"Roamin' Through Romans"... Part 4

Welcome back... let's get back into the Word and see what God's message is for us today! :) We are continuing in Chapter 1 with verses 26-32; The words ring true of much of the world today. We have certainly exchanged the truth of God for lies... lies that our lusts will give us what we need & desire. Parts of our Scripture today are a bit 'touchy' subject, but they are all sins against God, and need to be dealt with accordingly. ALL of them need to be repented for, even the ones we do/did when we thought we were doing 'right'.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

EEK... doesn't that sound like much of the worldliness that is going on now in the 21st Century? That list of characteristics is certainly not one I would like to hold on to, nor would I want a spouse, best friend, family member, or co-worker to be. But, verse 32 hits it on the head...  "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Some people are in the thought process that 'God can save me, so it doesn't matter what I do. I can do all of these things mentioned above, and then ask for forgiveness and God has to forgive me.' They think that they can call on God in the 11th hour, and then all will be well. What happens if God came at 10:30?? Eek! (That line is from a Christian T-shirt I have - 'Many who plan to seek God at the 11th hour, die at 10:30'.) It certainly does get you thinking... and it certainly does answer the questions we all ask like, 'why does God let this bad stuff happen?' He will allow you to be ruled by your depraved mind... He would much rather love and rule your hearts and minds, but he allows you to make the choices to be involved in things like sexual immorality (which is unfortunately rampant in the world, and some stars think it's funny to 'come out of the closet'). But there are also those that gossip, slander, murder, and those that are arrogant and boastful. These are definitely not characteristics that I would be proud of, yet that is what is happening in the world. They see the power in tearing down others, in boasting & being arrogant and rude. We as CHRISTIANS (true believers/followers/disciples of Christ) need to step above this darkness, and SHINE the light of TRUTH, the Light of God for the world to see. When they see the blessings that we receive for obedience, honesty, integrity, encouragement, humility and more, they will want what we have. They will desire the truth. Too often the world sees the 'so-called' blessings that last a moment, yet they don't realize they are missing the ones that last for eternity. Let's read verse 32 again, "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Do you see the words 'they know' (this answers the question regarding the people who have never heard the Good News or the Gospel or the truth of God... although they know... therefore, the ones who 'don't know' will not be judged as harshly. God will look at their hearts... well that is what I believe anyway.) They know that what they are doing will bring them 'death', now most of them think, 'well we're all going to die'... but this is more of an eternal death... and we have been set free from death. Jesus took our place ONCE and FOR ALL... did you read those words, 'FOR ALL'. People do have a chance to turn their lives around, they do have a choice because Jesus still died for them, whether they take up the option, or believe it, it still has been done. Are you reading between the lines for the last sentence... 'they not only continue to do these very things, but approve of those who practice them', meaning they are involved in the sins, and now approve and are trying to make the behaviour seem right. THIS IS A LIE... it is an ABSOLUTE TRUTH that God does not like these sins mentioned above. HE does however love the sinner themselves. Now what about those who may not be 'involved' or 'continuing' to sin... if they still APPROVE of the practice they are doing wrong, and basically sinning themselves. EEK!! Are you getting this?? YOU MUST LOVE THE SINNERS... but HATE the SIN! We cannot approve of that which we 'know' is a sin, trying to make it right. Even a little white lie, is still in fact a lie. And a liar is just as much a sinner as a murderer. All sins are the same size in God's eyes, and all sins no matter how big or small you think they are, are able to be forgiven... (well technically except one, 'blasphemy against Holy Spirit'-- but if you are repenting of that one, then you certainly haven't done it!) You just need to TURN AROUND. God never went anywhere, He is always with us and will never ever leave us or forsake us... even when we leave or forsake Him.

check out this song by Matt Maher, 'Turn Around'... it's actually pretty cool and goes exactly with this devotional (AND IT'S JUST FOR YOU -- or someone who is reading this -- SOMEONE right now will make that decision to TURN AROUND -- GOD BLESS YOU! We will be praying for YOU!!) <3



Here's the lyrics...

Young man on the side of the road
Lost and beat up with no where to go

Smells like a hangover from days ago
He does what he can to survive

Single mom with a dead end job
Ninety hour week just to keep what she's got
With the bills that add up and down she's caught
She does what she can to survive

Well, let me say

That love won't take away the pain

But don't be afraid

'Cause it will never walk away



(Chorus)

If you're scared that you don't matter

If you're lost and need to be found

If you're looking for a Savior
All you gotta do is turn around

Some turn to a bottle
Some turn to a drug
Some turn to another's arms

But it seems like it's never enough
Well I won't say, that you will ever fail again

But there is grace

To wash away your every sin


Chorus
No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down
You don't need to move
Love has come to you
All you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around
Turn around
You don't have to take the broken road
You can turn around and come back home
(X3)
Chorus


No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down
You don't need to move
Love has come to you
All you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around

May you be blessed TODAY...

 

Roamin Through Romans... Part 2

Hi Readers!!

Today we are looking at Romans 1:13-17 in our Romans Adventure...



New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Using a short section of Chapter 1, we are looking at why Paul has come. He has wanted to come to them many times, but it was not the appointed time of God for him to come until the time he did. Too often in our lives, we want to do things and we step out thinking we are doing it through faith, and sometimes we are doing it in our own strength instead of in the strength and wisdom of God. Even good things like ministry or things that are of God, can still be wrong if it's in the wrong timing. Esther was a perfect example of this... there is a scripture verse that Esther quotes, 'for such a time as this'. God desires us to do His will but that also includes doing it in His timing. Sometimes we try to rush God, or sometimes we even lag behind Him. Jonah is another example of this, I remember a lesson that I once heard on Jonah, and in his story (found coincidentally in the book of Jonah) he runs away from God, runs ahead of God, and runs with God. That always stuck with me, and I think of it when I have different ideas (even in church/ministry things) where I think it would be a great idea, but it may not be the right timing for it to happen. However, there is also a catch if you wait too long to do it. He may just call someone else to do it, and then you are left standing dumb-founded, thinking that God has left you alone. Our main goal in anything we do, should be for it to bring GLORY to the Father, and to Him alone. It is alright for us to get praise or glory, encouragement or a 'wehoo' or pat on the back when we complete a task, or do something that is great... but all the praise and glory should then go back to God. A humble heart is a happy heart... "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5) Paul did a lot of things for the glory of God, and in the verse he says 'that I might have a harvest' but really it is God who receives the harvest, we are just His hands and feet obediently doing what He asked us to.

Paul is obligated both to Greeks and Non-Greeks, the wise and the foolish. He comes preaching to EVERYONE... because when Jesus came He made a way for the Jew, and the Gentile. He is letting them know where he stands officially. For once he was a persecuter of God's Holy people, and now he is a leader for God, doing the will of Him who sent him. He is letting them know that he is NOT ashamed of the gospel, nor anything that goes along with it. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. He is letting the Gentiles know that they are no longer lost, that they can believe and be made righteous too, just as he was. When one believes in God and the Gospel, a new life is given, and through the gospel a righteousness from God can and will be revealed. It can only be believed and revealed through FAITH though. One has to have the FAITH to believe, and then all things can be revealed to you. The righteous SHALL live by faith. Paul is a prime example, as his life before Christ was going in a 'DOWNWARD SPIRAL', but now that he has chosen to believe, and has had an encounter and EXPERIENCED the REAL GOD for himself, he now has the FAITH to believe and to go forth gathering a harvest of souls for the Kingdom.

Where does your FAITH lie? Do you think it's all a FAIRYTALE? Do you yourself persecute or make fun of Christians or believers? Are you a Christian who has 'worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator'? Are you RUNNING AWAY from God, RUNNING TO God, RUNNING AHEAD of God, or RUNNING WITH God? Or are you like Paul, trying to LISTEN for the voice of God, trying to do His Will, and seeking the harvest of souls for the Kingdom? Ask the LORD to show you where you are, and to help you get to where you NEED to be with Him! He's always there, and He will NEVER EVER leave us or forsake us. We may turn our backs on Him, but we just need to turn around again, and HE will run to us with open arms, as the father did in the Prodigal Son story. (See Luke 15:11-32) If you are a RUNAWAY son or daughter, read the story, and then RUN BACK to Him.

Check out this video, a song by Klaus (featuring Kari Jobe) - let the words sink in and let Holy Spirit minister to you as you listen and hear the music and words.


May the LORD bless you today and always!
See ya tomorrow... Click HERE to take you to the NEXT message...

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