Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 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.

Personal Challenge

We have come to a significant crossroad in our day with institutional Christianity. We are hearing so many people; church leaders, church participants, elected officials all proclaiming the label of Christian, and yet, treating their neighbors with contempt and hatred. This is antithetical to the teachings of the Christian faith. God has made it undeniably clear that we are to love our neighbor and do them no harm. If we desire to claim that we are a child of God, then we must look honestly at our behavior in this area. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Psalms 119:77 (118:77)

Let Your compassions come to me, and I shall live;
For Your law is my meditation.

Personal Challenge

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are challenged to walk in His footsteps, to be like Him, to act like Him. As the Psalmist here calls out for the compassions of God, we are reminded that Jesus was God’s compassion for us made incarnate. He poured out His compassion by humbling Himself and becoming human. If we are to truly be His followers, then we too must humble ourselves and be compassionate to those whom He brings into our life. This means everyone, the immigrant, the indigent, the homeless, the sinner, everyone! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and forgive me for not showing compassion to my neighbor.

Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Personal Challenge

One of the unchristian behaviors that I have seen in my lifetime is the blatant resistance to the leaders of our government. God has Appointed the leaders that we have. We are charged with submit ting to them and praying for them. We are blessed to live in a time and country where if we disagree with them, we can vote against them. We are to exercise that right with prayerful consideration and then treat those who are voted into office with godly respect. When the world around us begins to dehumanize and disrespect these leaders, we are not supposed to join in. That makes us complicit with the ways of the world, which are driven by the enemy of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Psalms 119:37 (118:37)

Turn away my eyes that I may not see vanity;
Give me life in Your way.

Personal Challenge

This is one thing that we so often neglect to seek after…God giving us life in His own way. We are constantly trying to shape that which goes on around us in our own ways and not His. This is why we so often end up committing sin and needing to run back to him. He has a way that will always lead us on His path. We need to take our eyes off the vane things of this world and keep them on Him. Glory be to God!

Romans 12:14-18

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 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.

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.

Personal Challenge

This passage is full of wise advice on how to live our lives in godly ways. Bless our persecutors. Do not curse. Rejoice and weep with those who need it. Be like minded with our brothers and sisters. Don’t focus on high and mighty things but be humble. Don’t repay evil with evil. Have regard for others and live peaceably with all. But, at the center of this list is the charge to not be wise in our own opinion. This is the one the gets us in to trouble more often than not. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Psalms 119:11 (118:11)

I hid Your teachings in my heart
So as not to sin against You.

Personal Challenge

As I get older, I recognize how important it has been to store up God’s words in my heart. As my memory begins to wane His teachings continue to be there for me. I may not be able to recall them all the time, but they do continue to lead and comfort me. Glory be to God!

Psalms 119:2 (118:2)

Blessed are those who search out His testimonies;
They shall search for Him with their whole heart.

Personal Challenge

We all desire to receive God’s blessing. This is part of being created in the image of God. We desire to be connected with our creator. If we truly desire to receive His blessing, then we must be searching for Him in all aspects of life. He placed Himself throughout all of creation. We can find those testimonies about Himself by searching for them, for Him. We need do this with our whole heart. This is not a search for knowledge but a search for God Himself. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me as I search for You in every nook and cranny of life!

Romans 12:9

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Personal Challenge

This short verse packs quite a wallop. We all have heard the two great commandments given to us by Jesus… Love God and love our neighbor. But like so many other things in the Christian walk, we can slip into a mode where we are pretending to love this way. Paul reminds us that we must love without being hypocrites. Is our love true and real? Is it Christ-like. Do we really abhor evil or just talk about it? Do we cling to what is good like our life depends on it? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Psalms 118:24 (117:24)

This is the day the Lord made;
Let us greatly rejoice, and be glad therein.

Encouraging Words

As I look out the window on this beautiful spring-like day and listen to the birds and squirrels chattering outside, this verse comes fully to life. This is the beautiful day that He has given me to enjoy in Him. How can I not greatly rejoice and be glad in it? We so often let the busyness of life get in the way of every day like this. Glory be to God for He is good!