22My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 23Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people. 27This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. 28After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.
30My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.
My daughter, Mali Beth, constantly asks me when I'm coming out to see the grandchildren. I hope she really means "coming out to see me!" I love her and miss her, but my work always seems to get in the way.
It's not a good excuse, but a common one. Even Paul found he couldn't always do what he wanted to do because he was busy doing what God had called him to do. He says "my work has always kept me from coming to see you". Well, now he was finished with his work and he was making plans to go to Rome...on his way to Spain. OK, there's always more to do!
It's not in my nature to second-guess Paul. But, I'm not Paul. I need to cultivate relationships around me because they revitalize me. Paul understood it. He said "after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on". We can see our friends as fuel for our passion to serve Christ. We don't have to see them as obstacles to ministry.
By the way...I'm going to Pittsburgh next week...
Live boldly out there today...
August 5, 2011
August 4, 2011
Romans 15:14-21, Paul's Work as a Missionary
14My friends, I am sure that you are very good and that you have all the knowledge you need to teach each other. 15But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God was so kind to me! 16He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.
17Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19Indeed, I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on anyone else's foundation. 21It is just as the Scriptures say,
"All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand."
I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker recently...about a project we wanted to launch. He said "this is a great opportunity for us. People are watching!"
Huh? Is that why we tackle new projects and opportunities...so we look good for others?
We live in a day where we all want to take credit. We're offended if we accomplish something and nobody notices...so we make certain to tell them ourselves...just in case somebody else might get the credit. Of course, it lacks dignity...taking credit for somebody else's accomplishments.That doesn't stop many of us.
As Paul begins to close out this letter he brings his life into perspective. He says In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work..., I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit". He didn't want to take any credit for what Christ had done. Paul's focus throughout his ministry was ensuring that Christ got all the credit for everything he did. It also happens that he did a great deal. coincidence? Probably not...
Somebody's watching alright, it's just not the boss down the hall...
Live boldly out there today...
17Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19Indeed, I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on anyone else's foundation. 21It is just as the Scriptures say,
"All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand."
I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker recently...about a project we wanted to launch. He said "this is a great opportunity for us. People are watching!"
Huh? Is that why we tackle new projects and opportunities...so we look good for others?
We live in a day where we all want to take credit. We're offended if we accomplish something and nobody notices...so we make certain to tell them ourselves...just in case somebody else might get the credit. Of course, it lacks dignity...taking credit for somebody else's accomplishments.That doesn't stop many of us.
As Paul begins to close out this letter he brings his life into perspective. He says In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work..., I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit". He didn't want to take any credit for what Christ had done. Paul's focus throughout his ministry was ensuring that Christ got all the credit for everything he did. It also happens that he did a great deal. coincidence? Probably not...
Somebody's watching alright, it's just not the boss down the hall...
Live boldly out there today...
August 3, 2011
Romans 15:7-13, The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles
7Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,
"I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name."
10The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, "Come and celebrate with God's people."
11Again the Scriptures say,
"Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him."
12Isaiah says,
"Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him."
13I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Sometimes, if we aren't careful, we let ourselves think its all about us. Then Paul stops us and says "Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors". It appears it's not about us at all, but about God's faithfulness and love for our ancestors...Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...David, Isaiah and Job. It certainly is a blessing to be counted among the spiritual seed of Abraham.
I wonder if I will ever rise to a level of faith where God will bless my progeny because of me? That should be our prayer every day.
Live boldly out there today...
"I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name."
10The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, "Come and celebrate with God's people."
11Again the Scriptures say,
"Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him."
12Isaiah says,
"Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him."
13I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Sometimes, if we aren't careful, we let ourselves think its all about us. Then Paul stops us and says "Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors". It appears it's not about us at all, but about God's faithfulness and love for our ancestors...Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...David, Isaiah and Job. It certainly is a blessing to be counted among the spiritual seed of Abraham.
I wonder if I will ever rise to a level of faith where God will bless my progeny because of me? That should be our prayer every day.
Live boldly out there today...
August 2, 2011
Romans 15:1-6, Please Others and Not Yourself
1If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me." 4And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, for the third time, Paul says "live at peace" with each other. In school we would call this a "teaching point". It might be on a test.
I've often wondered what it might be like to wander around heaven constantly meeting people I didn't get along with. Can you imagine Jesus saying "Lee, Gary and I are golfing. Want to join us?" And me, of course wanting to say "but Gary's an idiot! don't you see that!?" Now, That could be embarrassing.
Patience...
Live boldly out there today...
Now, for the third time, Paul says "live at peace" with each other. In school we would call this a "teaching point". It might be on a test.
I've often wondered what it might be like to wander around heaven constantly meeting people I didn't get along with. Can you imagine Jesus saying "Lee, Gary and I are golfing. Want to join us?" And me, of course wanting to say "but Gary's an idiot! don't you see that!?" Now, That could be embarrassing.
Patience...
Live boldly out there today...
August 1, 2011
Romans 14:13-23, Don't Cause Problems for Others
13We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith. 14The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit.
15If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. 16Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. 17God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. 19We should try [a] to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. 20Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. 21It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. 22What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. 23But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.
Paul continues...
I realize life in the Body of Christ can be tumultuous. It would be far easier if the Holy Spirit would say exactly the same thing to each of us...no confusion. But then, we are all at different stages in our faith journey. We don't all have the same spiritual maturity to hear the same things at the same time. So, Paul says "we must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith". In fact, some words to live by would be "as much as possible, live at peace and help others to have a strong faith". It seems all our well intended "constructive criticism" can actually be destructive.
"Why, oh why, can't people just agree with me?"
So, how do we live with this dynamic tension?
1. Regardless...if we think something is a sin...we are not to do it.
2. Regardless...if our actions hurt others...we are not to do them.
3. Regardless...we should keep these things between ourselves and God.
Actually, Paul says we are very fortunate if we have no doubts about our actions. Apparently it's human nature to be uncertain. Except when it comes to others?
Live boldly out there today...
15If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. 16Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. 17God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. 19We should try [a] to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. 20Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. 21It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. 22What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. 23But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.
Paul continues...
I realize life in the Body of Christ can be tumultuous. It would be far easier if the Holy Spirit would say exactly the same thing to each of us...no confusion. But then, we are all at different stages in our faith journey. We don't all have the same spiritual maturity to hear the same things at the same time. So, Paul says "we must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith". In fact, some words to live by would be "as much as possible, live at peace and help others to have a strong faith". It seems all our well intended "constructive criticism" can actually be destructive.
"Why, oh why, can't people just agree with me?"
So, how do we live with this dynamic tension?
1. Regardless...if we think something is a sin...we are not to do it.
2. Regardless...if our actions hurt others...we are not to do them.
3. Regardless...we should keep these things between ourselves and God.
Actually, Paul says we are very fortunate if we have no doubts about our actions. Apparently it's human nature to be uncertain. Except when it comes to others?
Live boldly out there today...
July 31, 2011
Romans 14:1-12, Don't Criticize Others
1Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours. 2Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables. 3But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. 4What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right.
5Some of the Lord's followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. 6Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.
7Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves. 8Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord. 9This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living. 10Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judge all of us. 11In the Scriptures God says,
"I swear by my very life
that everyone will kneel down
and praise my name!"
12And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.
When I point a finger at you, I have three pointing back at me...
If we're guilty of anything today, this is probably it...criticizing other Christians. Paul clearly says "don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours". I know, I know...professed Christians exhibit all sorts of strange habits..many seem destructive to good order and discipline. A little criticism might seem healthy.
Of course, we're not talking about denying Christ or elevating sacraments. We're talking about (mostly) well-meaning efforts of individual Christians to obey God. Yet, purity of faith is a high priority for all of us...
Paul uses a number of examples from his time and place. They look different from ours, but the principle is the same. We speak in tongues...or we don't. We tithe...or we don't. We share the Gospel...or we don't. Nobody should argue that there isn't a preferred (Divine) position in any dispute. Regardless, we are supposed to mind our own business. Paul says other Christians are not ours to criticize. They are God's property and he will manage them appropriately.
Or don't we believe they can hear the Holy Spirit like we do? Now, that's just ugly! Actually, Paul's counting on it. That's why he says "each of you should make up your own mind". He could only say this if he trusted people to listen to God. Paul has far greater confidence in the Holy Spirit than he does in the Church as a whole.
Anyway, I have enough to do cleaning up my own life. We should all be too busy with our own habits to pay attention to others. Paul says "whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord". Bottom line...other Christians are not ours to criticize. They are God's. Wow! is that a weight of my shoulders!
Live boldly out there today...
5Some of the Lord's followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. 6Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.
7Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves. 8Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord. 9This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living. 10Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judge all of us. 11In the Scriptures God says,
"I swear by my very life
that everyone will kneel down
and praise my name!"
12And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.
When I point a finger at you, I have three pointing back at me...
If we're guilty of anything today, this is probably it...criticizing other Christians. Paul clearly says "don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours". I know, I know...professed Christians exhibit all sorts of strange habits..many seem destructive to good order and discipline. A little criticism might seem healthy.
Of course, we're not talking about denying Christ or elevating sacraments. We're talking about (mostly) well-meaning efforts of individual Christians to obey God. Yet, purity of faith is a high priority for all of us...
Paul uses a number of examples from his time and place. They look different from ours, but the principle is the same. We speak in tongues...or we don't. We tithe...or we don't. We share the Gospel...or we don't. Nobody should argue that there isn't a preferred (Divine) position in any dispute. Regardless, we are supposed to mind our own business. Paul says other Christians are not ours to criticize. They are God's property and he will manage them appropriately.
Or don't we believe they can hear the Holy Spirit like we do? Now, that's just ugly! Actually, Paul's counting on it. That's why he says "each of you should make up your own mind". He could only say this if he trusted people to listen to God. Paul has far greater confidence in the Holy Spirit than he does in the Church as a whole.
Anyway, I have enough to do cleaning up my own life. We should all be too busy with our own habits to pay attention to others. Paul says "whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord". Bottom line...other Christians are not ours to criticize. They are God's. Wow! is that a weight of my shoulders!
Live boldly out there today...
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