"Be a Good Citizen"
There is no excuse for a Christian not fulfilling their obligations to their government. Beyond taxes, what obligations to modern Christians have?
Vote? Join a Party? Participate in civic debate? Demonstrate???
On the other hand, when Paul wrote this passage, the Roman government was passive towards Christians and they were seen as a protector for the young Christian faith. I wonder what Paul would have thought of the government in the days of heavy persecution that came not too long after Paul's death.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
SOAK Romans 12:9-16
"What Does a Christian Look Like?"
Based on what he has told us about being a living sacrifice, Paul tells us how to behave. He describes a loving, kind, helpful person; the kind of people we choose to be around.
This is where our theology meets real life. The question is will we choose to live up to the faith we profess.
My prayer is that your life will be a sacrifice to God every day..
Based on what he has told us about being a living sacrifice, Paul tells us how to behave. He describes a loving, kind, helpful person; the kind of people we choose to be around.
This is where our theology meets real life. The question is will we choose to live up to the faith we profess.
My prayer is that your life will be a sacrifice to God every day..
Saturday, October 25, 2008
SOAK Romans 11:11-16
"Paul's Longing"
Just like Paul longs to see all of the Jews embracing Jesus as Messiah, I wonder what impact the church would have if ALL churches and ALL Christians would fulfill God's purposes in their lives. The impact would be beyond belief.
Imagine what Jakarta would be like if every church lived and served God with all their hearts. Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what IES would be like if every person who attended the church served God with all their hearts.
Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what your LIFE Group or ministry team would be like if every person who was a part of the team served God with all of their hearts.
Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what YOUR life would be like if you lived for God every day with all your heart.
Jakarta would be shaken.
...and what keeps each of us from living our lives fully for Him....
My prayer is that you will live for Him today.
Just like Paul longs to see all of the Jews embracing Jesus as Messiah, I wonder what impact the church would have if ALL churches and ALL Christians would fulfill God's purposes in their lives. The impact would be beyond belief.
Imagine what Jakarta would be like if every church lived and served God with all their hearts. Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what IES would be like if every person who attended the church served God with all their hearts.
Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what your LIFE Group or ministry team would be like if every person who was a part of the team served God with all of their hearts.
Jakarta would be shaken!
Imagine what YOUR life would be like if you lived for God every day with all your heart.
Jakarta would be shaken.
...and what keeps each of us from living our lives fully for Him....
My prayer is that you will live for Him today.
SOAK Romans 11:1-6
"Grace that is Greater Than all My Sin"
The words of that old hymn are a fitting title for this section of reading.
Paul talks about God's grace being strong enough to bring some Israelites to Him regardless of their general apathy and rebellion towards Him.
In our lives, what is His grace greater than? Our longing to say YES to temptation. Our smug self-righteousness. Our indifference. Our frequent forgetting of His purpose for our lives...
All that comes from our self and our pride and our sin...His grace is greater.
My prayer is that we always live in His grace.
The words of that old hymn are a fitting title for this section of reading.
Paul talks about God's grace being strong enough to bring some Israelites to Him regardless of their general apathy and rebellion towards Him.
In our lives, what is His grace greater than? Our longing to say YES to temptation. Our smug self-righteousness. Our indifference. Our frequent forgetting of His purpose for our lives...
All that comes from our self and our pride and our sin...His grace is greater.
My prayer is that we always live in His grace.
Sorry about these being out of sequence...
When I do my reading, I usually am reading from my Bible on my Treo in the car while stuck in traffic . After I finish my reading, I compose my thoughts and send them by sms to my reading partners. Then I prepare an email to myself from my Treo to my mailbox. The plan isfor me to get the email and copy it and paste it into the blog. Sometimes I forget to do that, or do several at one time because I have not been able to send email from my Treo due to poor GPRS service in South Jakarta.
Sorry, I'll try and do better.....
Sorry, I'll try and do better.....
SOAK Romans 11:25-27
"God Won't Give Up on You"
Just like God is going to bring revival to the Jews in spite of centuries of their rejecting Him, you can be confident that He won't give up on you, no matter what spiritual struggles and times of questioning and doubt you go through.
Once we understand that He will never give up on us, the key is for us not to give up on His delivery, and for us not to give up on yourself.
I pray that no matter how tough things might be in your life, you will not give up your faith.
Just like God is going to bring revival to the Jews in spite of centuries of their rejecting Him, you can be confident that He won't give up on you, no matter what spiritual struggles and times of questioning and doubt you go through.
Once we understand that He will never give up on us, the key is for us not to give up on His delivery, and for us not to give up on yourself.
I pray that no matter how tough things might be in your life, you will not give up your faith.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
SOAK Romans 10:14-15
"Beautiful"
I enjoyed preaching on this text last year. Paul makes the point that if
you share the gospel with anyone, you are like a great hero (Cyrus was the
one with beautiful feet) that God used to deliver Israel.
Share the gospel with someone. You'll not only save their life, but you'll please God too.
I pray that you would be "beautiful" to God every day.
I enjoyed preaching on this text last year. Paul makes the point that if
you share the gospel with anyone, you are like a great hero (Cyrus was the
one with beautiful feet) that God used to deliver Israel.
Share the gospel with someone. You'll not only save their life, but you'll please God too.
I pray that you would be "beautiful" to God every day.
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