Romans 3

True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true.

Despite what others do, God is faithful, God is true.  No matter what others do or don't do, God does not change His promises...He is faithful and unfailing.

Where am I looking or trying to make God change His mind about something based on performance?  

Why do I expect God to be like me?  

Lord, You are good and what You say and do is good.  I trust You to fulfill Your promises to me; regardless of what I do or don't do...what others do or don't do.  Just because I am fickle does not mean You are or will be.  Let me learn from You, let the mind of Christ be in me to help steady me in my estimation of You and myself.

 

Romans 2

...And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

 The verdicts of earthlings hold such importance; but when I put it this way, I cannot help but giggle at the ludicrous notion of such dependence.  Or, being enslaved by such capricious beings, who themselves are addicted to the same.  The continual evidence of my heart-change or morph is that I will increasingly have a bent towards God's Word about me and my life and I will decreasingly be impacted or moved by what the world says.  

One completely superficial evidence I offer to the veracity of God's Word versus the World's is the fact the styles of the 80's are really returning.  Certainly, I can be strong in spirit and soul to resist that determination of the flesh and maintain a Godly and modest point of view/style.  The '80's weren't pretty the first time around...no reason to think that grunge-reborn will be any better.

God, please keep my cardio-morph inclined towards You and Your very great purposes.  Help me to constantly desire my life to be informed by Your Word so that any information from others must stand up to You and not vice-versa.  Help me to live a life worthy of the extreme cost You paid for me to have it.

Romans 1

^...31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; ³²and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.   This last part reminds me of the pre-Paul/Saul who gave his approval to the stoning of Stephen.  I wonder if he was reminded, too.

Regarding verses 23 through the end of the chapter, what stands out to me is what people have done...It's Christmas time and I have just returned from the mall.  As I read how folks have exchanged the worship of the ever-living God for man-made things, I am reminded of the exchange this time of year for the man-made elf and 8 tiny reindeer.  If I have one more "brother" or "sister" ask me about "Santa", I think my head might explode.  (Sorry, that was a literary tactic (hyperbole, not a lie, lest I get in trouble with Romans myself.)) 
 
The Word continues with God letting people go to do whatever their hearts desired...vile, degrading things...again, the mall experience comes to mind and the public displays of perversity.  What is so sad is that many believe the lie that they are not doing anything wrong as long as they don't hurt anyone else.  Given some of the behavior, I bet their mothers would be hurt...I bet in time, some of them or their partners in lust will recognize their hurt.  Even sadder is that some of them are doing it and they are hurting right now.  How can we as the operating Body of Christ miss loving on these people...even within our own walls?

 The descriptors for the wickedness is detailed in the Scripture and a good deal of this is certainly on display at the mall, the local mass-shopping stores, the highways and byways, etc.  The disturbing thing is it is also on display in our churches.  Quarrelers, deceivers, bad-natured folk, gossipers, greedy (ever see a pot-luck dinner?), backstabbers, God-haters, insolent, prideful, boastful...disobedient, promise-breakers, heartless, merciless...applauding others to join in the ways of the unwise.


How am I careful to curtail my words, my looks and my posture to ensure that I do not resemble the condemned?


How do I encourage the way of the Wise?  God-loving attitudes? Mercy? Obedience?  Truth?


How prepared am I to confront these activities and point to Christ?


Do I look like the opposite of these words?  Would outsiders agree?


Lord, help me to love in truth, to yield to You for sanctification sake and to be careful for the sake of Your Very Great Name.

2 Corinthians 13

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves...Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace...Greet each other with Christian love.

Specific directions for the graced-community.  Ensure you are what you say you are...integrity in the faith.  Joy and peacefulness are natural by-products of the "true-ness" of the faith.  Grow up in that faith.  Build others up along the way.  Begin each encounter in the love of Christ.  Paradise on earth.  Faith on earth.

Father, help me to be humble enough to regularly examine myself to judge the integrity of my walk with You and to cause me to mature into who You created me to be.  I need You to make me joyful, peaceful and loving so that I can contribute worthily to the growth of others in Your Name.  Praise You.

2 Corinthians 12

Weakness is the theater for Christ's power to dwell in and rest upon me.  

Why, then, do I strive to be so strong?  

Why do I work to look like I have it together, when I don't?  

When was the last time I said I needed help? And to whom do I look for my help?

Let me not rest on the "latent power of my soul*"; but on You and Your power to do in and through me that which You desire, for the praise of Your Name.



*Latent Power of the Soul by Watchman Nee

2 Corinthians 11

I admit, I have been stuck with all of the boasting done in this chapter.  I have read, prayed and struggled with this.  As I have thought about this (for some time ~ I was really stuck on this) the thought began to crystallize in my mind...that it was not the boasting the chapter is about but the cred Paul has.  

Paul was a well-respected, even zealous Jew for the community at large.  He had the right heritage, background and training to establish himself.  But after that Damascus Road deal, he seemed to be in the negative for credibility for both sides.  He quickly proved himself as a minister of the Messiah through his devotion to ministry and the toll they exacted from him and his health.  As his reputation was ruined in the Pharisee's eyes; it was greatly proven in the Way.  

As Paul speaks about his credibility to the Corinthian believers, he references his heritage (something about which he had no influence), his being a minister of the Lord (something only Jesus could have arranged) and then, he "brags" on his abuse...not the accomplishments of his ministry.  Now, if I were Paul and were to offer a resume' to prove me, I would probably look to the triumphs in the journey, the established churches, the believers baptized, boundaries extended or financial contributions...the numbers, the quantifying things which should equal success.  

Instead, Paul gathers the data up and begins to list where he has almost died.  The threat and near-death list does not look very successful (unless you have a reality show); but it is on that which he chooses to brag.   ²³Are they [ministering] servants of Christ (the Messiah)? I am talking like one beside himself, [but] I am more, with far more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments, [beaten] with countless stripes, and frequently [at the point of] death.  And he continues with descriptions.

So what does he prove with this unexpected list of experiences?  A first blush, it might seem that eminent apostle is not too good at what he does.  Maybe he should change careers.  But as the Lord explained to him shortly after the Damascus Road encounter,  Paul had been told what he must suffer for Christ's Name...and he chose to do it.  Jesus also  told us that the world hated Him; so, too, will it hate us.  There will be hardships and persecutions.  Promise.  Paul is boasting in the cost of the Gospel to himself rather than the achievements of his part.  The prosperity could have been what was listed...and we would have all understood...we like to be able to measure success so we can try to exceed the numbers.  But Paul's focus was not on that aspect (which is only by God's grace, too); but on the apparent failure...on something no one in their right mind would wish to duplicate or compete with.  His qualifications were the things which would disqualify virtually anyone else...except a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who has that same Mind.  

Paul's cred came from his devotion to the Cross. 


~On what do I base my Christ-cred?  
                Do I lean into the cost or the numbers?                              
                Are either of them worth "bragging" on?  
~Is my life characterized more by the Cross or by comfort?  
~What will I do this week to better embrace the Mind of Christ?

2 Corinthians 10

  ¹⁷However, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord.

    ¹⁸For [it is] not [the man] who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but [it is the person] whom the Lord accredits and commends.

If you are to boast, then boast in and about the Lord.  The Lord will boast and commend the one(s) He approves.  Our words are to be about God.  It is His approval we seek, not ours nor anothers. Seek His acceptance, boast about Him.  The rest is up to Him.

God help me to seek Your approval first, let me not be troubled with the verdicts of people who may nor may not have Your approval.  You are worthy of any and all boasting and glory; keep me from diluting Your praise with fleshy comparisons and subscriptions to others approval.  Help me to be secure in You.