The last statement from this verse made me think. It says, “…it is through faith that a righteous person has life.” I looked up righteous and it means: Acting in accord with divine or moral law. This made me think of our walk and how we fall short of his glory and try living on our own. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior there should be a heart change and a desire to be different. When that heart change takes place we submit to His will and our faith grows and we show Him our love by learning and obeying. When we are living with eyes focused on Christ, meditating on God’s word we can feel a difference in our lives. We long to grow and mature so we can do more, we don’t just go through the motions but we start living it out. Our faith that Jesus died for us is shown in how we live and what we believe by letting the Spirit lead us to seek God’s wisdom for life. When we accept Jesus and we say as He did, not my will be done, our faith leads us to a righteous life, still not perfect but focused on Him. Running the race to win and keeping our focus on the Son helps show we have new lives in Christ. Amen
Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jews first ad also the Gentiles. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
The last statement from this verse made me think. It says, “…it is through faith that a righteous person has life.” I looked up righteous and it means: Acting in accord with divine or moral law. This made me think of our walk and how we fall short of his glory and try living on our own. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior there should be a heart change and a desire to be different. When that heart change takes place we submit to His will and our faith grows and we show Him our love by learning and obeying. When we are living with eyes focused on Christ, meditating on God’s word we can feel a difference in our lives. We long to grow and mature so we can do more, we don’t just go through the motions but we start living it out. Our faith that Jesus died for us is shown in how we live and what we believe by letting the Spirit lead us to seek God’s wisdom for life. When we accept Jesus and we say as He did, not my will be done, our faith leads us to a righteous life, still not perfect but focused on Him. Running the race to win and keeping our focus on the Son helps show we have new lives in Christ. Amen
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Romans 14:7-9 “For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose – to be Lord of both the living and the dead.”
This is so hard for us to understand, we need to die to self as we accept Christ and live. It is so easy to think it is for (me) but we should become a group of servants thinking of others. What we like should be put on the back burner so we can help others experience the love of Christ which is truly amazing. In chapter 15 verse 13 it says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” We need to open our hearts and live by the Spirit, working hard to live a life that resembles Christ’s. We learn more and can grow more when we open God’s word and ask Him to show us what to do. Then the Spirit will fill us more and more and we can live to honor God not ourselves. Then people can see that we are real and different. That servant heart is what plants the seeds and our maturity waters it and then God makes it grow and blossom into people being fully devoted followers of Christ. We need to fill ourselves with God’s word and prayer so we are always developing into the people God intended. Amen Romans 8:12-14 “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Think of how important it is to fill our hearts and minds with God’s truth. We should seek to grow and learn everyday to be Christ like. I truly feel the Spirit gets louder and moves us away from our sinful desires when we put God first and are seeking Him above all else. In Romans chapter 6 verse 4 it says, “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” We are new, our lives are different and we should act as we were different, we do not need to do the things we did before. Our advocate is the Spirit of God and we need to remember what God did for us every time we feel the Spirit moving us in a positive way. Slow down and react to the Holy Spirit, it is what keeps us from living the way we want and knowing what is right. Be strong in the Lord and always be willing to learn and grow. Amen Romans 15:13 “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
What are you filling yourself with? I try everyday to fill myself with God in some way, reading, praying, watching people or listening. The Holy Spirit is loud in us when we decide to fill ourselves with what is honoring to God. Is our trust completely in Him? This question we all need to ask ourselves because we might say it but we might not be living it. I like this quote I heard from James McDonald, “The Christian who learns and applies the word becomes mature and, in turn, can help others mature.” 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these things to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” Never be silent, let your passion be clear to all that see you so you are a great witness for God. Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” We should do this daily so we can be a bright light to the world, never being satisfied with what we think we know. Amen Romans 14:17-18 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.”
It is so important that we work on living a life that glorifies God in all we do so the Spirit lives in us loudly. The way we act is so important for people around us. When we act out of love for the Lord and live to be a servant for Christ, people can see real Christianity. But when we live for what pleases us we fall short and the world thinks we are hypocrites. At the end of verse 17 it says, “…living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” When we devote ourselves to reading and praying and asking God to help, we are full of the Holy Spirit and our actions sow it. We should seek this daily and live by the Spirit not by our own strength. In chapter 13 verse 14 it says, “Instead clothe your self with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let your self think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” It is so important that we die to self and truly live for Christ, so we can be a true light that is bright. Amen Romans 11:19-20 “Well, you may say, those branches were broken off to make room for me. Yes, but remember – those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.”
This really makes me think about all the once saved always saved mentality. The Jewish people that are still waiting for the messiah have been broken off and we have been given the Good News so we can share in God’s glory. The end of verse 20 really paints a picture, “…so don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.” We are secure in Christ’s love but did we die to self and raise up new in Christ when we repented, confessed and were baptized? Verse 21 goes on to say “For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.” We can’t have a nonchalant attitude when it comes to our faith; we need to work on growing and understanding all that we learn from God’s word and the Holy Spirit. Then we must follow Christ example and live out our faith. In verse 22 it says, “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.” This is a heart check, are we seeking God’s will by being fully committed to Jesus Christ or are we trying to use Jesus as our fix when we mess up? Too truly belong to Christ and live a way that shows you are living for Him you need to WANT a relationship with Him. You don’t need it is a check it off the list relationship where you place Him in trying to fill your holes. He needs to be the center of your life and the light that you desire to be like. I want to end with verse 36, “For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever!” Amen Romans 2:7-8 “He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.”
This shows us that we really need to be working on living our lives to resemble Christ. We can do everything we think is right, but if we don’t truly work on transforming our lives to live out our faith we will be spinning our wheels. We are told by Jesus in John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” This is what I want to receive because trails and tribulations are inevitable, and this world has challenges that I cannot get through on my own. In Romans chapter 2 verses 28-29 it says, “For you are not a Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” We need to be willing to grow and live everyday to glorify God seeking to hear Him say well done good and faithful servant. Open your hearts and be different than the world, look at Christ for your strength and direction. Amen |
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