on the basics of Christianity to remind them. We must never become so learned or "mature" that we forget the basics of the Christian life.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

What are the basics of the Christian life? Love God. Love people. Read the Word and do what the Word says. Pray about everything. Serve all. Share the Good News always. Pretty simple.

How are you doing with the basics? Rate yourself.

Love God = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love People = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Reading the Word daily = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Doing what it says = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pray about everything = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Serve all = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Share the Good News always = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NIV)

Day #242: Romans 14:1-23

Believers in the church in Rome came from a wide variety of backgrounds. In addition, they were all at different stages of spiritual maturity. So the first instruction Paul gives the church is to accept, welcome, and love one another without judging or condemning—no matter how weak, immature, or unlearned someone’s faith may seem.

Who is weak in faith, and who is strong? Every believer is weak in some areas and strong in others. A person’s faith is strong in an area if he or she can survive contact with sinners without falling into their patterns. The person’s faith is weak in an area if that individual must avoid certain activities, people, or places in order to protect his or her spiritual life. Paul advises that those strong in an area should not argue with those who are weak about what they think is right or wrong.

How could Christians end up eating meat that had been offered to idols? An ancient sacrificial system was at the center of religious, social, and domestic life in the Roman world. After a sacrifice was presented to a god in a pagan temple, only part of it was burned. Often the remainder was sent to the market to be sold. Thus a Christian might easily, even unknowingly, buy such meat in the marketplace or eat it at the home of a friend.

Some thought there was nothing wrong with eating meat that had been offered to idols because idols were worthless and phony. Others carefully checked the source of their meat or gave up meat altogether to avoid a guilty conscience. This problem was especially acute for Christians who had once been idol worshipers. For them, such a strong reminder of their former paganism might weaken their newfound faith.

Paul is speaking about immature faith that has not yet developed the strength it needs to stand against external pressures. For example, if a person who once worshiped idols were to become a Christian, he might understand perfectly well that Christ saved him through faith and that idols have no real power. Still, because of his past associations, he might be badly shaken if he knowingly ate meat that had been used as part of a pagan ritual. The same would be true for a Jew whose strict observance to the law would cause him to be concerned about the preparation of the meat.

Every believer will be judged by God alone; therefore, believers have no right to condemn one another. Each person is accountable to Christ. While the church must be uncompromising in its stand against activities that are expressly forbidden by Scripture (such as adultery, homosexuality, murder, theft), it should not create additional rules and regulations and give them equal standing with God’s law.

Often Christians base their moral judgments on opinion, personal dislikes, or cultural bias, rather than on the Word of God. When they do this, they show that their own faith is weak, and they demonstrate that they do not think God is powerful enough to guide each of his children. When we stand before God’s judgment seat, we won’t be worried about what our Christian neighbor has done.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, draw people to COV this morning, and may they find a church that accepts them and loves them right where they are. And Lord, help us be a church that takes people where they are and builds them, trains them, equips them and eventually sends them to share Your message of hope, love and forgiveness. Lord, help us to build solid, mature, growing believers here at COV.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

DAY #241: Romans 13:1-14

Believers are to obey the government. Why should they do this? Because all governments have been placed in power by God. He allows all governments and leaders to function under his sovereign will. Government is ideally in place to protect and serve its citizens. When governments distort or betray this function, those who run them will answer to God. They are under God’s constraint and under his final judgment (Psalm 2; Daniel 4:34-35).

Rulers are in their position only because God has placed them there (Proverbs 21:1). All earthly governments are temporary—only Christ’s reign will be eternal. To rebel against them is to rebel against their God-given authority. In practice, the responsibilities and opportunities of the politically powerful and the politically powerless will differ.

Believers are called not only to submit to authorities, but also to support them by paying taxes (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17). Christians are not exempt from fulfilling the expectations of any government.

If we owe something, we should pay the debt. We are to be responsible to make payments and not borrow beyond our ability to pay. But speaking of a different kind of debt, Paul reminds us that we should never/will never finish paying our debt of love for others.

Christians must obey the law of love, which supersedes both religious and civil laws. It is easy to excuse our indifference to others merely because we have no legal obligation to help them, and even to justify harming them if our actions are technically legal! But Jesus does not leave loopholes in the law of love. Whenever love demands it, we are to go beyond human legal requirements and imitate the God of love.

Paul wants believers to realize their constant need to show love, especially considering the time—Christ’s return is near. Time is running out so we need to make every minute count for right living.

To put on the armor of light means to be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. The world is still in darkness, but we are to behave decently, in a way that will stand up to examination. For believers, the surrounding darkness is no excuse for indecent behavior.

So how do we clothe ourselves “with the armor of right living”? How can we “be decent and true”? The answer: We let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of us. This is deliberate, conscious acceptance of the lordship of Christ, so all our desires and actions are under his control. Letting him have control means avoiding indulging our evil desires.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

There is so much practical truth here in this passage. We owe a debt of love to everyone. We will never finish paying off that debt. Time is short - we must make the most of everyday - every minute. We need to live right, do right, treat others rightly.

The truth though that stands out brightest for me this morning is the idea that when I rebel against the authority that God has instituted, I rebel against God Himself. My sense is that the person with a rebellion problem has the biggest problem of all.

If we struggle with our parents or boss or teacher or coach or whatever authority God has put in our life, our struggle is really with God and His authority in our life. We don't want to submit to authority because we don't want to submit to God and his plan and purposes for our lives.

How does this play out? We leave churches, quit teams, leave jobs, switch classes, run away from our marriages and families and obligations - whatever we have to do escape the authority of God. Why? PRIDE. We want to be in control. We want to call the shots. We want to be God.

Oh Lord, teach me to be humble. Teach me to embrace your leadership in my life. Teach me to accept your edicts and truth. More of you and less of me today.

Day #240: Romans 11:33-12:21

Because of God’s great compassion on both Jews and Gentiles in offering salvation through Christ, Paul urges believers to please God in their daily lives. The evil world is full of temptation and sin. Paul helps believers understand how they can live for God.

When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Amos 5:21-24).

God wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices—daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal, and trusting him to guide us ( Hebrews 13:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5). Our new life is a thank-offering to God. Offering our body as a living and holy sacrifice to be completely set apart for God and dedicated to his service.

When believers offer their entire self to God, a change will happen in their relation to the world. Christians are called to a different lifestyle than what the world offers with its behavior and customs, which are usually selfish and often corrupting (Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:14). Christians are to live as citizens of a future world. There will be pressure to conform, to continue living according to the script written by the world, but believers are forbidden to give in to that pressure.

But refusing to conform to this world’s values must go even deeper than the level of behavior and customs—it must go to the transforming of the way we think. Believers are to experience a complete transformation from the inside out.

As we memorize and meditate upon God’s word, our way of thinking changes. Our minds become first informed, and then conformed to the pattern of God, the pattern for which we were originally designed. When believers have had their minds transformed and are becoming more like Christ, they will know what God wants and they will want to do it for it is good, pleasing to God, and perfect for them.

Just as our physical bodies are composed of many parts, so Christ’s body is made up of many believers who all perform different work. And as our bodies cannot be taken apart, so we belong to each other. The members work together to make the body work. When it is not done, the body suffers.

The list of gifts here in Romans 12 is representative, not exhaustive. It would be difficult for one person to embody all these gifts. An assertive prophet usually would not make a good counselor, and a generous giver might fail as a leader. When people identify their own gifts and their unique combination of gifts (this list is far from complete), they should then discover how they can use their gifts to build up Christ’s body, the church. At the same time, they should realize that one or two gifts can’t do all the work of the church.

Believers are to show brotherly love to fellow believers, and respect all the gifted people in the church, not just those whose gifts are visible. That’s the only way that the body of Christ can function effectively and make a positive impact on the unbelieving world.

Paul then makes a shift in thinking - he broadens his perspective to the world where the believers live—in this case, the capital of the empire, Rome itself. The community of believers was a tiny segment, vulnerable to the edicts of pagan emperors and persecution by any who disagreed with them. Paul, aware of these realities, counsels believers to avoid trouble by refusing to retaliate when persecuted and to respond with good when they are treated with evil, as Jesus had instructed as well (Matthew 5:44).

Christians should be at peace with others, with no hint of jealousy; and they should share the sorrow of fellow believers, offering kindness, concern, compassion, and a shoulder to cry on if needed. The believers needed to have this as they dealt with the ups and downs of daily life in their surroundings. Do not give in to your desire to take revenge or retaliate with evil; instead, act in a Godly way.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

As I read this passage anew, I am reminded of the principle of dedication. "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship."

Commit your total life to Christ. The secret to knowing God's will is to be willing in advance to do whatever it is. Even before you know what it is. How many people say "God, You show me what Your will is, and then after I know Your will I'll decide on if I want to do it or not." God doesn't play games. If you want to know God's will you decide you're going to do His will whatever it is.

I had a friend who preached in a church. The choir sand "Yes, Lord, yes. Yes, Lord, yes." over and over until it built to a great crescendo. Then they introduced the speaker and said, "Lord, you've already heard our answer. Now tell us what you want us to do."

That's the attitude God wants us to have. "I'm willing to do Your will, in advance, even before I know what it is." To be totally dedicated to God means to say Yes to Him for your life, your business, your home, your family.

What's the reason for dedication? "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies." Why should I dedicate myself to God? Because of what God has done for me. All of His mercies. What are His mercies? Romans 4-8 covers in detail what His mercies are. If God has been so good to us, surely we ought to give our lives in return to Him. The starting point is to dedicate our lives to God.

Thee are three characteristics of Christian dedication.

#1. It's voluntary. "Offer your bodies" Offer means to voluntarily commit. This is the same word for making a reservation for a table in a restaurant. It means to make a reservation. The table has been set aside for your benefit. Nobody else can use that table. Put a reservation card on your life. "God, my life, my time, my money, my self completely belongs to you." It's voluntary.

#2. It's practical. "Offer your bodies" Why would God want your body? God says, "Give me what you've got." We ought to have T-shirts printed up: "This bod belongs to God." Why doesn't God say offer your soul, or your spirit? He says bodies. If God owns your body, He owns you.

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I can't make it to be meeting tonight but I'll be with you in spirit." That's great sentiment, but practically it's worthless. Your spirit doesn't do anything if your body isn't there. It's one thing to say you'll give your money to missions. It's another thing to say, "I'm going to give my body and go spend two weeks on the mission field." When you give your body it means you're giving yourself. He's saying, be practical. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. How do you know if you've dedicated your body to God? When a need occurs, do you meet it?

#3. It's complete. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Sacrifice means total, unconditional dedication to God.

The starting point for knowing God's will is dedication. Offer your body as a living sacrifice. Usually when we think of sacrifice we think of something dead. But this says living sacrifice. There's one problem with a living sacrifice. It can crawl off the altar. That's why it's got to be a daily sacrifice. A lot of us come to church and commit ourselves on Sunday and then on Monday we crawl off the altar. We sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and then on Monday we go AWOL.


When you do this it is "your spiritual worship". Worship is not something you do just on Sundays. Worship is any time you commit yourself to God. Anytime you make a commitment of your life to God, you're worshiping. A commitment of your time, praise, money, life, talents, energy -- that's an act of worship. He says we can be living in constant worship of God when we have the act of dedication.

First is the principle of dedication: "Offer yourself, totally commit yourself to God.

DAY #239: Romans 11:1-32

Paul reminded his readers of a time when all Israel had deserted God, but God had preserved some for himself. After Elijah’s stunning demonstration of God’s power over Baal’s prophets at Mount Carmel (and the killing of all of Baal’s prophets), Elijah fled for his life from the wrath of Israel’s evil Queen Jezebel who threatened to have him killed.

He ran for many miles and then stopped to rest. In his terror and exhaustion, he cried out to God, “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” “They” actually refers to the evil leadership in the northern kingdom of Israel, but Elijah was holding the entire nation responsible for the actions of many. He had concluded that he was the only person left in Israel who believed in God.


God shared some very important information with Elijah, replying that Elijah was not the only one left—God had seven thousand believers who had not turned to idol worship. That was not a large number, but it was a faithful “remnant.” Notice that God reserved these faithful followers for himself—the remnant existed because of his sovereign choice.

Just as God had preserved a few of his people when almost the entire nation had turned to idolatry, so today, God has a few who are being saved as a result of God’s kindness in choosing them. The Jewish believers in this faithful few are proof that God has not rejected his people (2 Kings 19:4, 19). These few, saved by God’s kindness realize that they were not saved by good works. Jews who believe in Christ are not denying their faith or their heritage; instead, they are discovering what these were truly meant to be.

If God’s grace in choosing us depended on our works or obedience to the law, it would not be free and undeserved. “God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Next, Paul quoted from Psalm 69:22-23 (a psalm thought to be prophetic about the suffering of the Messiah). These words of David were originally a curse directed at Israel’s enemies. Paul turns the curse around and points it at the Jews! These blessings should have drawn Israel to God and thus led them to Christ; instead, they became a snare, a trap. Israel’s blessings had led to pride that led them away from God. Thus, not only did they miss the Messiah when he came, but they also persecuted and killed him.

Though we may not grasp all the nuances of Paul extensive argument, his purpose is unmistakable. He wants to give Gentiles every reason possible to welcome their Jewish brothers and sisters in the faith with open arms. At the same time, he wants to help his Jewish brethren reciprocate that welcome. Neither group is to claim supremacy in the church. The message is: God has made room in his family for both of you, so you must get along together.
Uinity should rule our fellowship. That is true today as much as it was 2000 years ago.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

How many times do we feel alone? Sometimes we may feel like we're the only ones serving the Lord or we're the only ones serious about the things of God. Today's passage is a good reminder that God always has a remnant of faithful followers - we are not alone. On those days when I throw a pity party for myself, I like to read from 1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV) -

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."


The truth is, while I am go through bouts of loneliness, the Lord is always with me. He will never abandon me or reject me.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV)


Lord, be close to folks today who feel the pain of being alone. Make your presence felt in their lives. Remins them of Your promises. Lord, thank you for Your character and Your attributes. I love You Lord.

DAY #238: Romans 9:30-10:21

Some people still stumble over Christ because salvation by faith doesn’t make sense to them. They would rather try to work their way to God, or else they expect Him simply to overlook their sins. Others stumble over Christ because his values are the opposite of the world’s. Christ asks for humility, and many are unwilling to humble themselves before him. He requires obedience and many refuse to put their will at His disposal. The “rock” has caused them to stumble. They heard about Christ and misunderstood, so they tripped over the one thing that could have saved them.

Paul quotes from Isaiah 28:16. Isaiah declared God’s warning of destruction to Israel by Assyria. Then he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that causes people to stumble.” This stone refers to the righteous few and to Christ. Some will stumble over him, but those who put their trust in him need never fear that their trust is misplaced. When we have placed our feet on the Rock of Zion, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, we will not be disappointed.

The Jews certainly had enthusiasm in their devotion to God and their practice of the law—Paul knew that from his own experience. However, it was misdirected zeal. The people Paul loved (the Jews) were so busy trying to keep the law that their zeal was actually keeping them from understanding God’s way of salvation. Instead, they were clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.

Anyone can say he or she believes something, but God knows each person’s heart. In this confession, it is not enough to merely utter the words; they must be declared, professed, proclaimed from the heart, expressing our full conviction. The gospel message in a nutshell is confess and believe and you will be saved. There is no reference to works or rituals.

You must first believe in your heart—that belief makes you right with God (God declares you “not guilty” for your sins). By prayer to God, you confess with your mouth your belief in God and what he has done for you.

All believers are sent to announce this Good News. The process of salvation begins with the one who tells another the Good News. Like Paul and the early Christians, who spread the message of Christ despite persecution and even death, we should be eager to share this Good News of salvation to all who will listen.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

The message is so simple: God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins - for everything we have ever done wrong. How should we respond to this love and offer of eternal life?

I Admit, I Believe, I Commit and Confess, and I Depend.

A – I admit I need a savior. Say to God - "there’s no way I can get to heaven on my own. I’m a sinner. I’ve blown it. Heaven’s perfect, I’m not. I admit it. I need a savior."

B – I believe. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Say to God - "I belive that Jesus is the Son of God>

C – I confess. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” You say - "God I confess that Jesus in my Lord. I Believe that You raised Him from the dead. I’m trusting in You."

D – I depend. I depend on God's great promise found in John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Lord, remove the roadblocks and barriers of unbelief that so many have today. Raise up men and women at COV who will be bold and courageous to speak out and stand up for you. Bring people to you this week. Give people the courage to step across the line and quit playing Micky Mouse with You.

DAY #237: Romans 9:6-29

The Jewish nation as a whole did not respond to the gospel, even though God’s gifts had made them better prepared than any other nation to receive Christ. On the surface, it might seem that God has failed to fulfill his promise to the Jews. But that is not the case: Human beings failed.

Paul’s first illustration of God’s sovereign choice and grace is Abraham and his children. Just being Abraham’s physical descendants did not guarantee an inheritance. The line of natural descent was not the same as the line of promise. Abraham had children by three different women (Isaac, by Sarah—see Genesis 21:1-7; Ishmael, by Hagar—see Genesis 16; and six sons by Keturah—see Genesis 25:1-4).

But God made it clear that Isaac was the son through whom Abraham’s descendants will be counted. God made a sovereign choice regarding who among Abraham’s physical descendants would carry the line of promise, the line that would result in the Messiah. God did not choose Isaac because he was better than his half brothers; the choice was made before Isaac was even born. Instead, it was simply God’s sovereign choice and grace. Therefore, Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. It is the children of the promise who are considered to be Abraham’s children.

God’s sovereignty, not people’s works or character, is the basis for election. The Jews were proud of the fact that their lineage came from Isaac, whose mother was Sarah (Abraham’s legitimate wife), rather than from Ishmael, whose mother was Hagar (Sarah’s maidservant). Paul asserts that no one can claim to be chosen by God because of his or her heritage or good deeds. God freely chooses to save whomever he wills.

The doctrine of election teaches that it is God’s sovereign choice to save us by his goodness and mercy, and not by our own merit.

Paul’s second illustration of God’s sovereign choice focuses on Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau. God chose to continue the line of blessing through the younger son, Jacob, rather than Esau (Genesis 25:23). This was quite unusual in the Hebrew culture, where the firstborn son was highly honored. In Abraham’s case, Isaac and Ishmael were sons of different women—each was a firstborn, so a choice had to be made. But Isaac and Rebekah were the parents of children over whom God had a sovereign purpose. Again, this had nothing to do with either son’s character, because the choice had already been made. Jacob’s future conduct does not even enter into the discussion because it was unrelated to God’s choice.

Was it right for God to choose Jacob, the younger, over Esau? God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful because he knew that Jacob was teachable. But he did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving him. We must remember what God is like: he is sovereign; he is not arbitrary; in all things he works for our good; he is trustworthy; he will save all who believe in him. When we understand these qualities of God, we will know that his choices are good even if we don’t understand all his reasons.

The words “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau,” refer to the nations of Israel and Edom rather than to the individual brothers (Malachi 1:2-3). God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful. God did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving him. God was not rejecting Esau’s eternal salvation; he was choosing Jacob to lead the nation.

God chose Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau, not because of their character or their actions, but simply because that was his choice. Paul’s wording of the question in Greek expects a negative answer, which he emphatically supplies: Of course not!

Both Isaac and Jacob were scoundrels. God demonstrated unexpected grace when he chose these men in spite of their weaknesses and failures. God is absolutely sovereign. He had explained to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose” (Exodus 33:19). These words of God reveal that he does show mercy and compassion, but they are by his sovereign choice.

For a third illustration of God’s sovereign choices, Paul recalls Pharaoh. God had purposely placed that particular Pharaoh in that particular position at that particular time in history so God’s great power would be displayed and so God’s fame would be spread throughout the earth. God put up with Pharaoh’s fickleness and defiance for quite some time, but all for the same purposes. Pharaoh became mired in his own rebelliousness.

In fact, part of God’s judgment on Egypt was the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Eventually, those nations who heard what God had done for his people in Egypt greatly feared the Israelites and their God. All of this happenned not by chance but by the will of God. God is God and we are not.

Here's the bottom line: While God welcomes our sincere questions and concerns and patiently answers us, he will not allow sinners to question his sovereignty. The thing that was created has no right to sit in judgment on the Creator.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

My prayer for all of you who read this today will grow in a deep appreciation for the authority and sovereignty of God. My prayer for you is that you will not let pride ever well up in your life to question God or His plan and purposes for your life. My prayer is that you will come to trust Him in such a way that you will let Him lead you throughout your life, wherever that may be.

I read today's passage and I am reminded of what Isiah 40 says about God and us. It helps put things in perspective for me, and I pray it does for you as well.

Isaiah 40:10-28 (NIV)

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?

As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

DAY #236: Romans 8:26-9:5

There are times in each of our lives when the stress and pressure of life overwhelms us and the inability to understand what we should do or how we should act is so intense that we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray.

At those times, the Holy Spirit voices our requests for us. He intercedes by appealing to the only one who can help us, God himself. We may not know the right words to say, but the Holy Spirit does. His groanings to God become effective intercession on our behalf.

The companionship of the Spirit in prayer is one of the themes of this chapter. Here, the Spirit literally “joins in to help” us, expressing for us what we can’t fully express for ourselves. How should we pray?

Utilize all the forms prayer takes: adoration, confession, petition, thanksgiving, and meditation. As we pray, we should trust the Spirit to make perfect what is imperfect.
Listen during prayer. We should ask the Spirit to search our hearts and minds, and then we should be silent. Practice prayer as a habit. Combine prayer with other regular spiritual disciplines. Confess sins that the Spirit points out.

The Father knows all hearts and he knows what the Spirit is saying. God can look deep, past our inarticulate groanings, to understand the need we face, our hidden feelings. Even when we don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for us, always in harmony with God’s own will. With God helping us pray, we don’t need to be afraid to come before him.

Because the Spirit’s efforts on our behalf are carried out in full agreement with God’s will, everything that happens to us in this life is directed toward that goal. What happens may not itself be “good,” but God will cause everything to work together for the ultimate good of his children, to meet his ultimate purpose for their maturity. The point is, God works all things for good, not “all things work out.” Suffering will still bring pain, loss, and sorrow, and sin will bring shame. But under God’s control, the eventual outcome will be for our good.

God works behind the scenes, ensuring that even in the middle of mistakes and tragedies, good will result for those who love him. At times this will happen quickly, often enough to help us trust the principle. But there will also be events whose results for good we will not know until eternity. Our ultimate destiny is to be like Christ. God’s design is more than just an invitation; God summons us with a purpose in mind: we are to be like Christ and share his glory.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Oh Lord, you know my heart this morning. My heart aches for those who don't now you - for those who have not heard of you or those who have and they have rejected you.

Lord, help us build a church at COV for those people. Raise up a church where the dominant concern is not for our own individual welfare, but for the welfare of others.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Lord, keep growing the church. Keep bringing famllies and indivduals that need to know about you and your plan for their life. Bringa bout here at COV what you did in the early church of Acts.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

DAY #235: Romans 8:1-25

There are times in all of our lives when we feel condemned because Satan uses past guilt and present failures to make us question what Christ has done for us. No matter how we may feel, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Because we have been rescued by Christ, we are not condemned.

To belong to Christ Jesus means to have put our faith in him, becoming a member of his body of believers. Jesus said in John 5:24, “I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life”.

The life-giving Spirit is the Holy Spirit, who was present at the creation of the world as one of the agents in the origin of life itself. He is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian, and the one who helps us live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit sets us free, once and for all, from the power of sin and its natural consequence, death. How did this happen?

Christ took on humanity in order to be a sacrifice for our sins. Because Christ was sinless, his death passed the “death sentence” on sin for all of us, destroying sin’s control over us.
In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were continually offered at the temple. These animals brought to the altar had two important characteristics: they were alive, and they were without flaw. The sacrifices showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin: innocent blood had to be shed before sins could be pardoned (Leviticus 17:11).

But animal blood could not really remove sin (Hebrews 10:4); and the forgiveness provided by those sacrifices, in legal terms, was more like a stay of execution than a pardon. Those animal sacrifices could only point to Jesus’ sacrifice that paid the penalty for all sin. Jesus’ life was identical with ours, yet unstained by sin. So he could serve as the flawless sacrifice for our sins. In him, our pardon is complete. The tables are turned so that not only is there “no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus,” but also the very sin that guaranteed our condemnation is itself condemned by Christ’s sacrifice.

The requirement of the law is holiness (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7); but the law is powerless to make us holy because of our innate sinfulness. Only through Christ’s death and the resulting freedom from sin can we no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit and thus fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us become holy. The Holy Spirit provides the power internally to help us do what the law required of us externally.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

after reading this passage today, I am reminded of the old hymn which asks the question - "What can take my sin away? - Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

We have two enemies in this life. One, Satan seeks to destroy us (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8) and he will continue his assault on your life until he is defeated or until you go home. The other enemy we have is us.

Many times, we are our own worst enemy. Watchman Nee, the great disciple of Hudson Taylor said this - "Anyone whoever desires to live for Christ will soon discover that the greatest hindrance to living for Christ is not others, but himself." How many of us can relate to that statement. I certainly can.

My point is simple. Many of us have an innate understanding of the sinfulness which lives in each of us. We have seen the destructive power of our words and actions. We have seen the devastation of our selfishness and pride. Yet, Christ blood washes away our sin and there is now no condemnation.

What if we could really comes to grip with that truth? How would it change the way we live? Freedom to live as God would have us, as opposed to daily regret over what we haven;t done our all our shortcomings.

Oh Lord, free us up today from self-condemnation and let us see ourselves like you see us. Lord, draw people to COV this morning and use Your message to inspire and encourage and where needed, convict. Change lives this morning.

DAY #234: Romans 7:1-25

Paul was developing an analogy from common living to emphasize his lesson. Having begun the theme of marriage, Paul wants his readers to remember that under normal circumstances any breaking of the marriage vows would be adultery. Having stated that fact, Paul explains its significance.

Just as death breaks the bond between a husband and wife, so a believer’s “death” (death to his old self) breaks the power of the law. The old contractual arrangement had to be completely severed before the new one could begin. This had to be as final as death. Jewish believers could not live with a dual allegiance. They could not be under the lordship of Christ and the lordship of the law. Total commitment to Christ cannot coexist with a total commitment to the law. That would be spiritual adultery. A believer belongs fully to Christ. This happens because of Christ’s death on the cross and the believer’s being united with him in his death and resurrection. The result is good fruit. Only by belonging to Christ can we do good deeds and live a life pleasing to God. This is how we serve in the new way of the Spirit.

Before we realize the seriousness of the law and of sin, we believe ourselves to be fine. But when we understand what the law really demands, then we also come to understand that we have broken the law, we are sinners, and we are doomed to die eternally. The commands, given to show people the way of life, instead show merely that all people have been given the death penalty.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent deceived Eve by taking her focus off the freedom she had and putting it on the one restriction God had given. Since that time we have all been rebels.
Although it gave him the death penalty, Paul could not speak against the law. The law itself is holy and right and good because it reflects the character and will of God himself, who is holy.

The purpose of the law is to teach us right from wrong, to give us guidelines, and to show sin for what it is. The law helps us live for God, but it cannot save us.

How can we be free from sin and yet continue to do wrong? In Christ, we are free from the penalty of sin (judgment) and the power of sin (hopelessness). But while still in the flesh, we are not free from the presence of sin (temptations) and the possibility of sin (failures). Paul never claimed that being under grace instead of under the law meant that a believer was somehow above the law. In fact, having described such a great distance between the law and sin, he realized that he was still far more acquainted with the reality of sin than the righteous standard of the law.

So, Paul writes, the trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. The law has an uncanny capacity for reminding us of what we once were, and of how captivating that old life can still appear. Our hope never shifts back to the law. We must daily focus on Christ.

By introducing his personal dilemma, Paul invites us to consider how well we understand our own behavior. As long as believers live in this world as men and women of flesh and blood, they will face a constant tension—the conflict between their sinful nature and their new spiritual life.

Being born again starts in a moment of faith, but becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. (this process is called sanctification) Paul compares Christian growth to a strenuous race or fight. Thus, as Paul has been emphasizing since the beginning of this letter, no one in the world is innocent; no one deserves to be saved—not the pagan who doesn’t know God’s laws, nor the Christian or Jew who knows them and tries to keep them. All of us must depend totally on the work of Christ for our salvation. We cannot earn it by our good behavior.

The fact of life at work here is the reality that evil is within us, even when we want to do what is right. In fact, it is when we most want to do good that we become most acutely aware of our propensity not to do so. A swimmer has no idea how strong the current is until she tries to swim upstream. When she faces the current, she finds this law at work: the current is against her.

Our bodies are mortal; they are bodies of death. As long as we live on this earth in our human bodies, we will face this conflict with sin. Our place of residence is our place of least resistance. And, as seen above, as long as we are confined to this world, we will experience a measure of struggle and defeat. But, we are not left in miserable defeat, dominated by sin—rescue will come!

Because of Jesus Christ, we are assured of a great future. We will one day join him in eternity with a new body that is free from sin. In the meantime, however, we must realize that we remain in the sinful nature as slaves to sin. But the answer to who will set us free is in Jesus Christ our Lord. The battle ends with a shout of victory. The winners know who really won. The winners also know the war isn’t over. But in the meantime, there are more lessons to learn, and there is more freedom to experience.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

There is something comforting in the knowledge that the Apostle Paul struggled with sin and evil and his old nature. Comforting in the fact that I am not alone. I am not the only one who stumbles an falls over and over again. There is also great encouragement to get up each time I fall. An for me that is the lesson in this passage. Yes, there will be struggle and failure and sin. Yes, I will disappoint myself and others. Yes, I will not live up to the expectations placed upon me at times.

How will I respond to my failure though? Wallow in pain and self-pity? Stay down and defeated? Give up? Turn away from my Lord? Walk away from my responsibilities? NO!!!!!

Never. How could I?

Today Lord, I resolve once again to be the man you have called me to be. I know that i can not do this on my own. Zechariah 4:6 reminds me - "Not by might, nor by power but My Spirit declares the Lord of Hosts."

Lord, just as I prayed yesterday - I need your power. I need your power not just for victory, but for perseverance and stamina and the never-give-up attitude You desire to see in me.

DAY #233: Romans 6:1-23

Paul realized that his statements about God’s wonderful kindness to sinners could be interpreted to suggest that people ought to keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness. “If God loves to forgive, why not give him more to forgive?” would be their erroneous reasoning.

Paul answers with an emphatic, “Of course not!” The availability of God’s mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness. The idea that someone would claim to believe the gospel while planning to continue in sin is preposterous to Paul. The point of the gospel was not to find an excuse for sin, but to give freedom from sin.

The old sinful selves describe believers before they trusted Christ, people who were ruled by sin and rebellion. That old self was crucified with Christ—believers have died the same death as Christ when Christ was crucified. Why? This was the only way that sin might lose its power in people’s lives, the only way our sinful nature could be set aside so that God’s nature could live through us. As a result, believers are no longer slaves to sin.

If we are dead to sin, how can sin still control us? Believers have died to sin, but as long as we live in our mortal bodies, we will have the compulsion to sin. But only because we have died to sin do we have the power to no longer let it control us. We are, in fact, free from our slavery. But each day we must reject our old slave ways. Sin cannot and will not ever again be our master.

All human beings are enslaved. While this idea clashes with our goal of independence, the fact is that we were created for interdependence. Paul is using an illustration o make an important spiritual point: You are a slave to whomever or whatever you commit yourself to obey. This means that friendships, goals, employment, citizenship, membership, education, career, debt, and marriage all include aspects of slavery.

We should choose our slavery wisely. When sin is our master, we have no power except to do what it bids us, with the end being death. But when we choose to obey God, the one who created us, we become slaves to obedience and will receive God’s approval.

There are only two choices and no middle ground. This is as Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters”. To refuse to allow God to be master over your life is to choose slavery to sin. While service to sin leaves us powerless and leads to death, service to God leads to righteousness and eternal life. It is impossible to be neutral. Every person has a master—either righteousness or sin.

This result of sin is not just physical death—everyone dies physically, believers and nonbelievers alike. The greater result of sin is eternal separation from God in hell. This is the wage that a person receives for his or her rebellion against God. Those in hell will find no comfort in the truth that they have been paid exactly what they earned.

But instead of wages, those who believe receive a free gift from God—eternal life. Eternal life does not mean endless life on earth, but resurrection from death to eternal glory with God. Because eternal life is a gift, we cannot earn or purchase it.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

What would you like to change about yourself? Would you like to be more confident? more relaxed? More outgoing? Maybe have less fearful, less bitter or angry?

There are very few people in life who feel like they have attained perfection. Most of us are very interested in changing and we realize there is always room for improvement. I think in all the years I've been in the ministry the number one question people ask me is, "Why is it I can't change? I want to change but I don't know how or I don't have the power to change."

We go to seminars, conferences, looking for the painless cure that's going to zap our life and change us instantly and give us self discipline. Or we go on diets. I once went on a diet for an entire afternoon. Or we join a health club and our enthusiasm goes great for about two weeks and then it kind of wanes and we go back into the same old rut and we don't change.

We read self‑ help books. The problem with self help books is they tell you what to do but they don't give you the power. They says things like, "Get rid of all your bad habits.... Be positive, don't be negative..." How? Where do I get the power to change? That's the basic problem -- a lack of power in our lives. How do I get my life off dead center? How do I get out of the rut? How do I break out of the mold I'm in? Where do I get the power to get off center?

Good News! Philippians 3:10 says, "All I want to know is Christ and experience the power of His resurrection." Ephesians 1:20 says, "I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him, the same mighty power who raised Christ from the dead."

The word "power" is used in the New Testament 57 times. It is a book of power. Easter is the most powerful event that ever happened. It separates A.D. and B.C. All history was split by one powerful event. What is that power? It's the power to change your life.

How do I have the power to change and how does God change me and make me what I want to be and what He wants me to be? Power! [I think of the new chaplain at the prison. He was nervous. He was assigned death row. He was trying to be positive when he went in to counsel the guy that was going to be executed the next day. He said, "I've really been praying for you." The guy said, "But you don't realize. Tomorrow I'm going to the electric chair." The chaplain said, "Well... more power to you."]

Paul said, I want to know the power of the resurrection. The Greek word for power is the word dunamis -- dynamite. God says, I want to give you dynamite power in your life! Paul said I want to know it. It's my personal goal. And I want you to know it. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead 2000 years ago is available for your life right now to change your life.

What is resurrection power? It is the power to cancel your past. It is the power to conquer your problems. It is the power to change your personality. Why don't you pray right now, by faith, and ask God to give you the power you need today.

DAY #232: Romans 5:6-21

God’s plan, from the beginning, was to send his Son to die for us, at just the right time, referring to both the timing in history and the timing in God’s plan. The events in human history did not determine the plan of salvation; the plan of salvation was designed by God to happen at just the right time. We are saved only because God took the initiative and demonstrated his incredible grace and love by sending his own Son to take the punishment we deserved.

The highest expression of human love is when someone gives his or her life so that another person can continue to live. People are able to understand sacrificial love, even though it is rarely practiced. While we were rebellious and despicable, Christ died for us so that we could come to God, find peace with him, and become heirs of his promises. Christ did not die so that we could be made lovable; Christ died because God already loved us and wanted to bring us close to himself.

God made us right in his sight through the blood of Christ shed on the cross. Because God is holy, he could not accept us by simply disregarding or ignoring our sins. Instead, those sins had to be dealt with. And God did this through the sacrificial death of his Son.

We were enemies because we were rebels against God. Because of Christ’s death, we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son. Because Christ’s death accomplished this, so his life—his present resurrection life—delivers us from eternal punishment and insures our salvation.

Sin came into the world through one man. Adam sinned against God causing a domino effect: sin entered the entire human race, then sin brought death. Because everyone sinned, then everyone also died. Death is the consequence of being under the power of sin.

The contrast between Adam and Christ is that Adam’s one act determined the character of the world; Christ’s one act determined the character of eternity. God’s generous gift of forgiveness through Christ (justification) has a greater but opposite effect than the trespass of Adam and its consequences. Yet in each case, the act of one affected the lives of many.

By capitulating to sin, Adam caused death to rule over the whole human race. However, there is a remedy. Those who receive God’s wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death. What a promise this is to those who love Christ!

Adam’s one sin brought condemnation on the human race; this one person disobeyed God causing all people to become sinners. But Christ’s one act of righteousness, done because he obeyed God, opened the way for all people to be made right in God’s sight and given eternal life.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

This passage is so rich with truth. What stands out to me though is the difference one person can have on all of us. Adam brought sin into the world. Christ brought righteousness and sacrifice and love and a remedy for Adam's sin.

Let me ask you this morning - what kind of difference has God made you to make? Do you have a sense of destiny about your life? Do you live with a sense of purpose? Do you understand that this one and only life that God has gifted you with is not to be spent in the pursuit of pleasure or power or prestige or popularity or parties - but in the pursuit of blessing others and loving others and serving others?

Just this week, I was contemplating throwing a pity party for myself. I began asking questions like - Who cares about me? Who reaches out to me? Who prays for me? Who loves me?

And then I read this passage today and I am reminded of what Warren Weirsbee said. "True humility is not thinking less of yourself. True humility is not thinking about yourself at all."

God's game plan to save me by Christ's sacrifice was that I would spend my life in a way that honors Christ death and sacrifice. It's as if God is shouting out to me this morning - "Pedlowe, don't waste your life." Determine to live with passion!

What is passion? A lot of people think it synonymous with excitement. It’s not. Excitement comes and goes. Yesterday I got a slurpy. I was really excited for that slurpy. That’s me. But it’s gone. That’s not passion. Passion is deeper. Passion bubbles up in your soul. It’s what you live for. It’s what you get up in the morning for. Passion recognizes that life is short.

Passion embraces a bigger picture of life. Passion appears when one’s close to God. Listen to how important passion is to God. Matthew 22:37-38, the Great Commandment, from the message Bible Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence." This is the most important ...”

Do you get that? God wants you to love Him with all of your passion. He wants to be your life. He wants to be your passion. You’ve heard me say before, Greeks didn’t write obituaries for each other – They simply asked one question – did he/she live with passion? I dig that. Folks, today if you get nothing else get this – you must live a life of passion. Determine that this morning.

The frustrating thing for me? I can’t coach you how to live with passion. I can’t give you a heart transplant . You can’t take a pill to get passion. I can’t say, “Get up in the morning and listen to Tony Robbins and walk on hot coals and greet people like you’re amped up on triple expresso - that’s passion.” No, that’s fake. Passion is the result of your pursuing what matters most.

Passion wakes up inside of you when you understand what matters most. Passion comes when you decide to give your life to something greater than yourself. What matters most? Living for God's purposes and plan for my life.

“How do you know what will happen tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog, it’s here a little while, and then it’s gone." James 4:14

DAY #231: Romans 4:9-5:5

Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith. It was Abraham’s faith, not his faithfulness to certain rituals, that made him righteous. The critical question is: Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Paul uses the term “circumcised” to refer to the whole of the law, because circumcision implies a desire to live under the demands of the law.

Paul immediately answers his own question—God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later! God called Abraham in Genesis 12, declared him righteous in Genesis 15, then introduced the circumcision ceremony in Genesis 17.

God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So, Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. He is the father of those who are made right with God by faith. That makes him the father of Gentiles who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior. But he is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, meaning the Jews.

The promise (or covenant) that God gave Abraham said that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was from Abraham’s line. Not only was Abraham the physical father of God’s chosen nation, the Jews, he was also the father of God’s people today, the church. Paul points out that the promise to Abraham to be the father of many nations extends beyond Israel to all the nations of the world.

Abraham believed God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations. He believed it against all hope; that is, beyond any possible natural hope, because he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and his wife was well past childbearing age and had never been able to have children. Yet Abraham realized that God’s ability to fulfill his promises outweighed the circumstances. So, Abraham’s faith did not weaken even when they, a childless couple, had been promised descendants as numerous as the stars. It was impossible, but Abraham believed in God.

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise because he was able to take God at his word. Abraham persisted in believing; thus, his faith grew stronger. He was able to trust in God to do what seemed humanly impossible, and even to glorify God before the results were apparent.


What makes us acceptable to God is not our works, but simply exercising the kind of faith Abraham had. Jesus died because of our sins, taking the penalty we deserved, according to God’s plan. Just as God brought life from Abraham and Sarah (even though they thought they were “dead” and unable to have children), so God raised Jesus from the dead. His resurrection made us right with God.


Not only has Christ made us right with God, but he also has given us personal access to God, bringing us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand. We have been brought into a place of favor with God. Instead of being his enemies, we are his friends—in fact, his own children.

Our expectation, and a right one at that, is that God will keep His promises and that He will never disappoint us. He has proven Himself completely trustworthy.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

How is our faith built? It has been my experience that as I trust God and His promises and step out in faith upon those promises, He builds my faith. He build my courage and boldness. So, a natural question is - how well do I know the promises of God? Let me be even more direct this morning - when is the last step of faith you took - based upon a promise of God?

Remember Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) this morning - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This verse is saying that the only way you can please God is when you take a risk and step out in faith.

In Luke 19 Jesus told the story of the importance of risk taking. It’s the parable of the ten minas. He said if you don’t take risks you don't have any faith. If all you ever do is it play it safe in life, then you really don’t have any faith. If you don’t have any faith you’re being unfaithful. I love the way He concludes the story. Luke 19:26 in the message bible says “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of; play it safe and you end up holding the bag.”

I love that, because God is saying lay it on the line – no wimpy faith, no wimpy lifestyle. Be a person who will take risks for eternity, risks for the kingdom of God and I will give you a life you’ve never dreamed of. God is looking for those types of people!

In another passage of the bible, Philippians 2: 29-30 God says this about Ephroditus “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” That’s says it all doesn’t it? Epharoditus risked his life for the work of God. What else do you need to know about him? For me, nothing. That verse says it all. He was not a guy who was willing to play it safe, but lay it all on the line. It says we’re to honor men like that. Men and women who risk their lives for the sake of Christ.

When I read that kind of thing, I ask myself, “Is my commitment to Christ deep enough to cause me to risk anything?” I think it is. How about you? Is your commitment to Christ deep enough to risk anything? To risk your time, to risk your reputation, to risk your finances. When He tells you to do something are you willing to do it, to take the risk? Think about that one throughout your day!

Day #230: Romans 3:19 - 4:8

There are no more excuses to be made, no more self-defenses uttered. No one has any excuses; everyone is liable for judgment. And if the Jews—God’s special chosen people—can say nothing in their own behalf, then no one can.

In the silence filling the court, one thought is clear: guilty as charged. That accountability of guilt must be answered, even though every explanation and excuse had failed. We are held accountable to God because he is our Creator, the personal source behind the standard (law), and the faithful Judge. We owe our existence and obedience to this One.

The purpose of the law is not to bring salvation, but to make us aware of sin.
The only way people can be made right in God’s sight is for God to declare them so. No one can do it by trying to do what God’s law commands, meaning keeping certain traditions, such as circumcision, in order to be identified as a Jew and so remain under God’s covenant promises.

The way to being made right in God’s sight is the way of faith in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Trusting in Jesus Christ means putting our confidence in him to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the way he taught us. God’s solution is available to all of us regardless of our background or past behavior. And this way is open to all who believe—both Jews and Gentiles.

Trusting in Jesus Christ is the only way we all can be saved. We all begin in the same place spiritually, and there is only one way. Faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t mean we understand everything that Christ has done for us, but it does mean that we believe he has done everything for us!

Sinning confirms our status as sinners, and sin cuts us off from our holy God. Furthermore, sin leads to death (because it disqualifies us from living with God), regardless of how great or small each sin may seem. Sins are deadly, but sinners can be forgiven. There are no distinctions: we have all sinned; we all need a savior; Jesus Christ is the Savior; through faith we can receive his salvation.

Why did the punishment require shed blood? God had said from the beginning, “For the life of any creature is in its blood . . . It is the blood, representing life, that brings you atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). But the blood Paul mentions here is a particular blood—it is Christ’s blood. Only the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross was the effective atonement for our sins. Christ stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin, and he could satisfy God’s anger against us. Why are we made right with God through faith?

Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do.
Faith exalts what God has done, not what people do.
Faith admits that we can’t keep the law or measure up to God’s standards—we need help.
Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.

Most religions prescribe specific duties that must be performed to make a person acceptable to God. Christianity is unique in teaching that the good works we do will not make us right with God. No amount of human achievement or progress in personal development will close the gap between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance. So there can be no basis for pride.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

I don't know about you, but sometimes it's easy for me to get caught up into do going works and even today still trying to impress God with them. As I read through Romans 3, I am reminded that it is through Christ's blood that am I made right with Him - no other way - no amount of good works will suffice. Oh Lord, remind me - I need daily reminding of Your grace and mercy that is upon me.

On those days when my grace runs out for others, gently nudge me to extend to them what you moment by moment extend to me. Lord, break me of my pride and my desire for status. Humble me daily. Thank you Lord.

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Romans 4:7-8 (NIV)

DAY #229: Romans 2:17-3:18

Knowing what God wants and knowing right from wrong are the result of having been taught his law. God’s word is not only a record of God’s will; it is also a guideline to determine what course of action is best for us.

Through God’s word we can be trained or instructed in how to appreciate what is good. Yet how often do we, surrounded by a wealth of spiritual resources, live no differently than our pagan neighbors! Bottom line: We need to put our knowledge into action.

Paul saw these people as dangerously self-confident. It was apparent from their lives that they could not back up their claims. Paul’s sarcasm here parallels Jesus’ words to the Pharisees, “How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are”

A Jew would see himself as a guide for the blind, but Jesus repeatedly called them “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14; 23:16). They claimed to be a beacon light, but were unwilling to recognize the light of the world.

The Jews needed to teach themselves, not others, by their law. Circumcision was fundamental to the Jews—it symbolized the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 17:9-14). It was the expression of Israel’s national identity and was a requirement for all Jewish men. Circumcision was a physical reminder to Jews of their national heritage and privilege.

Paul had already pointed out that circumcision was a valuable part of a system governed by obedience. Where there was no obedience, circumcision was of no value. By the same logic, when obedience was present, the real objective was accomplished, even though circumcision had not occurred. In other words, Gentiles who obey God’s law are as good in God’s sight as a law-abiding, circumcised Jew and could receive the rights and honors of being God’s own people.

Paul’s conversation with his Jewish critic continues into chapter three. Paul answers yes, there are advantages for those members of God’s chosen nation. The Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. That great privilege alone made the Jews even more responsible to live up to God’s requirements.

While it was true that many Jews were unfaithful to God or to what they had been entrusted, that didn’t change the fact of God’s faithfulness. Many Jews rejected the gospel and thus failed to understand their own Scriptures. But Israel’s unfaithfulness did not determine God’s faithfulness. God had always been faithful to Israel, despite the nation’s failings, and God would continue to be faithful to his covenant with them.

In the strongest terms he could use, Paul wanted to drive home the point that the combined self-justification of the whole world could not stand up to God’s truth. If God and every person were to disagree, there still would not be any doubt about who was right. The fact that many people are unfaithful by suppressing the truth, exchanging the truth for a lie, and rejecting the truth, doesn’t change the deeper fact that God is true. God’s purpose for Israel and his plan for all people remained unshaken.

There can be no more argument about special privileges for the Jews, for from their own Scriptures Paul strings together a series of verses outlining universal indictment. The advantage of being a Jew does not apply to salvation. All have sinned; no one is righteous. No one can earn right standing with God.

Quoting from Psalm 36:1, Paul states the bottom line condition of these people: they have no fear of God to restrain them. To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose his way.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Understanding the concept of grace is critical if you want to build a great life. Think about these common American phrases and see if you can finish them:
If it sounds too good to be true….
We make money the old fashioned way, we ....
There’s no such thing as a free….
There is no gain without ….
God helps those who ….

You see, everything about the American way of life teaches you get what you earn in life. You get what you pay for. We value work, sweat, effort, performance. It is called the American Work Ethic. And it’s good. The only problem is it causes a difficulty in us relating to God because God does not relate to us on performance. We put God in a box. We think He is like us. We think that since so many of our relationships are based on performance, so must my relationship with God. WRONG!

How does God relate to us then? By GRACE - in a relationship through His son Jesus Christ! The Bible says that everything God does in our lives, every blessing we have in our lives, comes by grace as a free gift. You don’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, you don’t work for it. It’s just a free gift of God. And the Bible says that everything you enjoy in your life is a gift of grace.

I know what some of you are thinking: You say, “Wait a minute. The things I have, I worked for, I earned, I put sweat equity into it.” You wouldn’t have the effort to work, you wouldn’t have the brains to work, you wouldn’t have the energy to work if God didn’t give it to you. Every breath you take is a gift from God.

The Bible is very clear about this, that God saves us by grace, God blesses us by grace, God teaches us by grace, God uses us by grace, God takes us to heaven by grace. Everything in my life that’s good is a gift from God.

The power to live, the people you live with, the principles you live by and the purpose you live for – they all come from God. They are a gift from God! That is grace! Many people confuse grace with mercy and they’re two different things.

Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you deserve. Have you ever done anything wrong and gotten away with it? Yes. You’ve gotten off scott-free on a lot of things that you deserve justice for, that you deserve punishment for. When God doesn’t give you what you deserve that’s called mercy.

On the other hand when God gives what you don’t deserve that’s GRACE. All the good things in your life you didn’t earn, you didn’t work for. They were just gifts of God’s grace to you.

Consider these truths as you go about your day today. Thank God for His mercy and grace.

DAY #228: Romans 2:1-16

When Paul finished his list of characteristics of those whom God will judge, Paul knew that his Jewish listeners would agree that such people are terrible and deserve to be punished. But then Paul says that the Jews have no right to pass judgment, because they are just as bad. They are not guiltless and therefore have no excuse. Their attitude freely condemned others’ sins but somehow overlooked those sins in themselves (Matthew 7:2-3).

This kind of person has sat in self-righteous judgment of others for too long and has lived by showing contempt for all God has given. People receive blessings but stubbornly continue in sin, refusing to repent. It is difficult for self-righteous people to repent. Paul’s readers who boasted of their faith yet refused to turn from their sin were storing up terrible punishment when God’s wrath would be poured out upon them.

Paul has in mind the self-confident, self-righteous person, who through his own self-seeking has actually turned away from the truth and resisted the gospel, and is following his own evil path. God’s anger and wrath are promised to those who have turned from him, yet are claiming to have a special place with him. They will receive the wrath and anger that they thought would fall on others.

Paul does not attempt to prove that people are incapable of any good. His point is that not one of us is capable of perfect goodness. At the human level, we all behave more or less in line with the standards of our society. But righteousness is not determined by what most people do, or even by what most people think might be possible for someone who tries very hard. Righteousness is God’s standard, God’s character. Comparisons with others are of no help when we measure ourselves before God’s standard. Ultimately, whatever our background, we will be held accountable by God for our life.

The gospel Paul preached included the wonderful message that though judgment is inevitable, it will be conducted through Christ’s mediation. For those who are trusting in Christ for their righteousness, God’s judgment does not include the fear of exposure and punishment. As Paul later says joyfully, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus”

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

Lord, protect me from judgmentalism. protect me from acting superior in any form or fashion. Protect me from pride and haughtiness. Lord, remind me that apart from Jesus I am nothing.

(Jesus) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NLT)

Lord, draw people to COV this morning. help each of us see our sin and at the same time, help us to see Your grace and forgiveness and love and mercy. Lord, drive out from us and our church and spirit of "religion". Drive out and sense sense of superiority. Replace it with a spirit of humility and acceptance. Give us a heart today and everyday Lord, to care for one another...

BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." Romans 12:10


HONOR ONE ANOTHER
“Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10


BE OF THE SAME MIND WITH ONE ANOTHER
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus” Romans 15:5


ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7


ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER
“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself am also convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.” Romans 15:14


SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21


SERVE ONE ANOTHER
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom to an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13


BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2


ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

DAY #227: Romans 1:16-32

The Greek word for power (dunamis) is the source for our words dynamite and dynamic. Dynamite was not invented by Nobel until 1867, so it is obvious that Paul did not have that specific picture in mind. Instead, the inventor of the explosive took its name from the Greek. But the parallel is instructive. The Good News, as the power of God, can be like spiritual dynamite.

Under certain circumstances it has a devastating, even destructive effect, demolishing world views and traditions—paving the way for new construction. Placed inside a stone-hard heart that is resistant to God, it can shatter the barrier. God’s power in the gospel is not only explosive; it also overcomes evil.

The only way to receive salvation is to believe in Christ. This offer is open to all people. The gospel is powerful because the power of God resides in it by nature. The Good News is the inherent power of God that gives salvation to all who accept it. Salvation can only happen when a person believes.

The message of the Good News tells us how we, sinners as we are, can be made right in God’s sight. It tells how God, who is righteous, can vindicate sinful people. It is accomplished from start to finish by faith. Faith—unconditional trust—is the appointed way of receiving God’s righteousness. Faith in what? Faith in the fact that Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself, taking the punishment we deserved, and, in exchange, making us righteous before God. By trusting in Christ, our relationship with God is made right both for now and for eternity.

To nail his point, Paul quoted from Habakkuk 2:4, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Righteousness by faith was not a new idea; it is found in the writings of the prophets, with which the Jewish believers would be familiar. This expression means that Christians will live because of God’s faithfulness and because of their response of faith in God; as a result, they will have eternal life and experience fullness in life.

As God’s righteousness was revealed, so was his wrath. The flip side of God’s righteousness is his wrath against evil. Certain aspects of human character elicit God’s wrath. It is the response of his holiness to all wickedness and rebellion.

Why is God angry with sin? Because sinful, wicked people have pushed the truth away from themselves, substituting the truth about him with a fantasy of their own imagination. God cannot tolerate sin because his nature is morally perfect. He cannot ignore or condone such willful rebellion. He wants to remove the sin and restore the sinner, but the sinner must not distort or reject the truth. But God shows his anger from heaven against those who persist in sinning.

Sin has a penalty, and the punishment is in keeping with the offense. The exact consequences of sin are not predictable, but they are inevitable. These people cannot call themselves helpless victims; a sinful choice was made, and it carries its penalty. Unfortunately, the due penalty also has a way of spilling over into other lives. The connectedness of everything in creation makes it almost impossible to confine sinful penalties. Often a truly painful consequence is seeing how a sin we unleashed affects others.

When people choose to reject God, he allows them to do so. Their minds become depraved, and they lose the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Their evil minds lead them to do things that should never be done, indicating acts not just offensive to God, but also offensive by human standards. God does not usually stop us from making choices against his will. He lets us declare our supposed independence from him, even though he knows that in time we will become slaves to our own rebellious choices—we will lose our freedom not to sin. Does life without God look like freedom to you? Look more closely. There is no worse slavery than slavery to sin.

The cause for the appalling condition of our world—the horrible perversions and the rampant evil—lies in people’s rebellion against God. Although knowledge of God is accessible, people turn their backs on it, close their minds to it, and go their own way, worshiping whatever they choose.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

Oh Lord, in this day where sin is minimized and often dismissed, remind us that Jesus died for our sins. It is sin that separates us from God. It is sin that causes broken relationships. It is sin that hurts and divides and causes us to live in shame and regret.

But the Good News is POWERFUL. By it, we can overcome sin and our own destructive habits. Lord, give me power today to break free from the unhealthy habits that can grip my life. Give me power today to say NO to sin and YES to You, Lord. Give me power today to do what is right and not what is easy.

Give me a new heart today, Oh Lord, to reach out to people who have been enslaved to sin - most of them not even knowing it.

Lord, give me a heart to live out Luke 4:18 (NLT) - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free..."