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Romans 7:17 & 20

But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Encouraging Words…

I am not depraved! I am created in the image of God! I am not sinful by nature, but sin which is distinctly separate from me still dwells within my fleshly body. The early church fathers taught that because I am created in the image of God, there is an indelible goodness in my nature that can never be undone. Yes, I can become immersed in sin, but I can know that it is not part of my nature, but a foreign force that dwells within me. Sin is what I do, not what I am. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner! Lord Jesus Christ, Master of my life, give me the power and the desire to say “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to Your will in my life. Glory be to God!

Romans 3:10-12

As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Encouraging Words…

If I read this passage through the filter that God is a wrathful, judging God, then there is no hope for mankind. If I read this through the filter that God is love and in the context of the entire scriptures, then I can see that God has provided total and complete hope for mankind through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. The law’s purpose was not to condemn mankind, but to point us to Christ and our need for Him. Through Christ the law has been justified and put to death.

For there is no partiality with God.

Personal Challenge…

Don’t we often as Christians show partiality when we label someone as not being a “true” Christian because they practice their Christianity different that us? If God shows no partiality then why do I think that I can?

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.”

Encouraging Words and Personal Challenge…

How easy is it to confuse Jesus’ blessings of the “bad” things (poverty, hunger, weeping, being hated) with the things of this world when He is referring to the things of the heavenly realm, which also exists in the present. Am I poor in hour I hold on to the possessions that I have and have a heart for the poor around me (both economically and spiritually)? Am I totally dependent upon God? Do I weep over the sufferings of this physical life and the suffering of those around me as well as those far off in such great need? Do I get persecuted because I uphold the truth, refuse to compromise with the ways of the world and give myself to none other than God? Here is where the blessings of God will pour into my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Encouraging Words…

From the Orthodox Study Bible: “The ultimate purpose of man’s existence is to attain the glory of God. Even if a person were to keep the whole law, he would still fall short of that glory, because he would still be bound by death. The glory of God is both eternal righteousness and eternal life. Jesus Christ alone lived in completed righteousness, and He alone was resurrected from the dead. Therefore, He alone is the fullness of the glory of God, and we receive that glory in Him (see Jn 14:6)” The encouraging part here is that through the glorious work of JEsus Christ I too will be able to enter in the the glory of God.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Personal Challenge…

God does not want His children to be passive followers of Him. He wants us to be active doing His will. But He also doesn’t want us to just be busy. If we are not operating within His will we are still just spinning our wheels. The life of a Christian is an active, purposeful, God-centered life.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles.”

Personal Challenge…

Christ warns us to be prepared for the false leaders and teachers that will infiltrate His church. We are to watch for the fruit of their labors. Is there a history of division and brokenness left behind them…then they are suspect. Is there much pomp around their righteousness, knowledge, or piety… then they are suspect. Am I exhibiting any of this in my life…then I must repent and turn to Christ in humility. I am commanded to be diligent in my involvement in the church so that my eyes stay focused on Christ and not on men.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Encouraging Words and Personal Challenge…

As I return from a week in Mexico I must ask myself, “What in my life is really a need?” Many of those things in my life that I have treated as needs are really wants because the majority of the world lives without them. I complain about taking a cold shower every day when many have no running water and what water they do have is not safe to drink. I complain about the food I eat every day and yet many only get to eat a meager meal every few days. I can go on complaining about my work, my possessions, etc., etc., etc., and still many go without. Lord have mercy on me a sinner. So what should I be needing in my life? The kingdom of God that can only be found in those whom God has placed in my life; my wife, my children and grandchildren, my parents and siblings and their families. This is where the kingdom of God is. Also in the people of my church, work and neighborhood that He has blessed me with. The kingdom of God will not be found in stuff but in the life that He has called me into. It is here that I can project God’s love to those around me. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

Personal Challenge…

Have we, the church in America, become like the early church in Corinth? That city, and the church in it, was wealthy and prosperous, strong, and wise because it was in the center of the crossroads of the world. However, in all of this prospering the church had become ineffective in the world. Are we, am I, any different? God forbid! Am I willing to become a fool for Christ…abandoning all for Him? Am I willing to become weak for Him so that He can become strong in me? Am I willing to become dishonored in my world so that He becomes the one that is distinguished? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!