There are many times in our lives when we will be confronted with choices to make regarding our walk with God. In the days of Moses, the Pharaoh had ordered all male children to be thrown into the Nile River in hopes of shrinking the ever-growing population of the Jews. Yet the midwives amongst God’s people feared God more than the edict of the Pharaoh and refused to obey his commands, though they risked their own lives in so doing.
Though our choices are rarely that drastic and consequential, there is still the issue of who will you fear most: Almighty God or the culture’s reaction, the opinions of others, the fallout for godliness, etc. One thing is sure, fearing God will lead us to do what is right, fearing men is always going to lead to ruin.
Fearing the Lord by following His ways,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Every true believer in Jesus Christ will face this dilemma of failure. I want to do what is right and I don’t want to sin—and yet I sin anyway, again and again.. Paul describes this problem exquisitely in his personal testimony in Romans 7:14-25. This section is written entirely in the first person and tells his story of failure. And if we are truly honest with ourselves, it tells our story, too.
We know this is not a description of Paul before he was saved for a number of reasons. Before his dramatic conversion, he was a proud Pharisee who believed that he was blameless when it came to the Law of Moses. But his testimony is not one of a haughty Pharisee, but of a humble, saved sinner with a tender conscience. He admits he fails again and again, and yet he has the new values and the new affections of a true believer. He treasures the Law in a new way and he has holy desires to do what it says.
Paul verbalizes the essential principle that holy desires and willpower alone do not give us the ability to do what is right. Success in the Christian life depends upon admitting own weaknesses and abiding in Christ. “Without Me,” Jesus said, “you can do nothing.”
There are at least two positive results of failure. First, it humbles us and reminds us of our weaknesses. And secondly, it gives us a fresh appreciation and thankfulness for the forgiveness purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.
Tom Day
I really like these simple truths in the Bible. They are easy to remember and straight to the point. Paul, writing to the Romans in this section, was comparing God’s righteous judgment with man’s judgment. He says in the verses before, those who practice self-seeking and do not obey the truth will receive tribulation and anguish, and glory, honor, and peace will go to those who work what is good. Both to the Jew first and also the Greek.
There is no partiality with God. He doesn’t have favorites. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. We know from 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God wants all to be saved but if you choose not to be saved, God will execute righteous judgment on you regardless of who you are in this world.
Joshua Navarro
Meekness certainly isn’t a trait that is sought after in this world. It’s a word that brings to mind someone who is weak, mild, and unassertive, all traits that the world says would hold us back and keep us from getting ahead. But that’s not at all what this word “meek” is. It means, “Strength under control,” literally here it describes someone who is “God-controlled” not someone who is weak, but instead is allowing God to be the one in control of their life, bowing their will to His.
Meekness is a word used to describe a horse that is under the control of its rider. This powerful beast allows its master to direct it and use it for his purposes. So I can see how that applies to us as Christians but with one difference, a horse is controlled by a bit in its mouth, a piece of metal that is used to keep the horse controlled through discomfort. Yet that is not how God desires to guide us through life. The Lord tells us in Psalm 32, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle.”
The world sees the Christian life as a life of restrictions and rules to follow, but in reality, it is a place of great freedom and those who allow God to lead them will “inherit the earth.” They will find a life of great blessing and abundance and freedom.
Pastor Doug Hardin
I think of the lack of good fathers nowadays when I read this chapter. Jacob, the dad of Simeon and Levi, only looks at how their actions affect him. He also should have laid down the law with his sons.
Proverbs 23:13 says, “Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.” We live in a very entitled time right now where the parents see themselves as their child’s friend instead of as their parents.
I fear for the generation ahead, which has more possessions than they’ll ever need and has everyone fighting their battles for them. When I was writing this, there was just an opinion poll saying 11 percent of parents had called their adult child’s workplace to complain to the boss. We need to raise children in a way they grow up to be decent functioning parts of society. It certainly doesn’t look like Jacob did that. Dads, are you the spiritual leaders of your household?
Praying for godly dads,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
Hi, ho, hi, ho, it’s off to work I go. Paul has a little encouragement for all those in the workplace. As Christians, we are to be the best employees we can be. For the hours of the day we are on the job, an employee’s time and talents belong to his employer. An employee cannot complain, laze around, or do shoddy work, and expect God to bless him. The real test is, “What are our work habits when no one is looking?” because that is the true measure of our integrity and sincerity of heart. And besides, God is always watching and ultimately our work should be as unto Him first and foremost. So put in a good day’s work and be assured, God is pleased.
Because the “Boss” is never away,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
Reading Mark’s account, we quickly learn how busy Jesus’ ministry had become. Mark records a Sabbath day in Jesus’ life filled with preaching, bringing deliverance to many possessed of the devil, and later healing Peter’s mother-in-law. That evening many came to the house where Jesus was staying and sought His hand for deliverance and healing as well. Yet our verse tells us the next morning, Jesus arose long before dawn to find a quiet place to pray. While everyone else slept, our Lord found strength at the feet of His Father. We must never allow our busyness to crowd out what we need most, time with the Lord in prayer where He will strengthen us for the day and the task at hand. Have you been too busy to pray much? Learn from Jesus to make time for that first!
Wanting to make more time for prayer each day,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Having a small pet, I’m very aware of the threat of coyotes that exist in my area. Coyotes are a very clever predator. A lot of times they work in packs and one of the tactics they use is to send one coyote out ahead in front of the pack, and this one coyote will play injured. It will make noises that indicate he or she is hurt and lure unsuspecting dogs or other small animals near this perceived wounded animal. Then once this unsuspecting animal gets close enough, the rest of the pack attacks and has a much easier job taking down it’s prey.
Well, Satan is much like coyotes but his schemes are even more clever. Hence, we are to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand firm as we face him in battle. The idea of “put on” in the original language is to make permanent. We don’t ever take off the armor because when we do, we are susceptible to the devil’s traps, such as those little dogs or cats that are fooled by the “wounded” coyote. The other important word used here is “whole.” We don’t put on some of the armor, the pieces we like, and leave off the others. We take up and put it all on.
As Christians trying to live out an obedient life to God’s Word, we become a great enemy to Satan because we are the only means by which Satan can attack God. So take heed to this charge and be ready at all times because it’s sure easy to be deceived if we aren’t prepared.
Pastor Jason Witt
In the Old Testament, there was a veil that separated us from God. Likewise, Paul writes that there is also a veil that lies on the heart that can be taken away by Jesus. Each and every one of us had that veil that stopped us from seeing and knowing God. God had to do a work in our lives to remove that veil so that we could see what was behind it. Now that the Lord took the veil away, we can know and see Him clearly.
It used to amaze me when I would share with someone that they didn’t get it. It’s because they have a veil over their heart. The Lord is the one that removes it and until the Lord removes the veil, we only need to be faithful and share with them. Then God will do the rest.
Joshua Navarro
At one time or another, we all face disappointment and suffering. Discouragement threatens as our hope seems to fade. We can so easily “lose heart” and give up the desire to press on. In these verses, Paul, no stranger to hard times, provides us with a clear perspective as our attention turns from the physical that we can see to the invisible that we cannot see.
There is a simultaneous process going on in each of our lives. Heartbreak, trials, and time itself take their toll on us physically. One day the warranty will expire! At the same time, the Lord makes sure to do the opposite with us spiritually. Inwardly, we are renewed day by day. The very things that afflict us are used by God to strengthen us as we learn to exchange the temporary for the eternal.
Today, let’s agree with Paul; because of Jesus, we will not lose heart. As we keep our eyes on our Savior, a right perspective will become ours to enjoy, and the temporary darkness of hardship will yield to the bright light of our future in Christ.
Jeff Deal
