Good morning. Continuing in the book of Romans. I am going to quickly go through some of this and paraphrase things. Even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, but became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Of course all of this perfectly describes the world that we live in today. People have become a God unto themselves. Anything you can imagine, it's OK to do. And maybe I would not do what you're doing, but it is super great that you are doing it. One may think that I am only talking about the people of the world. But sadly it is also some Christians. Even though they may not be doing things that are as bad as the people of the world, they are still doing things that are not right. Then you get some legalistic Christians who are always judging others. They look for excuses to condemn others; especially those in the body of Christ. I am more righteous than you. And even if they are right, they are doing it with the wrong attitude. And sometimes it turns out that those who are condemning the loudest secretly do the same things themselves. Perhaps they think they will atone for their own sins if they condemn others. They should remember that it was "the kindness of God that led them to repentance". They should leave the judgment up to God. I used to be critical of people who could not control their children, until I had one I could not control. Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. You could replace the word law with 'the word of God', and it would be true in the church also. It's not just hearing the word, it's doing the word. Christianity is not a bystander sport. One needs to participate daily. And because the people of God do not practice the word then "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you". We are all lumped together with them; and are called hypocrites. Our circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. Father thank You that the reader is a shining example to others. He/she's a good neighbor to them and shows the love of God. Help him/her to have an outstanding day.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed

  Good morning. We left John at the entrance of the tomb, stooping and looking in. “Shy” Peter then arrives following John, and enters the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there. So the other disciple, John, who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. It does not say whether or not Peter believed. For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. I’m not exactly sure what it means by their own homes. They were originally from Galilee and would not have had homes in Jerusalem. Perhaps it means the homes where they were staying while in Jerusalem. Apparently, they were not staying in the upper room, or it would have said so. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped (just like John) and looked into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been l...
Read more

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and he granted permission. So he came and took away His body

  Good morning. After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and he granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 100 pounds weight. Remember that myrrh was one of the gifts that the magi brought when Jesus was a baby. Also notice that he had 100 pounds of spices. Normally one does not have that much just lying around the house. Since most likely he was older, he may have been storing it up for when he himself was going to die. Or perhaps while Jesus was hanging on the cross, he went to the merchants and purchased it, because there was no time to do so after Jesus died prior to the beginning of the Sabbath. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. My Bible says that these were thin ...
Read more

Why are you timid, you men of little faith?

  Good morning. Remember that Jesus had given orders that they should depart to the other side (of the lake). While Jesus was asleep in the boat, there arose a great storm, so that the boat was covered with the waves. This was no afternoon shower; it was one of those “make the palm trees bend over and touch the ground" kind of storms. And Jesus just slept through it! He had confidence in His Father to protect Him. The disciples, however, were not confident. They were focusing on the circumstances and not on the word Jesus had given them. They awoke Jesus saying, “save us, Lord; we are perishing!” Jesus had told them to go to the other side; so they should've been confident that they would make it. They did not even think about all of the miracles that Jesus had just finished doing. But even if they had, they probably would've said “well that was one thing, this is something entirely different”. The same thing happens to us. God tells us to do something, and a storm arises....
Read more