A Net in Time

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Romans

Greetings and Reminder

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Romans 16 today, takes the whole chapter in hand, thought I’d let you listen to it today.  🙂

Did you notice something?

Paul commends a few of people to them.

  • Phoebe – a woman deaconess from Cenchreae church.  Asking the people receive her well and to help her.
  • Priscilla and Aquilla.  People who risked their lives for Paul.

See also his greetings:

  • The church meeting at the house of Priscilla and Aquilla
  • Epenetus – First Asian convert
  • Maey – who works hard for them
  • Andronicus and Junia – fellow imprisoned Jews, fellow believers
  • Ampliatus – a friend in the Lord
  • Urbanus – coworker
  • Stachys – a dear friend
  • Apelles – faithfulness to the Lord
  • The household of Aristobulus
  • Herodian – a fellow Jew
  • The household of Narcissus who believe in God
  • Tryphena and Tryphosa – Hard working women for the Lord
  • Persis  – another hard working woman for the Lord
  • Rufus – chosen of the Lord
  • Rufus’ mother – acted as mother to Paul
  • Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
  • Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them

Paul bids them “great one another with a holy kiss” and then reminds them of all those churches that send greetings to them.

Paul takes his time to commend them for their obedience, but warns them not to be caught up in divisions…for that distracts them from the gospel.  Watch out for people seeking to cause division because they are trying to put things in their way.. teachings that are different from what they have been taught as believers.

Seems to be we need to take this warning seriously today.  Look at all the divisions in the church.  How many of them distract us from the true gospel?   Have we become fooled by smooth talk?  Let us then be wise about what is good.  Let us then be innocent about what is evil.  Be mindful!

For remember his important fact: The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under their feet.  God will use the feet of his people to put Satan in his place.

Oh… I read that and I feel stunned.  I know that God already won the battle against Satan… but HEAR this words. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  Amazing isn’t it?

Greetings are then sent to us from people: Timothy, Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, Tertius (who wrote the letter for Paul), Gauis (hospitality)  Erastus and Quartus.

 

Oh.. I like these words don’t you? A clear benediction to the people of Rome eh?

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[f] faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Oh but these words remind us eh?  How the bible is used to help bring Gentiles to the obedience of the faith.   Written to help that happen.  Wow…and that is what we can study today in our quest to know God more.  Good, very good stuff.

Paul Plans a Visit to Rome

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Romans 15:22-33 is the subject of today’s Devotion:

22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Do you remember how Paul was enabled to travel all through the Roman empire, teaching and preaching the gospel of Christ through word and deed?  Paul states that “ This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.”  But, he can’t do that anymore, there’s no room for him to work in those areas anymore, so now he hopes to visit them in Rome as he passes through on his way to Spain.

As I was going through this passage I mentioned to my hubby that I never really thought about this before.  Paul travelled everywhere, in a day and age where everything was done through walking, riding horses/carts, or travelling by boat. Everything took time. As I ponder this truth I wonder about the people Paul would have met along the way.  Knowing that his motivation was always to preach the truth he was taught, how many people did he reach for the Lord as he travelled from point A to point B? The thought staggers me… Other than the fact that currently I have a health thing that causes me to think.. I don’t walk to walk across town (granted I don’t even want to drive across town)… Paul did this all the time and he would have met people along the way.   Taking your time to travel by foot opens doors we don’t always have nowadays.  Worth doing a bit more perhaps?  What do you think?

Anyways, Paul’s goal was to stop in to visit with the Roman Church, to meet the longing he has to visit with them, and also to be helped on his journey by them.

However… first he needs to go to Jerusalem to be of help to the believers there. This reason: For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. You see the Gentile owe to the Jewish believers to help them, so they did so, not only out of duty but out of desire.   So once Paul has discharged his duty in Jerusalem he plans to come to them.

I like this verse “I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”  Ah, how often are we really aware of that.  That any meeting we have will have, any plans that we make, happen only in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.  If it’s meant to be, it happens when Christ allows it to happen.  So no “misgotten” things happen to us.  No chance meetings.  Everything in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

Paul makes an appeal: to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.  Paul covets the prayers of the faithful on his behalf.  His request: that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

How often do we ask for prayer and fail to be specific  about our needs?  Paul knows things are difficult for him in Judea.  He has goals he hopes to meet, and his reliance upon the Lord is such he knows he needs prayer to get through. Three needs Paul has

  • deliverance from unbelievers
  • Service to be acceptable
  • to be able to come to Rome and be refreshed by the visit.

Good prayer requests eh?  Specific. Showing need. Asking for help…wanting to be joyful.  Good prayers.

So, what specific prayers do you have?   Anything I can reach out to with for you?

 

Paul, A Servant

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Romans 15:14-21 has this to say to us today:

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,
    and those who have never heard will understand.”

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Think of the Weaker, Part two

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I started this passage yesterday, and so want to continue looking at it.  Romans 15:1-7

 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For
whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Remember this, as believers, it isn’t our goal to be running around pleasing ourselves.  We have a higher calling, to be running around pleasing God.  Seeing his glory and honour magnified in the world.

One of the ways we do that, is in how we treat others.

Seriously, think about that for a minute.

God lavishes all this love on us.  We a weak, fairly insignificant (in some ways) specks on the earth compared to his greatness.  YET.. of all that he made, God chose to make us in his image, and throughout history has made much of us…calling us his very own children, sending his Son to die for us… so that HIS glory can be seen throughout the earth.

Think about that a spell.

He rescued us from ourselves.   He didn’t have to. He chose to.  Sending his Son, his very own beloved Son, to die for us.  Making us right with him.

So how should we live?  Should we live like we are all that?
NO… oh heavens.  God calls us beyond ourselves.  Just like he goes BEYOND himself. Holding his anger back, acting on our behalf.

Our response to those around us should be the same as God toward us.  Being mindful of the weak.  Building each other.    We have an example you know? For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
 He knew our weakness but didn’t lord it over us did he?   Did he say “oh, well I know better you stupid silly things”.  He didn’t.  He took the time to teach and explain, to lead by example, to show us a much better way.

  4 For
whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope. 
He had his word written down, words of instruction that bring hope to us. Hope and encouragement and an ability to endure. This is what he gave us freely.

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
 So he asks this of us… to live in harmony with each other.  Why?  So with one voice we can glorify God who has done so much for us.  Be welcoming,  Be patient with each other.  Teach and explain and lead by example.   Not hurting the weak among us, but helping them to mature into the faith.

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Think of the Weaker

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Did you know that being sick sucks!   Means you get terribly behind on things… including things like doing devotions.  I’ve been starting to feel a bit away from the Lord and realized I really need to get back to spending time with the Lord.

So getting back to Romans, today it’s chapter 15:1-7.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Oh… I read that first verse… it makes me so aware of my frailities.
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Let me explain, this morning my son did something that was a bit less than kind, and since I’m not quite myself, I burst into tears and he apologized up the wazoo.  Appropriate to feel sorry for hurting someone, but he kept on apologizing.   This gave me the opportunity to help him understand the difference between guilt and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is immediate.  He was being thoughtless, apologized and was forgiven.  The guilt was a way for God to say “Hey, mind what you are doing lad, learn and let it go” and ALSO a way for Satan to get his hooks into him “You’re such a nasty thing, how dare you even breathe”.   

It gave us a change talk about how guilt is such an easy hook for Satan, causing us not to thank God (or the person forgiving us) for their forgiveness and then choosing to MOVE FORWARD in our relationship instead of lingering in the past. Guilt holds us in the past.

Anyways, So when I read those words it brought that whole conversation back to mind.  About the stuff in the physical helps us to see the spiritual more clearly.

And God helps us ALL THE TIME.  The weak vessels that we are.  
So our helping our fellows, the weaker ones among us, is just us showing God’s love and concern for us in a tangible  way.
 
 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
So Let us then do what verse two says… build each other up.   Not seeking after our own good, but for the good of the weak ones among us.  Building them up in their faith.

 I will continue this passage tomorrow!  🙂

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Faith is Key, Romans 14.

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Romans 14:13-23, 10 verses to peruse today.

Therefore… that’s a connector word.  Connecting one passage with another. Remember that God is the one that judges?  We can’t judge each other, we are all under God’s authority.    So what should we do instead? 
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 
Make a decision to do this: To not put stumbling blocks in front of each other. Don’t hinder each other in our journey of faith. 


It’s not an easy thing though you know?   Paul gives the example of the type of food we eat or drink… One might consider it clean and another unclean.  If one of your number considers it wrong to do, then don’t do it.  Who are you to cause another to stumble or to wander in their faith?   

14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Remember…what’s our first priority.  Are we serving God?   Are we about the building up of the Kingdom of God?  Are we focusing on righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit?  Pursue these things.   Don’t focus on the divisions and the trivialities… focus on the big picture…the building up of the Kingdom of God. 

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 
Again see this truth… do not do things to cause your fellow believer to stumble in their faith. 

I have to admit, I struggle with this.
I used to work for an organization that insisted that if I was out in public doing my own thing, and if I had been one to enjoy a beer, if I was on my own time and someone came up from work (I worked in special needs) i would immediately have to stop doing what I was doing or I would be fired or subject to a disciplinary hearing.    I remember thinking… how incredibly unfair is that?!?!?!    I still think that way. Institutional demands of one brand of thinking… there needs to be room for faith to grow and become stronger.

On the same token though, if I knew someone who was struggling with addiction issues, I wouldn’t choose to tempt faith by flaunting whatever they are addicted to in their path.  I want to be a lending hand to help them on their way.
 
 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But
whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not
from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Faith is the key element you see?   If you know by faith that God allows a thing, and you know you aren’t contravening scripture, then do it.  BUT if you have any doubt at all.. don’t do it because you aren’t operating from a faith stand-point.
  
Cause you know ultimately… we answer to God for how we live out our faith. No one else can answer for us.  All we need to do is this…not cause another to stumble in their faith, and to live out our faith as best we can.   That’s it.  No passing judgement.

Again I find this hard.  How do you challenge another without SEEMING to pass judgement?  For instance, those who say you can live in a manner that is sinful, and yet they are firmly convinced that how they want to live isn’t sinful, that it’s just a misunderstanding.   How does one gently encourage them to reexamine scripture?  How does one do this without sitting in judgement?  It’s such a fine line and I’m not sure I always know where it is.   You know what I mean?

What Say You? I’d like to know your thoughts.

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©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Don’t Pick Fights Over Little Things

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Romans 14: 1-12 is our reading today. 


As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Oh… in today’s society, how are this is eh?   To have someone new come to church and not want to argue with them over their faith?   Paul is clear here… don’t argue over opinions with someone weak in the faith.    What should you do then?  

2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
This lack of arguing with them stems from this: not passing judgement on each other.  The weaker not to judge the stronger, the stronger in the faith to not judge the weaker.   

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
One person says Saturday is a day of rest and worship, another says “Sundays in the day to rest and worship”.  Honestly… does it matter?   Is the person involved intent on worshipping the Lord?   Then let it be.  It’s shouldn’t be a bone of contention.   Honour the Lord.  Give thanks to him.   Do you see?  It’s not salvation issues Paul is talking about.. it’s just stuff.. like should a sanctuary be carpeted, should you use praise and worship or only hymns.   The thing is.. be convinced in your own mind.. but don’t pick fights with people or judge or despise them over it.   That’s not our place.  It isn’t.  

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
The question to us is this…are we aware that living or dying.. we are to do it to the Lord.  We are to hold us ourselves accountable to the Lord, not to each other.. to the LORD.  That’s the end result of it all. 
What say you?


This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.