Romans 7

Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.

    When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death.

I can bear fruit for God or for death...but I am going to bear fruit.

I will be known by the fruit I bear, just like the sour orange tree in my backyard is known for not bearing sweet citrus.

It's not a question of whether or not there will be a harvest...merely a harvest of what - for God or death...

I really want to produce a God-harvest.  

I can't be a share-cropper with God's agriculture...I can't consign part of the Harvest to my old master.

God, I do desire to bring a "banquet-able" harvest to You.  I do not always operate in the Spirit so as to sow to that end...that's where the fruit turns bad.  I do not want to bring a harvest for death to anyone, ever. Yet, I tire and lose focus...and I take the easy way out.  I fail to be consistent in my vigilance to weed out that which brings death.  Hit or miss...God or death...it feels like a crap-shoot.  God I need You to energize me and give me vision for the Harvest...especially during the long and quiet growing season.   Help me to be diligent and faithful only to You, to the praise of Your very great Name, King of the Fields and Lord of the Harvest.

Romans 6

Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?...We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin...you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin...Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin...Sin is no longer your master...Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Sin.  Breaking God's law.  How about...the thing that you do or I do that we know we aren't supposed to do...the thing that we are ashamed of...or find we are always apologizing for...or  really wished we could control...deep down, we really know what/how that blank can be filled in.  Maybe temper, maybe appetites, maybe pastimes, maybe relationships, maybe words...So let's try it again...

Since I (as a believer and follower of Christ Jesus) have died to insecurity, how can I continue to live in it?...I know that my old insecure self was crucified with Christ so that insecurity might lose its power in my life. I am no longer slave to insecurity. For when I died with Christ I was set free from the power of insecurity...I also should consider myself  to be dead to the power of insecurity...Do not let insecurity control the way I live; do not give in to insecure desires.  Do not let any part of my body become an instrument of evil to serve insecurity...Insecurity is no longer my master...Well then, since God’s grace has set me free from the law, does that mean I can go on being insecure? Of course not! ... the paycheck of insecurity is death.

Holy Spirit, please help me to not behave as a slave to insecurity, impatience, ingratitude, pride, doubt and the others sinful desires from which You set me free.  I know I am not subject to them; but find that I am allowing any one of them the power to control the way I live for a while.  God, I only want You to inform my thoughts, my behavior, my interactions, my reactions.  I only want You.  

Sweet Jesus, thank You so very much for the freedom You have given me.  Thank You for Your extreme payment on my behalf...Please help me live in response to Your very great love for me.  Please keep me from trying to collect any benefits from the enslaver of my soul who only desires defrauding, death and destruction to me and my relationships.  Help me live under the freedom of Your grace and to be Your slave...a slave to obedience and righteousness.  God, Your grace is sufficient for me.

Romans 5

5:20  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.

3:19-20 We know that whatever the Law says it speaks... so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.

The law came to illuminate the sinfulness of humanity and to shut the mouths of the people.  Have you ever noticed that often, sinners are not quiet?  Frequently they speak out loudly on the subject of their sin or the rights to choose that sin.  Unless, they are in the act of  or in the season of sinning and need to keep it a secret.  What is it that shuts their mouths?  The spoken law or the law made known is what closes the mouths.  

So, why is it still so noisy?  Even in my own home?  Is the law not being properly administered?  Is it being given out, spoken or established that it may allow the people to see how sinful they are?  

Lord, help me to keep Your Word in view that we may be properly hushed...You are God in Heaven on Your throne.  We are here on earth...let our words be few.

Romans 4

The funny thing about Abraham and his belief is that he never doubted what God said.  He never said, "Maybe, I misunderstood," or "I don't really recall what God said, if it was God."  Abraham knew God said it and he knew what God said.  And he believed.  Now I remember that Abe didn't quite want to wait when he gave in to Sarah's offer; but Abe never said that the promise was anything different than what it was. 

That is huge to me as I read that Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.  He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises (I love that this is "promises" and not "promised").  And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

Abraham's never weakening nor wavering confidence in God's faithfulness yields God-glory which resulted in Abe-righteousness.

What are my choices and memory recall about God's promises telling about me?  Am I slacking off on my constancy to His Word?  What do I doubt?  
When I slack off, I rob God of glory.  Do I want to do that?  Since I am robbing Him of glory, does that mean I am stealing it?  I am stealing from God.  

Help me God to not waver in my faith in Faithful You.  Let me bring You glory with my belief in Your Word and Your character.  Show me where I doubt You and strengthen me according to Your very great power which raised Christ from the dead and by Your love. Praise You.  

Another interesting thing to me is that Father God knew the issues circumcision would bring and He still chose the design and the modification plan as His Way.  I appreciate how He is not afraid to do hard things (or let us make them such) and allow us to get our loin-cloths in a wad over some really basic stuff.  Just obey and take no pride in it. His plan, His design, His story.  All for His glory.  

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.