Romans 12:9

"Let love be without hypocrisy (sincere); abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
Abhor = "detest utterly"
Cleave = "to glue/to stick"
Lord, let me see evil through your eyes; give me an abhorrence for it.

A sincere love produces a sincere life; the source of both is a sincere relationship with a sincere God.

Romans 12:6-8

Paul says we have gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.
It is the believer's responsibility to do what he has been called to do and to do it the best he knows how.
I've been called to be a leader; I will lead as I am led. Being a leader means being a servant.
I've been given a voice; I will sing for the One who gave it.

Romans 12:3b-5

God has dealt to every man a portion/measure of faith. That portion is exactly enough for one to fulfill his role in the church, and no role is more or less important than another. This is why Paul said that we shouldn't think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.
I must be careful how I treat the brethren; they are members of my body, and I of theirs; we of eachother's - of Christ's.

Romans 12:3a

Men ought not think more highly of themselves than they ought to, but soberly.
Pride turns a living sacrifice into a walking rebellion.
Lord, make me sensitive to pride.

Proverbs 25:27 - It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 - Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Romans 12:1-2

"Living Sacrifice" - what a challenge! It's a challenge because of pride.
I can abstain from conforming to the world's actions, but if I allow my mind to dwell on or long for the things of this world, thenI have not been transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I am conforming to the world.
Lord, you know my thoughts - that they are far to often rooted in the ways of this world. Make me sensitive to these thoughts, that I would take hold of them by the power of Your Spirit before they take hold of me.

Romans 11:25-36

I don't really know how exactly to interpret the first part of this passage. It could mean a number of different things. I will cling to verses 33-36
It's not m job to try to "figure out" everything that God says or does, but to just trust that what he says and does are perfect; they are for my good and, more importantly, for His glory.

Romans 11:11-24

Paul compares the Jews to branches on an olive tree. The root of the tree is holy (set apart for God's purposes), which makes the branches holy also. The root is God's coventental promise to Abraham, who is the "firstfruit" of verse 16.
Some of the branches were broken off because of unbelief and wild olive branches (Gentiles) were grafted into the tree to "provoke them (the Jews) to jealosy" and to spur them on to re-connect to the tree. The wild branches were able to partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree just as the original branches were.
Disbelief is what causes branches to fall off the tree and out of fellowship with God. Those who turn from their disbelief can be grafted back into the tree.
God is severe to those that fall, but good to those who persever in faith.

Romans 11:1-10

In the days of Elijah, God reserved a remnant of Israel that had not bowed down to Baal. He blinded the rest to punish them for their refusal to listen to and believe (v.20) God. They hardened their hearts, so God blinded them so they would not be able to see the truth and repent - that is their punishment. They have to experience the consequences of their rebellion.
Beware of a hard heart. Be teachable, moldable, and flexible.
Hebrews 3:8,15

When I was a child I was told by my older brother that if I held a certain expression on my face for a long enough period of time, my face would stay that way forever. Needless to say, I stayed as far away from making that expression as possible.
In this passage, the majority of the nation of Israel had hardened their hearts to the Lord . . . so God punished them by causing their hearts to stay that way; He blinded their eyes to the truth and left them to their stubbornness (to their own devices) without the ability to repent (without the ability to change their "face" back to normal).

Romans 10:14-21

Paul emphasises the importance of evangelism. "How shall they blieve in him of whom they have not heart? How shall they hear without a preacher?" The hearing of the message of God's Word produces faith (it is important to make the truths and principles of God's Word the center of evangelism - because they produce faith).
The Jews who looked for the Messiah refused him when he came because he was not what they expected. Gentiles were more receptive. Jesus' acceptance of Gentiles made the Jews jealous.
the gospel is for everybody. I mustn't come to preconceived suppositions, based on appearance or backround, as to how one will respond to the gospel.

Romans 10:5-13

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!
This is not something to be quiet about.
Practical: Visitation starts up again next week or the week after. I ought - I will - get involved.

Romans 9:25-10:4

Paul talks about Israel and how they sought righteousness by the works of the law and not by faith - their "own" righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.
Lord, keep me from trying to establish my "own" kind of righteousness. I do not serve the law, or people, or even the ministry; I serve You because You served me - You saved me.

Romans 9:14-24

This passage deals with a lot, but what stuck out the most was the idea of God being the potter. The clay cannot talk back to the potter; it can't question the vision/plan that the potter has for it.
Lord, may I remain soft and moldable for you. I won't question your design, your vision, your plan. I am the clay; you are the potter.
(Isaiah 64:8)

Romans 9:6-13

God did not "hate" Esau, but he could only choose one of the two, and he chose Jacob. The terms "love" and "hate" come from an old usage regarding adoption. When a father had to choose between two, he could only pick one. The one he picked was the one he "loved" and the one he was not able to pick was the one he "hated". Esau was not excluded from knowing and loving God just because Jacob was chosen for the purpose of carrying on the line of God's covenant.
God has a purpose for everything that He does. Putting Jacob over Esau went against all the customs of the day, but that is how God wanted it.
Lord, even when I can't see the purpose you have in mind when you do the things you do, I know that you know what you're doing. I'll rest in that. I'm so glad that you are sovereign - that you're in control. The peace that this knowledge brings is sweet . . . a breath of fresh air.

Romans 9:1-5

Paul has a deep burden ("great heaviness and continual sorrow") for Israel. Paul writes that he wishes he could take their sins upon himself and be "accursed from Christ" on their behalf.
Lord, break my heart over the fate of the lost. Give me a passion, a burden, to see them come to repentance. Wake me up from my sleeping.

Romans 8:31-39

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear what man can do to me.
Christ makes intercession to the Father on my behalf. I can more-than-conquer all situations when I tap into Christ's strength and love.
I will not fear what man can do to me. Lord, may you be the well from which I draw strength for the battle. I know your well does not run dry.

Romans 8:28-30

All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. That good/purpose is glorification - being made like Christ.
There is a lot of debate over this passage and others like it. It doesn't matter to me who is "right or wrong" in the debate. All that matters to me is that God is in control; He knows what He's doing - that's all I need to know. We need to stop arguing over little things like the scribes and pharisees did (Jesus called them hypocrites).
Every situation and/or circumstance is an opportunity to become more like Christ. Holy Spirit, remind me of this truth when I go through hard times.

Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit helps me out in areas of weakness. The Spirit knows my heart and my thoughts and prays to the Father on my behalf. That is SO nice to know!
When I pray, God is not looking at the words I use or how eloquent I am in my prayer; He's looking at my heart.

Romans 8:18-25

"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." The Holy Spirit is the "firstfruits", or the "first installment/downpayment" as a guarantee of the believer's resurrection life.
Lord, thank you for the hope of a new and glorified body . . . for a new heaven and earth. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that enables me to have somewhat of a taste of what it will be like - I can't wait!

Romans 8:9-17

I am not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. I hae not received a spirit of bondage again to fear, but a spirit of adoption. I am a child of God! What a privilege! I am a joint-heir with Christ - in both suffering and glorification. There is a price for being identified with Jesus.
Adopted . . . what a wonderful word!

Romans 8:1-8

There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The carnal mind is enmity against God.
Lord make me sensitive to carnality that I might recognize it immediately and flea from it.

Romans 7:14-25

The flesh, which still serves the law of sin, wars against the mind, which serves the law of God.
The strength of my mind - the renewing of my mind - must take precedence over the strength of my flesh/body. This does not mean that I neglect to care for my body, which is the temple of God.

Romans 7:7-13

Paul writes that the law is not sin; it reveals sin. Without the law, we would not know sin exists. The law is like a sign at the beach that tells the swimmers that there are sharks in the water - it tells us that we need to stay out of the water . . . it is for our own good and safety.
The only things that God restricts are attitudes and actions that will ultimately harm me.

Let my heart be sound in they statutes that I be not ashamed - Psalm 119:80

Romans 7:1-6

The unregenerate man is bound to "the old man" in the same way that a woman is bound to a husband - she is bound until he dies. Christ put the old man to death, freeing us from that marriage bond and enabling us to "marry" Him - "that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
"We should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." I don't serve by obeying a set of rules, but out of a renewed heart and mind - out of love for God, who gave himself for me.
To choose the way of the old man would be to "cheat" on God . . . that would make me a whore. Lord, remind me of this the next time I think about casting a stone at somebody else. Remind me of the plank(s) in my eye before I point my finger at the sliver in another's. Is there a limit to your love, to your forgiveness . . . your grace?

Romans 6:15-23

I have the choice each day - yield to sin, or yield do God. Yielding to God is more difficult . . . it's a harder job . . . but it comes with far greater benefits, including a free life-insurance policy. The better choice is clear.
It's one thing to know what choice to make, it's another to make it. Lord, give me the common sense I need to just choose to yield to you. Help me to think of what I'm gaining, not what I'm losing - for the things I am "losing" are but dung compared to the greatness of what is being gained.
"Ten frogs are sitting on a log; one decides to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log? Nine, you say? You, sir, are wrong. There are still ten frogs because the one frog only decided to jump - he did not actually do it."

Romans 6:8-14

The believer is dead to sin and alive unto God - to righteous living. Verse 13 is key.

"Don't yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield youselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."

A "member" is a limb or any part of the body. My hands, feet, and vocal chords are instruments (tools) made to be used for righteousness - they work much better and much longer when I use them the way they were designed to be used.
If I'm not yielded from head to toe - inside and out - I'm not yielded. If I stop halfway between two lanes (there are only two), I'm probably going to get hit by oncoming traffic. I'll make people in the left lane mad, and become a stumbling block to those in the "right" lane.

Romans 6:1-7

Grace does not give me permission to sin; it frees me from sin altogether, but I can still choose to live according to its ways (entangle myself again in the yoke of bondage - Gal 5:1). This passage leads me to believe that I have the power to abstain from sin altogether.
Me sinning is like a prince bowing to a dead man . . . a dead enemy. How pathetic is that?
Lord, your grace is beyond me . . .

Romans 5:12-21

We do not deserve death because we break the law; we have the law to show us that we deserve death.
Sin entered the world by one man's disobedience, and death by sin. Justificaion, righteousness, and eternal life were made available by one man's obedience. Eternal life!
One man can make quite an impression on this world for good or bad . . . just one man!
Lord, thank you for the law - for how it shows me how much I need you. Grant me to be one man that you use to make a difference in this world . . . not when I go to college, not when I get married, not when I have a career, not when I'm "settled" - but today.

Romans 5:6-11

It is rare for somebody to lay down his life even for a righteous man. God demonstrated the magnitude of His love by dying for a world of sinners. We are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, and saved by His life (resurrection).
The ultimate demonstration of love is for one to give of himself for another - to die for somebody. This death may not always be - may never be - physical. I can die for others by giving of my time, my energy, my money, etc . . . "with all your heart, soul, mind, strength." I find my life when I lose it.

Romans 5:1-5

By faith we have peace with God and access to His grace.
Paul exhorts the believer to glory in tribulation because tribulation works patience, which works experience (character?), which works hope, and hope does not disappoint! Grace for now, hope for later.
I will glory in tribulation.
Thank you for peace . . . for grace . . . wow.

Romans 4:17-25

Abraham did not stagger through unbelief at the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. He believed God would keep His promises.
Lord, develope in me the confidence of Abraham . . . "God-confidence."

Romans 4:1-16

Salvation was by grace through faith even in the old testament. "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

"It is of faith that it might be by grace."

The grace of God is not that he enables an elect to be sanctified, but that he gives all the revelation through creation and the opportunity to partake of his grace through faith.
I will show grace to others because You have shown me grace.

Romans 3:21-31

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Praise God!

Romans 3:9-20

Nobody is innocent; all hae failed to live according to the standards set by the law. "By the law is the knowledge of sin."
I must be honest with myself and others when I break the law of God. Strive for perfection, while remembering my imperfections.

Romans 3:1-8

The disbelief of men does not make the faithfulness of God ineffective.
Men are liars, but God is "justified in His sayings."
It is wrong to do evil with good intentions. Even if something "good" comes from willfully doing something wrong, it is sin.
I can trust God's word - it is justified. I can take comfort in its truth, but also must be willing to abide by its laws.

Romans 2:17-29

Paul speaks against hypocrisy quite passionately here. I'd say the theme of the passage is: "Practice what you preach."
I must look at myself becore I tell others what they ought to be doing. My words must be accompanied with actions or they will be nothing more than little gusts of wind.

Romans 2:10-16

God judges all by the same standard. A man who knows not the law of God will beb held accountable to the law God has written on his heart - his conscience.
I must do what I know to be right. I need to be more active in evangelism. I'll start participating in Tuesday night visitation when it starts up again later this month (January, 2006).

Romans 2:1-9

A man who judges another man is really condemning himself as much as the man he is condemning because he himself has done the same thing that he is condemning.
Lord, keep me from a self-righteous, judgmental attitude.

Romans 1:19-32

God's power and divinity are manifest in the creation. Everyone is accountable to God because everyone has had the revelation of God through His Creation.
Lord, make me sensitive to your calling and revelation and grant me the wisdom to chose you over the temporary pleasures of this world.

Romans 1:18

Just as the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, even so is the wrath of God uncovered/revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
The wrath of God is against the sin (the unrighteousness of men), not the man. God does not enjoy seeing a man suffer because of his sin, but a holy God must punish sin.
It is easy to "suppress" the truth - try to ignore it - especially when it speaks against something(s) I am doing or against sin in my life or the life of those that are close to me. Lord, enable me to submit to the truth.

Romans 1:17

The righteousness of God is revealed/uncovered/disclosed/made available by the gospel through faith. Righteousness is God-revealed, not man-invented. The source and end of righteousness is the same - God.
What else can I say but "Thank you"? Your grace is far more than I can comprehend!

Romans 1:16

The Gospel

1. It's the last thing in the world one should be ashamed of.
   
2. It is the power of God, or, is embedded with the power of God that is necessary to bring the lost to salvation
   
   • That power is toward everyone that believes
     
   • It is for both Jew and Gentile
     
   
   

Let me never be ashamed of who I am in your son, Jesus, nor of the gospel that gave me the "power to become a son of God."

Romans 1:8-13

Paul thanks God for the Roman saints because their faith is spoken of throughout the world. Paul says he prays for them constantly and that he desires to visit them, and experience the encouragement that their mutual faith brings.
I can find comfort and encouragement by surrounding myself with people who share my faith (mutual faith) - fellowship.
I, like Paul, am obligated to bring the gospel to all people, not to only a select group. "Be all things to all men."

Romans 1:1-7

Paul refered to himself as a slave of Jesus - called to be an apostle and separated from the world unto the gospel.
Far better to be a slave of the Lord of Lords than a slave of the Devil. I've been separated from the world; living for the things of this world is a waste of time. What a priviledge it is to be a messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ!