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Unashamed

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. – Romans 1:16a

Paul makes this statement very early in his letter to the people of Rome. Why was Paul so unashamed of sharing God’s Word? First, he had a very personal knowledge of the power behind it. As we learn in Acts 9, God completely transformed Paul (then called Saul) from a person who murdered Christians into someone who had a great desire to share the Good News of Jesus. More importantly, Paul understood that it is only through faith in Christ that a person obtains salvation, and he knew that was the most important thing he could share with anyone, because it is the only thing of eternal significance. It isn’t always easy to share Jesus with others, but it wasn’t easy for Paul, either. We should all strive to have the same passion for sharing the eternal hope that exists in Christ with those around us.

Ungodliness

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. – Romans 1:22-23

How many non-Christian people today appear to be wise and act like they have it all figured out? Unfortunately, these same people worship and idolize things far away from God. For some the idol is money and material possessions. Others have as their idol a lifestyle filled with drunkenness and improper sexual activity. They act like they’re the smartest people in the world because they get to do whatever they want. Sadly, though, they miss out on the single most important thing of all: a relationship with their Creator and Savior.

Judge Not

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ... For there is no partiality with God. – Romans 2:1-2, 11

As Christians, it is sometimes easy for us to judge those around us when they are not acting as we think they should. On a personal level, this is perhaps my biggest struggle. It can be very easy to jump to a conclusion about someone without thinking through it first. But God makes it very clear that it is not our place to judge others, because we are all sinners, and we are only saved by His grace. God is the ultimate judge. We don’t need to waste our time pronouncing judgments on others because all people will be judged by Him someday and, as verse 11 tells us, He is the fairest judge of them all.

The Danger of Hypocrisy

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. – Romans 2:21-24

As Christians, we have been given a very important task: teach others and be a light in their lives. At the same time, though, we need to make sure that we are listening when we teach. “Actions speak louder than words,” as the old saying goes, and that is a very good saying to remember in our daily lives. If a non-Christian sees a Christian doing something he or she supposedly believes is wrong, what kind of an impression does that give the non-Christian? It is also probably easier for the non-Christian to justify blasphemy when Christians don’t appear to be taking God seriously.

Looking Beyond the Surface

For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? – Romans 2:25-27

Looking beyond the surface is precisely what we have to do when interpreting today’s passage of Scripture. While on the surface it is talking about Jewish law and customs related to circumcision, there is a much deeper meaning. God doesn’t want any of his children to be extremely religious (metaphorically, circumcised) on the outside, appearing to be the perfect Christian on Sundays, while acting on hatred, lust, greed, or other sinful desires during the rest of the week. He would much prefer that we all devote ourselves fully to Him all the time, even when that means admitting our faults and mistakes. To God, what’s on the inside is infinitely more important than what’s on the outside.

Are Humans Good or Bad?, Part 1 of 2

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24

Many non-Christians will argue that people are generally good, and if that’s true, then why do we need a savior? The problem is, that’s not true. Each one of us is born into a life of sin. That doesn’t mean we can’t find good within people; most people have plenty of good things to offer. However, at the core, we are sinful. If that wasn’t the case, why would we be tempted by evil desires? That’s why the “people are basically good” argument is illogical. The people who try to make that claim forget one other very important point as well: We’re not to compare ourselves to each other, but to Jesus. Compared to murderers, for example, a lot of us appear to be pretty good. But Jesus is perfect, and though we should all strive to be more like Him, no one can possibly live up to that level of perfection.

Are Humans Good or Bad?, Part 2 of 2

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24

People are sinners, not “basically good” as some in the world will try to claim, because we must compare ourselves with Jesus. Jesus knew no other human could be perfect, though, which is why He died for our sins. All we have to do is ask for His forgiveness and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Romans 3:23, the “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” portion of the above Scripture passage, is one of the most frequently quoted verses in the Bible, yet it’s also one of the shortest and easiest to understand. Among other things, that can remind us of how important yet how simple God’s gift of salvation is. It’s anything but simple in meaning and importance, but it is very simple for us to receive. God is waiting and He never gives up hope; all you have to do is ask!

By Grace Alone

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. – Romans 4:2

We are saved by grace, by faith in Christ Jesus. Good works are wonderful, and while we should do as much good work as we can in order to spread the message of Jesus to the world, works cannot save a person. Why does it have to be that way? It’s the only way it can be, and Romans 4:2 tells us why. If we could be saved by works, then ungodly things would begin to happen. We would all start to boast to each other and to God about how good our works are, taking the focus off of God and placing ourselves in the spotlight. Most significantly, it would be OUR actions that would save us, not God’s grace. God didn’t want it to be that way. Instead, He wants us to place our faith in Him, saying, “Yes, God, I do trust you.” That way God receives the glory instead of any of us, and that is how it should be.

Peace

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1

Peace. It sounds so wonderful and so simple, yet so often we fail to look to God as our source of peace. What robs us of that peace? I think worry is usually the biggest thing. God specifically tells us not to worry, and it's because He knows we'll be much better off if we don't. Worrying about anything, whether it's something that doesn't really matter like which clothes to wear or something of great significance like how to pay for your child's future college tuition, takes away the peace that God so freely offers. Trust God, and He will provide for us and take care of each one of us. Some of you may think I'm just young and idealistic, but consider this: I live a life that is almost always happy and worry-free, and I live that way purely by choice; I haven't always been that way. I am fully aware of everything that is going on in the world, I just choose to live apart from it. I don't have a significant amount of money and I don't have a lot of material possessions, but I fully believe that God will give me everything I need, just as He has always done. God offers the same lifestyle to anyone who wants it. Will you accept His offer?

Thankful for Tribulations?

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:3-4

Why should we be thankful in times of trouble? To many, that seems like such a strange and foreign concept. But we should be thankful, because something good always comes out of a tribulation. I’m not sure whether God causes bad things to happen sometimes or whether He simply allows them to happen because of free will. Either way, though, I’m certain of one thing: He uses those times to teach us new things and to bring us closer to Him. The next time you find yourself in a difficult period of your life, try to look on the bright side. Spend more time with God, draw near to Him, and see what He can teach you. You’ll come out of that time with more wisdom, improved character, and most importantly, a stronger, more trusting relationship with God.

Die to Sin

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? – Romans 6:1-2

A question I’ve heard before from a non-believer is, “What’s the point of being saved if you can continue doing whatever you want because you know you’ll be forgiven?” While that technically may make sense, it doesn’t turn out to be logical for anyone who truly understands what it means to be born again in Christ. Yes, all our sins are forgiven through Jesus, but if we have truly accepted him as our Lord and Savior, then we are reborn in Him and therefore we should no longer want to sin. Temptations still exist, though, and some people struggle longer to break addictions than others once they do become saved. But if we can truly give ourselves freely and completely to God, I believe He has the power to help us overcome any temptation.

To Whom are You a Slave?

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? – Romans 6:16

I find it interesting how some non-Christians seem to think that Christians are obligated to live a moral lifestyle while they are free to do what they want. Unfortunately, those people completely miss the point. We’re all slaves to someone or something; no one can be completely “free.” Some people are slaves to sin--to the lusts of their bodies. They give in to each and every desire and while they may feel free to do those things, the reality is that they have in fact become slaves of their own lusts. Some could also be called slaves of the world, because they have such a desire to conform to the world and do whatever everybody else is doing. Other people, though, choose to be servants of God, giving themselves over to Him. Even if you have a habit related to some type of lust that’s hard to break, it’s definitely worth the effort. Would you rather serve lusts of the flesh or the Almighty God?

God’s Gift to Us

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

Let’s make sure we don’t take God’s awesome gift for granted and forget what we deserve. We’re all sinners. No one truly deserves to spend eternity with God. But, as John 3:16 says, He loved us so much that He sent His only son to die for us, so that we could spend eternity in heaven with Him if we so choose to accept His gift. There isn’t much commentary I can add to this particular verse because it says it all itself. I simply encourage you to take a moment to stop and think about how perfect God is, how sinful each one of us is, and how powerful and amazing His gift to us truly is.

The Struggle

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. – Romans 7:15

How many times have you had the struggle that Paul describes here? He doesn’t understand what he is doing. He knows that he doesn’t do the things he wants to do, but instead he does the things he hates. Paul speaks in general terms, and because of that, this verse can relate to a wide variety of sinful behaviors. Is there something in your life that you continue to do, even though you know it’s wrong and you want to stop? Keep trying to stop and don’t give up, because in the end, it’ll be worth it. When you’re finally able to hold onto Jesus long enough to free yourself from that sinful habit, the feeling of freedom is certain to be worth every bit of the struggle.

Being Spiritually Minded

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. – Romans 8:5-6

Every human being has two opposing choices as to how to live his or her life, and Paul spells them out clearly and simply for us in this passage from Romans. We can live according to the flesh, giving into all its desires for things such as money, material possessions, fame, power, and sexual pleasure. Or we can live according to the Spirit, keeping our focus on God and doing our best to stay away from those sinful desires of the flesh. When we do that, we can feel the peace that the Spirit offers as opposed to the worry, stress, fear, and everything else that comes from the opposing lifestyle.

Suffering for God’s Glory

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18

People can suffer for Christ in a variety of ways. For many of us in the United States, our suffering will be insignificant compared to other parts of the world, where Christians are imprisoned or even killed. Paul himself suffered greatly during his lifetime because he was spreading the news of Jesus. However, we can still apply this verse to our daily lives. Whenever anyone treats you differently and/or poorly because you are a Christian, don’t hesitate to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t back down and appear weak in your faith, but stand up for Jesus, even if you do have to endure a little bit of suffering along the way. The world needs to see that Christians take our faith seriously, and any type of suffering or persecution in the name of Jesus will only serve to bring glory to God.

God Is In Control

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Sometimes, bad things happen. The world is a sinful place, and bad things are a result of sin in one way or another. (Even sudden, unexpected health problems are a result of Adam and Eve’s original sin.) But even when you’re going through a difficult time, remember that God is always in control. I’m not sure if He causes bad things to happen so He can teach us something, or if He simply allows those things to happen through our free will, and then He uses those situations for good. It could be a combination of both. We can know that God is with us even in the worst of situations, and He is always in control. You might learn something new about yourself or about God, you might become stronger emotionally or spiritually, and you usually will draw closer to God during those difficult times. God can always turn a bad situation into something very good.

The Answer: No One

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31

This is one of those short but powerful verses that says so much itself that it leaves little room for any additional commentary. I think this verse is as important today as it has ever been, with a society that seems increasingly unfriendly toward Christians. We can be assured, though, that God protects and cares for His children without ceasing. Some people have to endure difficult situations, most often at work, because of their Christian beliefs. Those beliefs may bring about ridicule from nonbelievers or, in extreme cases, could cost someone his or her job. But consider this verse along with Romans 8:28. All things work together for good for those who love God. Even when it seems like the world is against you, God is for you, and He will always make things work out for good. I know I would choose God over the world any day!

Boundless Love

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

What an inspiring two verses these are! Nothing on earth can separate us from God’s love, and Paul knew this as well as anybody, considering he was mistreated by nonbelievers and even put in jail. Some governments today try to restrict their citizens’ religious beliefs, jailing Christians or even worse in some cases. But the love of God that comes to us through Christ can penetrate any government and any jail walls. God’s love is everlasting and it has no boundaries. Even in this country, where any persecutions we may endure are insignificant compared to Christians in some parts of the world, atheists and agnostics seem to be growing more influential and some courts are making anti-Christian decisions. Still, nothing can separate us from God’s love. Let’s not worry about what the government does or what other people say; let’s instead open ourselves up and let Christ’s love fill us up inside!

Honoring God With Our Bodies

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2

These are two powerful verses that the world desperately needs to hear! Because of God’s mercy toward us, we should be willing to present our “bodies as a living sacrifice”--in other words, we don’t give in to evil desires and lusts of the flesh but instead we continually sacrifice ourselves to God. We cannot be “holy, acceptable to God” if we constantly give in to those desires. Let us not be conformed to this world, either, for the world is full of temptations that encourage us to give in to those desires. The world around us makes it extremely difficult but we must focus on renewing ourselves and keeping our minds on God. It is a struggle at times, but when we stop to consider everything God has done for us, isn’t the struggle worth it?

Humility

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

As imperfect humans, we spend far too much time comparing ourselves to each other. Maybe you appear to be a better person than John and maybe Joe seems to be better than you, but why does that even matter? As Christians, the only person we should be comparing ourselves to is Christ. Can we ever fully measure up? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to be as much like Him as possible. If you stop comparing yourself to other humans and start comparing yourself to Jesus, your entire perspective changes. On a deeper level, this is partially where the false idea that “humans are basically good” comes from. Many non-Christians are quick to believe that and some Christians do as well, but if we are only comparing ourselves to our Savior as we should, there is virtually no danger of falling into that trap.

Unity In Christ

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. – Romans 12:4-5

As Paul clearly states, we are one body in Christ. One--a singular word which does not imply a group but a single entity. Of course, Paul is not implying that we cannot have our differences. Each one of us is unique because that’s how God created us and it is important to express our individual views and opinions. However, when it comes to spreading God’s Word, if we don’t work together, we send the world a very poor message. Within a church, there is a time to express our differences, but when it comes to sharing the Gospel with non-believers, we should be unified. On a broader scale, different Christian denominations exist which have slightly different worship practices, but we still worship the same God and we all need to work together to spread His Word. Our single goal is to bring people to Christ, isn’t it? After all, that is the only thing of eternal value.

Spiritual Gifts

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. – Romans 12:6-8

I believe that we all possess different spiritual gifts thanks to the grace of God. It is our responsibility as Christians to realize what our individual gifts are and use them for His glory. Do you have gifts that you are not using? If so, I would encourage you to seek out new opportunities to put those gifts to use. However, some people are in the exact opposite situation. Do you feel overwhelmed with all that you are trying to do for your church and for God? If so, it may be the case that you are trying to do too much, which can ultimately have a negative impact on yourself as well as those around you. Spend time in prayer about it, then focus on the things you do best and enjoy the most, as those things are probably where your spiritual gifts lie.

Brief But Powerful

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9

This brief verse contains powerful wisdom in three separate yet very important areas. First, Paul advises us to love without being hypocritical. Just as God loves us unconditionally, so should we love others if we are truly following God’s will for our lives. Next, Paul tells us to “abhor what is evil.” In those four simple words, he has managed to convey a message that few people in today’s world seem to fully comprehend. We need to stand up against evil and not give into it. Paul knows that simply trying to avoid evil in this world may not be enough. We should utterly hate and detest anything that is evil! And we should not merely accept and give in to it as a “modern” way of life. Along the same lines, his third point tells us to “cling to what is good.” It can be so easy for good morals and values to slip away, especially in this society. Cling to those good things; hold on tightly and show the world what it truly means to live for Christ!

Christian Characteristics

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. – Romans 12:10-13

In these four verses Paul gives us a list of traits and lifestyle habits that a good Christian needs to have. He again speaks of kindness and brotherly love, as love is most important above everything else. He then encourages us to serve the Lord with enthusiasm, not because we feel obligated to but because we want to and we are excited to show the world what He has done for us! Among the other characteristics mentioned, he advises us to be patient in tribulation, always trusting God instead of doubting Him; to also show God that we trust Him through ongoing, consistent prayer; and to always take care of others who are in need.

Bless Your Persecutors

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:14-15

There is very little true religious persecution in this country compared to what happens in some parts of the world. Still, there are many worldly people in this country who are intolerant of Christians. How do you respond when someone mocks you because of your beliefs? If you haven’t experienced that, how do you think you would respond? I think we all know how we should respond, but actually responding in that way can be much more difficult. It is important to remember the impact our response will have on the other person. Most likely, that person expects us to respond in anger, and by doing that we look no different than the rest of the world. However, by responding in a gentler way and trying to bless that person in return, we give him or her a reason to stop and think that maybe there actually is something different and special about being a Christian.

Examples of Humility

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. – Romans 12:16

Jesus was the ultimate example of humility. Among many other examples, He ate with sinners and tax collectors and washed His disciples’ feet. Paul was a great example of humility himself, falling (in a worldly sense) from a powerful Christian persecutor to, in his own words, the least of the disciples (1 Corinthians 15:9). But at the same time that he “fell” in worldly stature, God was molding him into the first great missionary of the early Christian church. All that Jesus and Paul accomplished in this world came from their humble attitudes. Imagine what all we could accomplish if we all humbled ourselves and served God so completely!

Living In Harmony

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. – Romans 12:17-19

It is an unfortunate but true fact in this world that people will sometimes hurt you and even anger you. Do you react with patience and kindness when that happens, or with anger and plans for revenge? Christians generally know how God wants us to respond, but since we’re all created differently, responding as we should is easy for some but much more difficult for others. Trusting God as the perfect and ultimate judge and forgetting yourself are the two main keys. If you don’t think about yourself, your focus will not be on hurt feelings or anger that may otherwise occur. Focus on other things instead, such as God’s forgiveness of your own sins. It’s more difficult to be angry at someone else when you keep in mind that you, too, are a sinner.

Good Always Overcomes Evil

Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:20-21

This is not the first time I have discussed this idea, but it is something that is definitely worth repeating in a world where getting even seems to be the norm. God tells us (through Paul in this instance) that we need to overcome evil with good, not only because He wants us to love our neighbor but also because He knows it is much more effective! Someone who commits an evil act against you, especially if it is intentional, is most likely expecting you to react by lashing out in anger and attempting to get revenge. If you react in the spirit of love instead, not only will you be pleasing to God but you will also get the attention of that person, showing them by action that love is the central theme of Christianity.

Love: The Ultimate Commandment

For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:9-10

It’s hard to add a devotional thought to a Scripture passage as complete and all-encompassing as this one is. I love the way Paul writes about this idea. Sure, we can refer to the Ten Commandments or many other sections of the Bible for guidance and wisdom on how we should live and how we should treat the people around us. But if we love each other as as Christ loves us--keeping in mind that this is no ordinary love but a perfect, unconditional love--we will have no desire to do anything that could hurt other people.

From Darkness to Light

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. – Romans 13:12-13

I love mornings. While nights themselves are not evil just like money itself is not evil, so many evil things tend to happen at night. The people who commit those evil acts must believe that the darkness may help to conceal what they are doing, and at least to some extent that is true. Yet when the sun first begins to rise the next morning, and God always sends light for another day to “cast off” the darkness. That’s just one of the many little fascinating things I love about God and the Bible: He so perfectly uses the analogy of light and darkness in comparison with good and evil. Just as light helps to expose the evil, and brings out the good, allow God to expose the evil within you so that He can help you “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Ignore the Flesh

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. – Romans 13:14

Human beings have experienced lusts of the flesh ever since we were first created. A “lust” can mean many things, from the frequently used sexual connotation to the very first instance of lust--when Eve lusted after that piece of fruit. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that those desires go away when you become a Christian. But by becoming a Christian, you now have an extra tool at your disposal. God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will fight for you if you want Him to. He still gives you the free will to give into those desires if you want, but it is always a choice. Choose to follow God instead of the “lusts of the flesh.” If a desire becomes overpowering, pray to God and I absolutely believe He will deliver you from that desire. God no doubt has the power; He just wants you to place your trust in Him, and He will take care of it for you. So the next time you are facing a temptation, say a prayer for deliverance or even say Jesus’ name out loud, because Satan cannot overpower you if Jesus is there.

Acceptance

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. – Romans 14:2-4

These three verses really speak to the idea of acceptance. Now, there are two vastly different types of acceptance. As Christians, we should not accept or endorse sinful behavior in others. We should love all people, but God does not want us to treat sinful actions as if they are acceptable. However, what I get out of this passage is the idea of being accepting of each other’s differences when those differences are not sinful. God created each one of us to be unique; we all have our own little quirks and preferences. Those are the things which God does not want us to judge about each other--those insigifnicant little differences that make one person no less of a Christian than another but simply speak to our individual uniqueness.

Belonging to the Lord

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. – Romans 14:7-9

Here, Paul reminds us that we do not belong to ourselves--a reminder that many of us frequently need to hear. Christ died a very painful and humiliating death for us (which is something else we need to be sure we don’t take for granted) and our hearts, minds, and bodies belong to Him. I believe it is imperative that each of us keeps that fact in our mind at all times. For each action that you do, are you doing it for yourself or for the Lord? If you discover that you are doing something for yourself, perhaps you need to reevaluate it.

We’re All Sinners Before God

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. – Romans 14:10-13

It seems that the Bible speaks of the issue of being judgmental quite frequently; perhaps that is because God knew how easy it is for us to judge and compare ourselves to one another. We need to continually remind ourselves that we are all sinners and that no one sin is more significant than another in God’s eyes. If you are able to live by those two ideas, judging others automatically becomes much more difficult.

Serving Others

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." – Romans 15:1-3

Think about how Jesus lived His life here on earth. Did He do anything to please Himself? No; everything He did was done out of His unconditional love for others. He helped, He taught, He forgave, He served...He did so many other things, but not a single one of them was solely for Himself. Ultimately, He gave His own life to save all of us who believe. He is the ultimate example of a servant that we should try to follow in our daily lives. Help your neighbor, not yourself. Serve your community, not yourself. Forgive others freely instead of holding your own negative feelings inside. In everything you do, serve those around you and follow Jesus’ example.

Avoid Deceivers

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. – Romans 16:17-18

There are many people in the world who will try to deceive you. Unfortunately, some of those people are so-called Christians, whether on TV or elsewhere. (Some may be misguided Christians while others may not be believers at all, but the effect is the same.) Be on guard to protect yourself against such people. They may not always be easy to detect. A false doctrine that seems to have become fairly popular of late is the “prosperity gospel,” but deceivers can preach in many different ways. One of the best ways to avoid being deceived is to read the Bible on a regular basis. Reading God’s Word and becoming more familiar with the Truth will help build up your defenses when a false teacher tries to lead you astray.

God Will Crush Satan

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. – Romans 16:19-20a

I love the way the last part of this passage is phrased! God won’t merely defeat Satan; Paul writes that He will crush him! As Christians, especially when times get tough, we need to remember that God is always in control. Even if Satan appears to be getting an upper hand for a while, God is still ultimately in control. Nothing surprises God; nothing happens that He doesn’t know about, and nothing happens outside the grasp of His loving hand. If we do our part, being “wise in what is good” and avoiding evil, following God’s path in life, He will always take good care of us even during the difficult times. Besides, we already know the ending to this story (Revelation), and we know who will get the victory!

The Bible and Homosexuality, Part 1 of 3

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. – Romans 1:26-27

While this is a sensitive topic, it is something I have felt led to discuss for quite some time. We don’t need modern science to determine the cause of homosexual behavior. God, through Paul, gave us a clear answer nearly two millennia ago—and if we truly believe the Bible, there should be no controversy among Christians. Are homosexuals born with an attraction to members of the same sex? I don’t know what it’s like to experience that sort of desire, so I can’t answer that for sure. The Bible doesn’t have to give us the answer to that; it’s not a science book. But even if they are, that doesn’t make the sin acceptable; God has made that perfectly clear to us. We all have sinful desires that we have to overcome; homosexuals aren’t alone in having temptations.

The Bible and Homosexuality, Part 2 of 3

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. – Romans 1:26-27

Are we being unreasonable if we condemn the homosexual lifestyle? I don’t believe so. Some heterosexual Christians experience sexual desires while others struggle with alcoholism or extreme materialism, and our modern culture makes it easy to give in to any of those evil desires. The point is, each and every one of us has to deal with sinful desires of one type or another. However, we only give in to such sin when we pull ourselves away from God, at which point those “vile passions” take over. It is vitally important for each of us to live a pure lifestyle for God, regardless of what our individual temptations and desires may be. However, instead of following God’s path, a homosexual person has chosen to give into the temptation to live a sinful life.

The Bible and Homosexuality, Part 3 of 3

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. – Romans 1:26-27

To reiterate a vital point, we all have to deal with sinful desires of one type or another. Those who are practicing a homosexual lifestyle have chosen to give in to their desires, but that doesn’t make those people any worse in terms of sinning than others who give in to temptations such as adultery, alcoholism, or materialism. We’re all sinners. But we must remember something: As Christians, we are called to hate the sin but love the sinner--just as Christ loves us all. Jesus took the time to sit down and talk with some of the worst sinners of His day and many of their lives were radically changed as a result. Let’s follow Jesus’ example in ministering to people who have given in to a sinful desire to show them that there is a better way.

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