Category: Devotions

The powers that be …
Romans 13
The powers that be are there because God appointed them.
For the Christians, living under the wicked Roman Emperor, Nero, they would find this hard to swallow.
You may also. For your powers that be may not act anything like God.
You may struggle to obey them.
Your government.
Your manager or supervisor.
Your spiritual leader.
All these can make things difficult for you.
In turn you may want to belittle, rebel and usurp the authority above you.
But strangely God has them there for a season.
They are serving a bigger picture than just your life here and now. You are part of that big picture so submit, do what’s right and respect those people.
For when you do this you are in line with God.

Some people do not like do not’s
Romans 12
However I like these ones …
Do not let your culture fashion you, v2
Do not let your success fashion you, v3
Do not let disappointment fashion you, v11
Do not let hurt fashion you, v14
Do not let your titles fashion you, v16
Do not let injustice fashion you, v17
Do not let the desire to win fashion you, v19
Do not let sheer evil fashion you, v21

What’s trying to fashion you today?
If it’s not God, then do not!

A few things for the chosen …
Romans 11

1. The chosen know it is all about the chooser.
v5 Grace!! You were chosen by it.
v7 Nothing of you!! You cannot do anything to be chosen.

2. The chosen do not boast about being chosen.
v20 Fear is part of our faith.
v22 The experience of God’s kindness is a choice the chosen have to continue to make.

3. The chosen understand about miracle grafts.
v23 Second chances! God grafts His people back into the place they should be in.

4. The chosen have guarantees.
v29 No matter what has happened gifts and calling are never cancelled, never!

5. The chosen must know mercy
v32 The chosen have got to experience sin so they can fully know the Saviour.

“The only thing that matters is God’s victory over our unrighteousness, that God alone be the one who is righteous.” Bonhoeffer.
Romans 10
The only thing that matters is when God works He makes things right for us, v8.
Let’s give Him room to do what matters.

So why did that happen? And why didn’t it happen?
Familiar with such questions? Of course.
Romans 9
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” v21
How do we journey through confusing circumstances with belief in God.
In tackling the questions over why Israel hadn’t turned back to God Paul says:
* the failure is not in the Word of God, v6
* the failure is not in the justice of God, v14
* the failure is not in the impatience of God, v22

In your questions of which there may be many …
Don’t doubt what God tells you in the Bible.
God is fair.
God is working it out for good.

No condemnation!
Romans 8
Are you more aware of the Spirit doing the work of God in you or more aware of you doing the work of God?
Are you focusing on being or doing?
No condemnation means:
The standards of God are satisfied, v3-4
The mind is satisfied, v6
The body is satisfied, v11,13
Our identity is satisfied, v14-17
Who can beat us? v31
Will God suddenly become stingy? v32
Does it matter who accuses us? v33
Does it matter who condemns us? v34
Can you think of anything that is a sign that God has stopped loving you? v35
There is no condemnation. It doesn’t exist for us.

There’s a lot of people trying to be what they already are
Romans 7

1. This new life in Christ means you don’t have to try anymore. It’s a new life, v1-6
The Law of God (trying to be good) has not died, we have. The Law still declares the lifestyle that pleases God but we are dead to trying to please God by living that lifestyle.
This new life is a life of the Spirit.

2. This new life in Christ means if you try to be what you already are, you will fail, v7-13.
Whatever part of the godly lifestyle you set your focus on it will only show you how far short you have failed to keep the standard.
The law (trying to be good) was always meant to establish guilt for sin not be a means for salvation.

3. This new life in Christ means if you try to be what you already are then you will not be true to yourself, v14-24
The Law (trying to be good) cannot change you nor help you into freedom and certainly cannot set you free.

Stop trying.
Start being.
Freedom is not what I can do for Him
But what He can do through me.

There are times when we are more aware of our sin than our Saviour.
For vast periods of our lives we have been more aware of what is wrong with our lives than what is right.
We have learnt how to accommodate fears and sins, addictions and anxiety because these things have a deceiving comfort by focusing on ourselves rather than living our lives in freedom which causes us to think of other people’s problems.
We have left Egypt but Egypt hasn’t left us. We decided to let go of things but things would not let go of us.
We are told we are free so why do we still feel chained to the past, to our fears, to our feelings.
Romans 6
Let me ask you 3 questions if you understand what I am saying:
Do you know? Do you truly know the impact of the cross? V6
Have you made claim to the truth? Are you claiming this in the way you live? V11
Have you surrendered? Are you available to Him? V13

Is it true you can live free? YES!

Do you know what’s in the contract?
Romans 5
Peace with God, v1. Not a change of feelings or an inward peace but a change in God’s relationship to us. There is no need to question God’s views and thoughts about us. It’s okay. How good is that?!

Access to God, v2. Jesus has introduced us to God. God is never distant, we are. How good is that?!

A hope, v2. There is no doubt on heaven, it is not a prospect, it is a certainty. How good is that?!

Development of character, v3-4. The word character is too difficult a word to translate. Paul only uses it 7 times it means a quality by having stood the test. You will go through problems (the test) it is part of the contract. How good is that?!

Love, v5-8. What can I say? God really loves you! How good is that?!

No fear of God’s anger, v9-10. God will not vent His anger on you, ever. how good is that?!

Reconciliation with God, v11. The power of sin which creates a barrier between God and man is broken down by Christ’s work on the cross. How good is that?!

There is one who doesn’t want you to know the contract. But you do.

How good is that?!

Justification is an act of God where He declares the believing sinner righteous in Christ on the basis of the finished work of Christ on the cross!
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Justification is not ‘just as if I had never sinned’
I was, am and will be a sinner but God declares me righteous because of Christ.
It is an Act not a process.
God does it, I cannot justify myself.
God does not make us righteous, He declares we are.
Yes it is true.
You are free.
You are free from every power that sin, flesh, the world will throw at you.
You are free from every addiction.
You are free from every fear and phobia.
You are free from all guilt and shame.
You are free from the past.
You are free in the present.
You are free tomorrow.
Do you feel it?
Can you experience it?
Maybe not.
But it is a legal matter.
It is a contract that is binding.
Whether you feel it, experience it or believe it, it is still true!
I am just reminding you!