July 12th One Year Bible Readings

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17 ~ Romans 1:1-17 ~ Psalm 9:13-20 ~ Proverbs 19:4-5
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Old Testament - I think today's readings in First Chronicles could be called "Famous Dave!"  As indeed, David moves into his role as the King of Israel in today's readings and we read about his growing fame and support amongst the tribes!

In chapter 13 we read about David bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem - which was good in intention, but poor in execution...  God is clear in Numbers 4:5-15 that the Ark was to be moved only by the Levites and only by using carrying poles.  No one, not even the Levites were to touch the Ark itself.  David ended up following the Philistines example of moving the Ark on a cart, rather than following God's command.  Thus, in verses 9 & 10 we read  - "But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the LORD's anger blazed out against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God."  I wonder if we are like David was in this chapter in our lives today - how often do we have "good intentions", but poor execution?  How often do we take shortcuts on things God has been very clear on?  Even if these shortcuts seem like they are good ideas, why do we take them?  Why do we take the risk?

New Testament - Today we begin the book of Romans! What a great book we have coming up! We’ve been reading about Paul’s missionary journeys, the storm at sea, and being in chains for the Gospel in Acts. Now get ready to read and study some of Paul’s teachings first-hand! Some commentaries say that the book of Romans is a “Bible within the Bible.” And others: “The most profound book in existence.” Personally, I think we need to obviously consider all 66 books of the Bible to be the Bible and the entirety of the Bible to be the most profound book in existence. But, yes, Romans is a profound book of the Bible no doubt! Martin Luther said this about Romans: “It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes.” Not a bad quote for us to jump into the book of Romans this week! Let’s go!

Romans
Author: Paul
Place: Corinth
Date: A.D. 57/58
Content: Paul was in Corinth on his third missionary journey and was planning to go to Rome, but had never been there before. This letter was written to introduce himself to the church and to summarize his theological teachings. For the latter reason, it is the most systematically organized letter of Paul. He begins by showing the universal sin of man. Neither Gentile nor Jew has any legitimate claim upon God because sin has invalidated any appeal. But God in his mercy stepped in, while we were still sinners, and opened the way back to himself (Romans 5:8). From this may come a victorious Christian life. Paul then deals with the place of the Jews in God’s plan (Romans 9-11), concluding with a series of ethical exhortations.
Theme: The righteousness of God, his righteous dealings with the world, and the righteous plan of salvation are the focus of this book. God is seen to be the great and holy God of the universe who cannot relax his laws because they are based upon his nature. But consistent with those laws, he devised a plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike that sent his Son down from heaven to die for the sins of the world. Now anyone who trusts in Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:9) and be given the power of God over sin in his life. From God and his love nothing can separate the believer. (Romans 8:38-39) (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 24)

More commentary on Romans is at these 3 links –
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=843
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1153 
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1165
Bob Deffinbaugh says at this link directly above – “If you can reason your way through Romans, you will have the Gospel under your belt. . . . As you begin this study, I would challenge you to review the Book of Romans often in your mind, seeking to trace its argument from the very first chapter to wherever your study has brought you. It is my hope that you will then seek to apply what you have learned in your own life, and to share the message of the Gospel it contains with those who are lost and without hope, apart from the faith this Epistle describes and defines. May God bless you in your study of this portion of His Word.”

How powerfully strong are Paul's words in Romans chapter 1 verses 16 & 17 today!  In fact, the NIV Study Bible's commentary says that these two verses are the theme of the entire book of Romans:  "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also 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 Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life.""  Do you believe these two verses to be true?  Are you not ashamed of the Good News about Jesus Christ?  Do you believe that God makes us right in his sight by faith?

Bible.org's commentary on today's Romans Chapter 1 readings is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 9 verse 18 is so true and powerful: "For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed."  This is a great reminder that God's heart is for the poor in this world!  If God's heart is for the poor - should our heart be for the poor too?  How is your heart for the poor these days?  How do you remember the poor and their hopes?

Proverbs - It is interesting to consider the Psalm verse about compared to Proverbs 19 verse 4 today: "Wealth makes many "friends"; poverty drives them away."  This is a true Proverb.  I am intrigued by "friends" being in parentheses - what type of friends do we attract with wealth?  Will they still be there when the wealth is gone?  I do think it's true that poverty drives "friends" away.  If the poor do not have many friends, then should we be a friend to the poor?  How could we be a friend to the poor?  Was Jesus a friend to the poor?  What type of poor was Jesus a friend too - poor in spirit; poor in wealth; poor in health; all of the above?  Should we emulate Jesus in his friendship to the poor?

YouTube Video: Today's readings in Romans reminds me of Matt Maher's song on the radio these days called "Your Grace is Enough."  Here's that same song as originally recorded by Chris Tomlin:

Is God's Grace enough for you?  Click here for Overflowing Grace!

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[John]

Romans

Background

A friend of mine who is a member of a different church (from mine)told me, 'Well that is Paul, you have to take Paul with a grain of salt. You can't take to heart everything Paul writes.'

Really???? I told him,
'Paul was a Jew, he was taught by a great rabbi and leader of the Sanhedrin - Gamaliel (Acts 22:2-3), Paul was a Pharisee, he participated and led the persecution of the followers of "the Way", Paul had great zeal for the Lord.
(re: Gamaliel http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20001213.htm )

And on the way to Damascus to capture more followers of Jesus - he had a change of heart???? Paul became a leading evangelist of the early Church. Paul founded several early churches. He suffered beatings, a stoning, imprisonment, and rebuke from his former collegues. What makes a man "switch teams like that - do it in the prime of his life when he has great power, authority within Israel, and zeal for God?

Paul claims he had an encounter with Christ, accepted Jesus as his Savior, and was called to be an apostle.

Now either that is true, and you need to "take to heart" everything Paul wrote. or -

It is false, and Paul is a liar, and you can just toss the Bible (as it can not be trusted) and search elsewhere for life's answers.

Your choice.'

NOTE: reason I use ' instead of " - is my indication of paraphrasing. Also the tone of comment was friendly, and he took it as "food for thought".

======================================================

Letter to Romans seems to be written between 57 and 60 A.D. Paul wrote it before going to Rome. The Romans were beginning to understand Christianity was not just a subset of Judaism. Persecution on a large scale is just around the corner.

So if, Paul had not been to Rome - how come there are believers there already?

We know Aquila and Priscilla are there and a number of people Paul had met, converted, and/or exhorted in his travels. (Rom 16:3). Rome was the "big city", people gravitated to it like they do NYC, LA, London, Paris, etc. today. The territories were full of former Roman soldiers, freed slaves, and Roman businessmen - if some became Christians - it is not surprising that some percentage would return to Rome and share the gospel. Apparently they did this with success.

Paul did not want to step on anyone's toes.

Rom 15:20
"It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation." NIV

Wait a minute! Christ was known, what is Paul talking about???? Most commentators (notable exception would be Catholics) believe (and I agree) that:
word had spread, and people had converted, but no "church" had been established. No apostle had been to Rome to found a church at the time of these writings. There had been no public declaration of the gospel, just the word of mouth. Paul was planning on coming to change that, and provide a public and cohesive force to the Christians in Rome. To preach the Gospel and minister to new Christians. To Build and Edify as he had done in other churches. To exhort and encourage Christians in their walk with God.

Gal 2:8-9
"For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews." NIV

[Stacey]

With regards to David and moving the Ark of the Covenant: There are many things we "should" know from the Bible, but we really don't get a handle on them until we are faced with a test. David's position and influence had just increased by finally becoming the king. With the new status and increase in influence, God requires more of him in the area of faithfulness to God's Word and counsel. 1 Cor 4:2, Luke 12:48
Many of us try to take on new roles and use our old ways of doing things. When God does grant increased favor to us by putting us in leadership roles, the best thing that we can do is seek His Word on how to carry out the new mission. It is at these times that we can expect our knowledge of God's word to be tested by a refiner's fire. These trials and testings do show what we have been building on the foundation of Christ. 1 Cor 3:9-15 and 1 Pet 1:6,7 We do get the opportunity through times of testing and failure to get on our knees in humble prayer to find out from the Lord what we thought we knew needs to be replaced with a real and correct response to what was already spoken in His Word. We often miss out on some of the best direction from God because we write off some of His scriptures consciously or unconciously with an attitude of "that doesn't apply to me" so I'll just skip that requirement. One of the best examples of that in my experience is about tithing. For many years I missed the blessing of tithing by saying that it was Old Testament and it really didn't apply to me. So although I gave a lot of money to the church, I missed out on all of God's blessings and benefits as "I did it my way". I have been seriously tithing and giving offerings now for 3 years and am fully experiencing the blessings of God. Are God's blessings financial? There are truly financial rewards to tithing as you cannot outgive God. But God's real blessing over the tithe is that it puts Him in first place as Sovereign. When He is honored in His rightful place as God and I am in my rightful place as humble and obedient to His Words, then life just seems to bloom and blossom everywhere around me.

[R]

Regarding Mike’s statement, “good in intention, but poor in execution... “ , I’m going to be harder on David then Stacey. I don’t see what David did or didn’t do regarding moving the Ark from Kirjath-Jearim to the City of David as an act done out of ignorance with good intentions. There is a saying, “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions.”

David had been King of Judah, in Hebron for seven years, he had been anointed king while still a teenager and in all those years, David had vast experience with getting the Mind of God. He did not learn that while running from Saul but in tending his father’s sheep. David had a deep relationship with God way before Samuel came to his house looking to anoint one of Jesse’s son as king. I am not writing this to poke holes and criticize what David did or didn’t do, but to learn from his mistakes.

1) David consulted with his army commanders and with the political leaders about moving the Ark, but he did not consult the Levities and the Priests. They, the commanders and political leaders, either remembered stories of how the Philistines sent the Ark back after they captured it or they were witness to the event, either way the Philistines were used as a model for transporting the Ark. Lesson: Don’t use the world as a model for handling the things of God.

2) David failed to follow a command given by Moses for all kings to do, study the Word!!

14 … Then you may begin to think, `We ought to have a king like the other nations around us.'… 18"When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of this law. 20This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

If David had kept this commandment, he would have known how the Ark was to be transported. Lesson: Make the study of God’s Word a lifestyle.

So often, we have the Word right in front of us but we fail to read what is in the Book, especially in the United States. And if we do read it, we read portions and don’t take in the Whole Counsel of God. We convince ourselves that it is too difficult, too inflexible or too dry to keep our interest, not realizing that understanding only comes by seeking understanding. Our children are sent to school to learn the fundamentals of reading, math, science and hopefully the arts which upon graduation from High School and College the why of all the learning will make sense. How often do we say, “If I knew then what I know now …” because we realize the foundation for our life was poured in our youth. New construction is always easier then reconstruction.

David’s failure cost someone else their life. My failures cost others their lives. It may not have been the actual cessation of their natural life, although that could have happened and I didn’t know, but life to the fullest could have been delayed or totally blocked by decisions I made from ignorance because I failed to get complete information.

Also, take note of the Ark sitting in Obed-edom’s house for three months bringing a blessing on the entire household. Now the Ark had sat in Kiriath-jearim for almost 100 years and nobody was getting blessed, why? This speaks so powerful to me because I killed off God in my own mind and tried to get others to kill Him off also. For almost twenty years, I raged, cursed and ridiculed people reading the bible on public transportation because of what “church folks” did to me. I judged God and Jesus by those who claimed to be His disciples. I saw no blessings associated with the God they said they believed in and served.

How many people in Israel thought God was just the God in the Box in Kiriath-jearim, because they saw no evidence of changed lives? I am not talking about material things but behaviors and mannerisms that cry out, “They have been with God!” Can people look at me and say, “She has been with Jesus.”

[R]

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17

So David decided not to move the Ark into the City of David. He took it instead to the home of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of God remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household. (I Chronicles 13:13-14).

This passage has always fascinated me. Only two sentences long but is says so much. The Ark had sat twenty years in the house of a man called Abinadab (1 Sam. 7:2), yet no one was blessed—it just sat there just like a regular great big old box with no God sitting on the mercy seat (between the wingspan of the two angels)—nothing happening. The Presence of God was in someone’s house yet the manifestation of God never happened. Obed-edom had the Ark in his house for three months and everyone on the house was blessed. What was going on?

I wonder how often we put God in a box and put him by the door of our lives and nothing, absolutely nothing is going on. Then someone takes God into their lives, their homes and everyone gets blessed who walks through the front door. What are we missing? Hmmm.

[John]

Romans 1:1-4

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." NIV
======================================================
Paul's Position

Paul chose to be a Gk. "doulos" - bondservant of Jesus Christ. Recap of bondservant.

Exodus 21:2,5-6
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything....But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life." NIV

It is interesting (and I missed this in readings of Exodus), but after the Ten Commandments and instructions on altars and idols, this "Law of the Bondservant" is the first of a list of additional ordinances. WHY?????

["Deuteronomy 20:18 “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.”

They were terrified of God and of coming near to Him. They were willing to serve Him because they feared Him, but God desired for them to serve because they loved Him and appreciated what He had done for them. I believe this issue is why the first mishpat, or judgment the LORD teaches them of is the law of the bondservant."]

http://www.hissheep.org/hebrew/the_law_of_the_bondservant.html

Paul chose to be a bondservant of Christ out of love.
======================================================
Paul's Authority

Paul was called [to be] an apostle.

"called" is Gk. "kletos" and can mean "invited" or "divinely selected and appointed". So did Paul choose or was he appointed an apostle?

I think these verses clear that up:

2Tim1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..NIV

1Cor1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...NIV

2Cor1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,... NIV

Paul was divinely selected and appointed to be an apostle.
======================================================
Paul's Message

Paul was set apart for (or unto) the gospel of God.

Paul was set apart by God for a purpose - not to KEEP him from something - but for the gospel of God.

The Gospel of God is God's message - not mankinds. It did not depend on Paul. He was just the messenger. It does not depend on today's ministers either.

The good news Paul speaks of in Romans 1:1 is the good news that God has burst through the box and desired to communicate with man. In a world filled with bad news, it is remarkable to know that God Himself has given us good news. That is especially true when you realize man is utterly unworthy of any good news. Yet in spite of that the apostle Paul reiterates again and again the good news that comes from God - John MacArthur
======================================================
The good news (gospel) that was promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Jesus. Human nature as a descendant of David....

"declared with power to be the Son of God..."

The key to understanding this verse is the word "declared. " It comes from the Greek word horiz[ma]o which means "boundary. " We get our English word horizon from it. It refers to the clear demarcation line between the earth and sky. Paul is saying some may have questioned in the minds of some about whether Jesus was the Son of God, but because of the resurrection, the line was drawn in absolute clarity: Jesus Christ is God in human flesh. As clearly as the horizon divides the earth from the sky, so the resurrection divides Jesus from the rest of humanity. When God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He was irrefutably distinguished from all other human beings. - John MacArthur

"With power" Gk. "dunamis"
1) strength power, ability

a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

b) power for performing miracles

c) moral power and excellence of soul

d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

e) power and resources arising from numbers

f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Jesus Christ = ALL OF THE ABOVE. Doesn't get much stronger than that.

"..by his resurrection from the dead.."

The definitive linchpin of Christianity. The declaration with power was accomplished because Christ was raised from the dead. Without it Christianity would just be anoter religion.

[John]

Romans 1:16-17

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. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." NIV
======================================================
Why was Paul not ashamed?

"He is bold to preach because of what the gospel is, because of what the gospel does....The reason why Paul is not overcome by the temptation to be ashamed of the gospel, but quite the contrary, the reason that he proclaims it so joyously, so anxiously is because it is powerful, it changes lives. And he knows that and he has seen that and he believes that. Sure it's a stumbling block, (1 Corinthians 1:18), and of course it's foolishness but it's also the power of God unto salvation to them that believe, and he knows that." - John MacArthur

1Cor1:18
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." NIV

[Men would like to change, do you know that? I believe that. Really, all advertising that goes on in the world is based on one presupposition, and that is people want things different than they are. They want to look better, feel better, think better, have better experiences. They want to change their life. Basically, people want to change their life. There's an appeal to that because that's a basic human drive. And deep down inside, people, they really want things to be different but they are utterly impotent to change things.

In Jeremiah 13:23 Jeremiah says: "Can a leopard change his spots? Can the Ethiopian change his skin?" You have just about as much chance to change your heart. Men are impotent. They can't do a thing about what they are. They can't change any­thing. Oh, they may make a few reformations here and there and operate a little differently but real changes never happen.
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/45-8.htm

But because of the POWER of God (see list above) we can have salvation (eternal life) if only we believe the gospel.
======================================================
There is some controversy over the phrase in verse 17:
"..a righteousness from God is revealed.."

NIV translates it "from God", but "of God" is acceptable and used by KJV, NAS and others. Which is it? Because it makes a huge difference.

If it is "from God" we should understand it as per the Gospel as God's gift to us. We can not be righteous on our own, it is only by God's grace and gift of righteousness (justification) that we can be saved. It is imputed to us. - or -

If it is "of God" then it is simply saying that the Gospels reveal that God is righteous.

Of course God is righteous, and I believe the correct phrase is "from God". Why???

Because the Gospel is about God's good news of salvation. About how we can appear before God when we pass on. About attaining the righteousness needed to stand before God. How many times in John did it say you have to "believe" to gain eternal life? You had to have faith (same word as belief).

I believe that it is the "righteousness from God" imputed to man (who believes) and is given person to person (faith to faith) the same for everyone throughout time. (Or by faith from the first to last - i.e. from the beginning to the end of person's life - it does not change). Just as it is revealed in Old Testament???

Hab 2:4
See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his faith

Just as it was in the Old Testament, it's nothing new. Habakkuk 2:4: "The just shall live by faith." Nothing new. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. - John MacArthur

is this
about a1) the righteous person's faith in God or a2) faithfulness to God, or
about b) God's ("His" rather than "his") faithfulness toward the righteous
person?

a1) is the answer if Paul is to be consistent with readings in "Acts" and the Abraham example.

[Support for Paul, though, comes from a surprising place (at least I was
surprised to see this). In Geza Vermes translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, if
my memory serves me well, he translates this part of the Habbakuk
pesher/commentary as "the righteous shall live by faith"--i.e., his faith in
the Teacher of Righteousness. Apparently the Qumran scribes/community believed the meaning of Habbakuk 2:4 was "faith" in the Teacher of Righteousness rather than "faithfulness" to the Teacher of Righteousness.]
http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek/archives/greek-3/msg01216.html

[Vance]

I Chronicles 12 (NKJV)
23
Now these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war, and came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD

NOTE:
God’s word ALWAYS—in every case, 100% of the time—comes true. Merging with God’s Word, however, is the fact of our lives. We have to choose to consistently yield to, to believe, and to allow God’s Word to come true IN OUR LIVES.

God had promised David that he would be king. It took YEARS for God’s Word to be fulfilled. David stayed faithful to God with the right heart even through the YEARS when Saul—who had given himself over to what displeased God—tried to kill David.

David is a great example of one who believed God. God is able to use David as an example of the 100% faithfulness of His will and His Word.

Psalm 89 (NKJV)
20
I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him,
21
With whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him.

30
“If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments,
31
If they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments,
32
Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33
NEVERTHELESS MY LOVINGKINDNESS I WILL NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR ALLOW MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.
34
MY COVENANT I WILL NOT BREAK, NOR ALTER THE WORD THAT HAS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS.
35
Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David:
36
His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me;
37
It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
~~~

Abraham was also an excellent person of noble spirit whose life allowed God to display His amazing faithfulness to His Word:

Romans 4 (NKJV)
16
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

18
who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” [GENESIS 15:5]
19
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20
HE DID NOT WAVER AT THE PROMISE OF GOD THROUGH UNBELIEF, BUT WAS STRENGTHENED IN FAITH, GIVING GLORY TO GOD,
21
AND BEING FULLY CONVINCED THAT WHAT HE HAD PROMISED HE WAS ALSO ABLE TO PERFORM.
22
AND THEREFORE “IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” [GENESIS 15:6]
~~~

May we be people like David and Abraham who love God and His Word. May our lives be showcases of the God’s 100%, guaranteed commitment to His Word!

I Chronicles 13 (NKJV)
10
Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
11
And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza [LITERALLY OUTBURST AGAINST UZZA] to this day.

NOTE:
God’s Word cannot be broken, and God is holy. As mentioned, God had already given His specific Word on how the ark was to be handled in Numbers 4:5-15.

We need to pray and yield ourselves to God and His Word, or we live our lives very dangerously. I have not always lived my life according to God’s Word.

Yet, thank God for GRACE which is received by faith, which will enable us to live by God’s Word as we yield and surrender to God.

Romans 1 (NKJV)
17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” [HABAKKUK 2:4]

NOTE:
Consider this wonderfully challenging quote about FAITH from this text: PREFACE TO THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS BY MARTIN LUTHER, 1483-1546

“Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God (cf. John 1). It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it.”

“What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith! It is impossible that faith ever stop doing good. Faith doesn't ask whether good works are to be done, but, before it is asked, it has done them. It is always active.”

“Faith is a living, unshakeable confidence in God's grace; it is so certain, that someone would die a thousand times for it.”

“Through faith, a person will do good to everyone without coercion, willingly and happily; he will serve everyone, suffer everything for the love and praise of God, who has shown him such grace."

"It is as impossible to separate works from faith as burning and shining from fire.”

“ASK GOD TO WORK FAITH IN YOU; OTHERWISE YOU WILL REMAIN ETERNALLY WITHOUT FAITH, NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY TO DO OR FABRICATE.”
~~~

Psalm 9 (NKJV)
19
Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight.
20
Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah

NOTE: What a wonderful and awesome prayer to pray. God does not belong to any single nation—but to all nations that will honor Him as the Sovereign God, and honor Jesus as Son of God and Lord.

Proverbs 19 (NKJV)
5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.

NOTE:
I keep coming back to God’s faithfulness to the TRUTH of His Word. God will forever honor His Word.

Thus, God will expose everything that is not true.

If I am not living by God’s Word—not living and speaking truth—I will be exposed sooner or later.

May we live the way the Lord Jesus taught.

Matthew 5 (NKJV)
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Vance

[Romans]

i LOVE Romans! Paul is such a gracious writer! I really encourage everyone to be in deep prayer while reading this (and all the bible) but just to be filled with the spirit that God may reveal His beauty and truth to us in a more complete way. So many gems that can be skipped over! I encourage everyone to read these writings at least a couple times and meditate on them.

Romans 1:5 "we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith" ...that last part stood out for me, obedience that comes through faith. We know faith is a gift of God, He gives us faith...therefore without God's mercy we cannot obey Him or please Him because obedience is a byproduct of faith. ? My commentary says: "true saving faith always produces obedience and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ"

v. 12 "that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith". This reveals how we need other believers to exhort us, encourage us, and we need to be a source of exhortation to others. I know sometimes at my low points the faith of others has lifted me up so much! Likewise, the negativity of others drags me down with them. I cherish my dear friends full of love and faith in Christ!

v. 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."
I love that statement, the gospel is the power of God for salvation!

[Amrita]

God bless you Mike. I linked you on my blog and put the challenging Vorld Vision video on it too

[Sandy]

I, too, thought Romans 1:16 and 17 stood out. I have read v. 16 so many times - but today vs. 17 really hit me. Habakkuk 2:4 was referenced in the footnote which made it even more powerful for me. The righteousness of Christ vs. my hopelessness without Him! 4Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall [a]live by his faith and in his faithfulness.(A)

I too often care about things other than the things that God would be interested in - worried more about my own glory than His. How can I possibly be rigidly just and uncompromisingly righteous? Apart from Christ, it is hopeless - but because of Christ there is a way - but it still requires getting ME out of the way to live in His righteousness - and that's where the challenge is for me. Self-righteousness has been such a part of my fundamental upbringing - criticizing and judging other's spirituality, etc. that I still find myself often falling into this way of thinking without intending to. But there is hope in Christ...to live by faith a full and celebratory life - rejoicing in what He has done.

[Art]

In "The Message" version of Psalm 9:15, 16 we read:

"They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands."

And then I read today's headlines about a major bank (IndyMac) being taken over by federal regulators, and Fannie Mae and Freddi Mac also, perhaps, all as a result of the mortgage crisis -- a giant, tangled financial web that's not even close to unwinding yet. And I can't help but see a lot of parallels.

[jc in me]

pauls words
dont take everything to heart where does that say this in the word