Romans____13

Scripture

Romans 13:13-14

“Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

Observation-What does it say?

Paul is urging the Romans to live Godly lives, to be in Christ. He is urging them to not fall into the temptations of this world. Instead, he urges them to be clothed in the presence of Jesus Christ. He is reminding them of their responsibility as Christ Followers to be lights in this dark world for all to see.

Understanding-What does it mean?

In Christ we are a new creation.

During one of our table discussions last year, we discussed our identities in Christ. We discussed that to be in Christ is a status, that we are in relationship with Him. We discussed that we are a new creation. We discussed that we are no longer slaves to sin. Finally we discussed that we are made for His good works.

In Christ, our old sinful ways are gone, He has made us new. We have instant access to God, His blessings, and the fruits of the spirit. That is... if we stay connected to Him.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” -John 15:5-8 

And what are these fruits we should be producing?

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”-Galatians 5:22-25 

Life Application

What kind of fruit am I producing?

Does my life produce fruit that is ripe, sweet, and fills other people’s lives around me with a fragrance and taste that makes them them want more? Or does it give off a foul aroma, a bitter taste in people’s mouths, and a fruit that deserves to be thrown off to the side to rot?

Father God, I pray that I stay connected to You. I pray that my life produces fruit that is beneficial for others. May my life point others towards You. May the words that come out of my mouth be glorifying to You. Show me areas in my life where I need to improve on and help me to change them. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi

Romans____12

Scripture  Romans 12:2&21 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Observation-What does it say?   The book of Romans was written to a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles that made up the church in Rome.  Throughout the book, Paul presents a basic gospel message, including God’s plan for salvation for all mankind.  From the beginning of the letter, he transitions through several different topics within the story of salvation, beginning with a statement on the broken condition of mankind.  Toward the end of the book, Paul transitions to give an appeal to Christians to live out faith in practical ways.   Chapter 12 begins with an appeal to remember the sacrifice of Christ and live in light of this.  “We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul” (Matthew Henry).  When we fully experience the love of Christ, we tend to live out of the overflow of this love, causing us to do things that would be different from what the world expects. Understanding-What does it mean?  I bug the living begeezes out of Jen on an almost daily basis when I try to talk to her about bikes.  While I have been able to ride a bike since I was five or six, riding bikes as a hobby is a fairly new thing for me.  Since breaking my leg in 2016 and having to hang-up my running shoes for good, riding bikes has developed in several ways.  I now own several different types of bikes, which are used for specific types of riding, and spend time riding in several different disciplines.  Riding bikes brings me a lot of happiness and tinkering on bikes, changing parts to make the bikes perform in different or better ways, makes the experience even better.  So I have a tendency to talk to Jen about bike stuff and she will almost instantly roll her eyes. Over time, I realized that talking about bikes wasn’t enough to help her know what the joy I get from riding a bike.  For her to understand, I had to get her on a bike and have her ride with me.  This realization drove me to build her a bike.  It drove me to create time for us to ride together.  Living the bike life for me meant taking practical steps to help spread the joy of riding a bike.   How much more is our life with Christ to be shared in practical ways.  It’s not enough to talk about what the Bible says we should be doing, we have to find practical ways to share what we experience through God’s love.  This can even mean living without fear, especially when the world around us is shutting down with fear.  It might be opening up your home to spend time in prayer, even though the world’s wisdom says it is too “dangerous.”  It could be sharing a meal with a homeless person, despite how much that person smells from not bathing.  The love of God is so much greater than anything we can fear on earth.  The love of God overcame death, which is why we don’t have to live in fear.  “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Life Application  Jesus, help me to live out a place of courage, not out of a place of fear.  Help me to live the new life you have given to me.  Through my life, help me to share that experience with those around me.  Help me to live my life grounded on your word and not the word of world around me.  -Tyler Galloway

Psalm 33

Scripture - What stood out?Psalm 3316 The king is not saved by his great army;    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,

    and by its great might it cannot rescue. Observation - What does it say?Psalm 33 is another beautiful and moving psalm describing God with glory and praise and culminating with belief that the only hope we truly have is in God’s steadfast love. Understanding - What does it mean?I decided to research the word steadfast and some of the synonyms I came up with were firm, and immovable. I ended up getting sucked into a mini hebrew study session while journaling but it was totally worth it. I chewed on what I felt was the main dish of this psalm in verse 18, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,...” I found that in different translations steadfast love was translated into faithfulness, lovingkindness, and mercy among others. Reading about the hebrew root word checed just blew my mind a little bit further. Wikipedia described chesed as the love or mercy of God towards humanity. And chesed’s root chasad had a primary meaning of eager or ardent desire. Wow! So how did this adventure all start? I read about a warhorse, I immediately pictured this amazing beast capable of destruction, maybe an armored humvee in today’s world, but the bible was telling me that none of this stuff can actually save you! And so I had to ask myself what am I surrounding myself with in the hopes that it will protect me? And from what? God’s love is what saves. And God’s love is towards...us. For us. His love is firm, it doesn’t move. His love for us filled with mercy, eagerness and ardent desire. His love for us is true hope for salvation. Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?And so this morning Lord I don’t want to put my faith in my warhorse, my strength, or my nation’s might. Help me to see what I have been depending on for way to long to rescue me and help me to instead trade it in for your steadfast love, a hope that saves.

In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen. -kenneth lee