Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1-7 KJV

The introduction of a book gives much insight and prepares the reader for the tone of what lies ahead. The name of Paul itself gives a description of who he is. Paul means “little or small” in Greek. Paul identified himself in lesser and lesser terms in later books.

Paul calls himself a “servant of Jesus Christ” (or bondservant) which indicates his view of his association with Jesus – a self-identified, self-dedicated slave of Jesus Christ.

Paul also indicates that he was called (invited or appointed) to be an apostle (an ambassador) of Jesus. This calling came on him on the road to Damascus where he came to know Jesus.

He continues by stating that he was separated or set aside for the gospel of God – the good news – which was promised through the prophets by God. This good news was about Jesus who Paul identifies as God’s son and by right our Lord. Paul then identifies Jesus’ human lineage by identifying him as a descendent of David. Then Paul gives Jesus’ spiritual lineage through the declaration of the Holy Spirit and the resurrection from the dead.

Finally, Paul identifies to whom the letter is written: to believers in Jesus Christ (with the attributes thereof) in Rome.

As an introduction, Paul identifies himself, his relationship to Jesus and his readers relationship to Jesus. In doing so, he links himself to them as family and greets them as such.

Following the Crowd of One

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
(Psalm 119:35-36 KJV)

We often feel driven to go with the crowd. It is easier for us – for there is no confrontation present when you are acting within the context and agreement of a group. However, to move against the grain causes discomfort and often aggression.

Watching for the Master

We who have come to know Jesus as our LORD and Savior have been given a task.

Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:37-48 (NKJV)

Wow

If Only We’d Seek Him

This morning my daily reading took me through Deuteronomy chapter 4. I stumbled accross this jem of remembrance:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV (formatting by me)

If only we would seek after Him every moment of every day. I know that I often find myself goring throughout my daily tasks only to find out that I had shut Him out.

Guilty as charged. No matter how much I would desire to be in the presence of my Lord, I so often seek to satisfy my own desires without inquiring what He would have of me.

Today I pray for the strength and discipline to earnestly seek after my Lord in all I do. Regardless of the brevity or simpicity – the complexity or longevity, I desire to seek after Him.

I pray that we all would.

Use it or you’ll loose it…

There is a saying that I’ve heard often as I have grown up, “Use it or you’ll lose it…” This was almost always in the context of some developed skill or discipline. Time has shown me the truth of this phrase.

It always amazes me at how much I forget. There were things which I merely remember the name, but cannot for the life me remember the remaining content. Binomial theorem, Avagado’s number, etc.

Unfortunately, I also forget what the Lord has spoken to me through His Word. I often forget where a certain verse or section is in the Bible. This is all to my detriment.

Changing My Mind

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11, KJV

I find that it is so very difficult to even comprehend how to change my mind. Every time I attempt to correct my thoughts myself, I get a reminder of the corruption which is within me.

Justified

We have been recently watching the Maranatha! 2 Propecy series online from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and I have a song stuck in my head. Normally this would drive me insane, but this is a good one to have. Hanz Ive and the Harvest Praise Band played for the worship time this last week. One of the songs, which I believe is titled ‘Justified’, has a verse like this:

Justified
Just as if I’d never done anything wrong
[I've been]
Justified
All of my transgressions are gone

It is remembering that through Jesus Christ, I have been justified before God the Father. Not of myself by by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:11 KJV
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Galatians 2:16 KJV
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

I’ve never been able to do anything by myself. Oh, I once thought that I could. In fact, I thought that I was pretty hot stuff when it came to my supposed areas of expertise. Turns out I was wrong.

John 15:5 KJV
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The true nature of my ability to do, think, or feel anything is directly related to my relationship to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:13 KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

So, I bow before my Master and ask His will for me. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Frankly, I don’t know what will happen five minutes from now. Regardless, I know that Jesus is watching over me for my good. I can trust Him in this. You see, I’ve been justified – just as if I never did anything wrong.

The Source of Fear

I have fear for many things. I fear for my wife, my daughters, our financial situation, my job, my walk with the Lord, what other’s think of me, etc. By fear, I mean many things – actual fear, anxiety, worry – overt concern for things not in my control. I fear and have been stripped of what power that I should have.

And yet, as a follower of Christ, I know that I should “Be careful for nothing (Phil 4:6).” I know that I should fear not for the LORD is with me. I know many reasons not to fear. And yet, I do at times.

A couple of days ago, this last Resurrection Sunday, I pondered my fear – my fear of man in particular. I wondered why I feared so much – why I let fear hold me back from serving my LORD properly, why I was not a witness of what He has done for me and the whole world. I came to a conclusion: fear is spawned by fear of death in some form.

Choose Life

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, “Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, “Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
(Deuteronomy 30:11-20 KJV) [Emphasis mine]

“Choose life that you might live – today I put before you a choice – life and death”. The life is in the blood of the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ. He came to give us life – life for eternity with Him. He is the way the truth and the life – what do you say to this? What choice will you make? Jesus is the passover lamb – sacrificed for the sins of this world. Yet, He was not finished for in 3 days He was risen from the dead – having conquered death itself. Where do I place my hope? My hope is in my LORD and my God – Jesus Ha Mashiach – Jesus Bar Joseph Bar David Bar Abraham. The One and only Savior of this world.

It’s Lunchtime…

It’s Lunchtime… I have not written in my blog for many moons now. So, here is a small entry to say that I have not fallen asleep.

Time to eat.

God bless!