Good morning. We are back in Romans. Paul talks about we are many members though we do not have the same function. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. And whatever the gift, exercise it to the best of your ability. Let love be without hypocrisy. The word hypocrisy is intriguing in the context. When you are a hypocrite, it usually means that what's OK for me is not OK for someone else – like in the political world. Possibly it means that I can do what I want, but you still have to love me; but you can't do just anything you want and expect me to still love you. Abhor what is evil. I guess that's the same feeling like you have when you see something really gross, and you simply will not touch it. You even shudder to think about touching it. We should feel the same way about "touching" evil. Cling to what is good – like shirts in the dryer. If we cling to the good, we won't be tempted by the evil. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. That relates to the pastor's messages about love your neighbor. We need to be other person minded. We need to be: not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Whew! I'm exhausted just reading it. And then a really hard verse: bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. That is definitely not the way we feel. We want to react like Donald Trump. We want to fire back at those who persecute us. Rejoice with those who rejoice. In other words, don't get jealous when God blesses someone else, and we haven't been blessed like they have. Weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Too many Christians are haughty in mind. They look down on others and despise them. They look down on people who don't come in "church" clothes. When you think you are wise, then you are most vulnerable. Father thank You that the reader is excellent in all of these areas. Heal his/her body completely. Provide the best transportation for him/her. Provide him/her with all of the finances that he/she needs. Help everything to be great with his/her family!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds

  Good morning. And men repented, right? And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and the water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. Previously, the 6th angel blew his trumpet and told them to release the four angels at the river Euphrates so that the army of 200 million could cross over. Back to the bowl: and I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great Day of God, the Almighty. Father continue to bring blessings upon the reader and his/her family every day  of their lives.
Read more

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