Romans 7

The author of Romans identifies the struggle between doing what is right and what is sin. Whether we totally understand his theological explanation or not, we can relate to the struggle we experience when we are pulled toward what the law describes as sin. Everyone is at their own degree of obedience … ONLY Christ Jesus was sinless. The writer previously declared, “All have sinned and come short.”

This life is a chance to grow in grace, God’s strength to do what we should. I look back at behavior I displayed when a young man, and I am appalled. Thank God I’m not the man I used to be. I see growth. Jokes I used to find funny now turn my stomach. God’s Word has has a profound effect on my inner man.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s devotion, because the writer gives solid solutions in Romans 8.

Romans 6

Whereas we used to be slaves to sin, through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we have been made slaves to do what’s right. We can now ask ourselves, “What’s the right thing to do here.”  When we were our own master, we did what pleased us or what our lust desired. Now, when we are tempted to sin, we no longer obey the pull to please ourselves. We now desire to please Christ. If we sin, we confess our sin to Him and receive forgiveness so we can turn our direction towards His will.

Lord, I want to please You in everything, every thought, every action.

Romans 5

The first musical cantata I performed at Hope Temple in 1974 was called “God’s Love Gift.” Romans 5 clarifies how magnanimous this gift was. God gave His Best, Christ Jesus, for us who were totally undeserving of anything. In fact, many despise God and trash His love openly. Yet, His love still reaches. (The very next year, we performed “His Love Reaching.”)

So great a salvation … such great love … for people so undeserving. But in this we see how compassionate and generous true love is.

Lord, grace us to love like this.

Romans 3,4

Abraham is called the father of the faithful. Romans 4 highlights one of his prominent qualities … his faith did not waver or stagger. Other translations say …

He did not doubt, distrust, hesitate, display lack, question, or focus on his own impotence or hopelessness.

Rather, his complete posture was established in the adequacy of God rather than the inadequacy of man.

Which realm do we live in? Do we live in the “faith in God” category or the “woe is me?”

Maybe we need to change the pasture we’re living in.

Romans 2

If we judge or criticize sinners, we are already guilty of the same.

It’s so easy to slip into a pattern of thinking that elevates ourselves above others. What’s needed is a heart change … the writer of Romans calls it a “circumcision of the heart.” The uncleanness and judgmental attitude of our inner being needs to be overcome by Christ’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

Hypocrisy was the attitude that really set Christ off.

Acts 28, Romans 1

The writer of Romans makes it clear … we belong to Christ. He purchased us by giving His life to redeem us from the penalty of our sinful lives. His blood was shed FOR US. His life was sacrificed that we might live instead. He did not deserve death. We did.

Peter calls us a purchased possession.

Since we belong to Christ, we ought to conduct ourselves in total obedience to His teachings.

Acts 27

On his trip to Rome to appear before Caesar, Paul’s ship was dashed upon the rocks enroute. God sent an angel to reassure him that all on the ship would be safe if they would stay with him. As the angel predicted, they were preserved but the ship was lost.

We are experiencing one of life’s storms as we endure the Coronavirus pandemic. We sense God’s reassuring voice telling us that He has a plan and we will be preserved to fulfill His purposes. Yes, there will be some losses, but we will come out with our lives and the things most precious to us.

God, use this plague to bring souls to salvation.

Acts 24-26

Paul was arrested, imprisoned and tried on trumped up charges by the religious leaders of the day. He spoke truth. They fought truth.  (Sound familiar?)

He essentially gave testimony to his own life experiences. He told of what had happened to him on the road to Damascus when the Lord spoke out of a great light from heaven. His entire background prepared him to witness to Festus about his conversion and the power of the Gospel working in his life.  He also mentioned praying for Festus to understand the Gospel.

These two elements are predominant; (1) he gave testimony of his own experience, and (2) he was committed to prayer for unbelievers.

Testify and pray.

Testify and pray.

Acts 22,23

This will be an Easter to remember … quarantined and unable to go to church and celebrate the resurrection with other Christian believers. But, Christ is alive in our hearts so we can give Him praise in our homes. Yesterday and all through the night I have been singing Easter hymns in my heart. For me, the traditional hymns of Easter are a highpoint … “Christ Arose,” “He Lives,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” among others.

It’s His resurrection power that now lives in us that gives this day its lasting importance. We can overcome every form of earthly restriction because Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  [Romans 8:11]

Acts 21

Paul experienced very great opposition when he arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover. It seemed that the entire city of Jerusalem was against him. He caused a near riot when he was seen in public. He had to be rescued by the Roman soldiers.

You can be doing God’s work in a world-changing way and still incur vicious opposition.

“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12