Category: Romans

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 

As I was reading today’s verses, I thought, “I wish my default was trust in God. That would make life so much easier.” And while I do sincerely believe that, my immediate thought was, “The fact that I cannot let go of my fear and simply trust Him is what keeps coming back to Him, trying again and again and again. If it were easy to let go and trust, would I eventually lose God in the mix?”

Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

The short answer is that I don’t know, but that’s a real danger. The longer answer is that because I cannot let go of fear, because trust is not a default but something I have to work on and fail at and work on some more, it will NOT become an unconscious default. I am keenly aware of my deep need for my Savior. There is joy in that deep need and that awareness. I cannot do life on my own and don’t want to.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Precious Savior, You recreated my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for who I am, even the bits that frustrate me. Thank You for my deep need for You. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

As I have mentioned–more than once, I’m sure–this has been a tough week. But I’m realizing that this has been a tough week in the flesh, and I’ve allowed it to become a tough week in all ways because I have put so much focus on all the fleshly physical things that are going wrong.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 

But the reality of life is that there will always be something dealing with the flesh–with humans and the trudge of daily life–that isn’t as it should be. It’s kind of the nature of this life-on-earth gig. It’s not our home. We won’t ever be fully comfortable and at peace here. But if we set our minds on things above, not earthly things (Col 3:2), we can stay focused on what’s important, we can stay rooted in Christ’s peace.

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Precious Savior, Thank You for allowing me to work through the mess of this week, to realize that my focus is misplaced so that I can readjust and refocus on You alone. Help that–focus on You alone–to become my default so that I can sink my roots down into Your Spirit so I can grow in Your peace and love. Amen.

Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…

Do I live as someone who faces no condemnation? The answer is a resounding NO. At the moment, I feel beat-down, beleaguered. Definitely not the attitude of one who lives victoriously in Christ.

Romans 8:2 …because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

This is a tough time of year, sure. This week has been rainy and frustrating, absolutely. But I am caving under that weight. I seem to have forgotten (or ignored? Jesus, Help me!) the fact that God is my Refuge and Strength.

Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh….

Precious Savior, Forgive me for my whiny, defeatist attitude. Help me to rest in You and to do what needs doing. Help me to remember that with You, I am more than a conqueror. Always. Amen.

Romans 8:4 …in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

The end of verse 20 is quite intriguing. By being kind to my enemy, I heap burning coals on his head? Tell me more. Commentary wasn’t very forthcoming on this verse. It said that by making an enemy a friend, we destroy that enemy (quite literally because said enemy is now a friend). Commentary also talked about the custom of lending coals to a neighbor to help the neighbor start a fire. That, to me, doesn’t quite make sense in this context.

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Neither explanation seems satisfactory to me. And while I think there could be a perverse pleasure in acting the opposite of what’s expected (Oh, you hate me? I’m going to be nice to you at every turn.), I think that if I am conscientiously trying to do kind things for my enemy, if I am praying earnestly for my enemy, that is going to eventually change my attitude toward that person. Though, again, that’s not easy, not fast, and not innate human tendency.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Precious Savior, This chapter contains some guidelines that can be incredibly difficult to put into practice. I don’t want to be kind to my enemy. I want revenge. I want my enemy to pay. But just typing that makes me feel bad, angry, mean. I don’t want that, either. Help me–no matter how difficult it is–to be kind to my enemy, to pray for my enemy, so that my heart can stay in communion with You. Amen.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

You’ve heard of a compliment sandwich? Where you begin and end with a compliment to someone and have whatever is difficult for that person to hear sandwiched in the middle? Today’s verses seem like some kind of reverse compliment sandwich, where you begin and end with really difficult directives and put the easy stuff in the middle.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Rejoicing with those rejoicing, mourning with those who mourning, not getting too big for your britches, not being conceited–those are fairly easy, fairly doable. But blessing those who persecute you? Doing what is right in the eyes of everyone? Everyone? Those feel fairly insurmountable at times.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Precious Savior, You prayed for those who persecuted You as You were dying. You’ve set the ultimate example of how to live according to these verses. But that doesn’t make it any easier to do. Help me to live as You lived, to love as You love, to do my best every day to shine Your light, to forgive myself as You forgive when I mess up, which I undoubtedly will. Amen.

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:12a Be joyful in hope, 

Romans 12:12 is the first verse I remember intentionally claiming as my own. It seems to be a fairly Swiss Army Knife verse–very versatile, useful in a variety of situations. It is still a favorite verse of mine as it is a good general reminder of how I should live life–joyful, patient, faithful. I still fail to live up to it to varying degrees.

Romans 12:12b  …patient in affliction,

One thing I noticed during this reading that I’m not sure I’ve paid much attention to before is the fact that these verses, in the NIV translation, are in a section entitled “Love in Action.” So not only is Romans 12:12 a good life verse, it’s a good love verse as well. When we love others, we should be joyful, patient, faithful. What a beautiful gift

Romans 12:12c …faithful in prayer. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Romans 12:12, a most versatile verse. Thank You for the fact that it contains such good advice for both living life and loving others. Help me to strive to be joyful, patient, and faithful in all areas of life. Amen.

Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

According to Google, the definition of sincere is “free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.” Sometimes sincerity is hard to come by, but we are to love one another, be devoted to one another in love, sincerely.

Romans 12:10a Be devoted to one another in love…. 

So what do we do when that person we are supposed to love and support is plucking our last nerve? What are we supposed to do when we feel we have given all that we have and no one is even paying attention, no one seems to even care? We give all those feelings to God. We love others, sincerely, for Him, in Him, with Him.

Romans 12:10b …Honor one another above yourselves.

Precious Savior, People are messy. This world is greedy. I am asked to love sincerely, to give freely, but sometimes it feels like a bottomless pit that just takes and takes and takes. Help me, especially when I am tired or frustrated or worn thin, to give You all those feelings of annoyance so that I can love others sincerely. Help me to love others for You, in You, and with You. Amen.

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

Last night I had to pinch-hit writing a devo for my church about trust and mourning. I stink at both. But I’m pretty decent at writing, and I have a knack for organizing things so I can (mostly) remember to do them all. And I like to think I’m good at encouragement, but I can’t always identify what I’m good at….or what I’m not.

Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 

We all have different skills, different gifts, different things we are good at. We need each other–not only to help balance one’s differences with another’s strengths, but also to help each other see what those strengths are. We are not always adept at seeing our strengths. That is the message of today’s verses.

Romans 12:7 …if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

Precious Savior, Thank You for this reminder that we need each other for so many reasons–to help each other, to balance each other, to remind each other of what we are good at–because we are all good in some areas, and we all struggle in some areas. But together, we balance. Help us to lift each other up and to shine Your light. Amen.

Romans 12:8 …if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

How can I offer my body as a living sacrifice to God? I think that if I follow what Jesus tells me to do–love as He loves, forgive as He forgives–instead of following my natural tendencies to judge and hold grudges, that’s a step in the right direction.

Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…. 

I think if I can be a safe haven of acceptance, a place where folks can catch their breath, not feel the sting of judgment, a place where they can find their feet, that’s a step in the right direction. I strive to do these things…with varying degrees of success. But I’ll keep trying to be more like Jesus in my thoughts, words, and deeds. I think that pleases Him.

Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Precious Savior, the world calls us to judge others. The world says that we need to put ourselves first, tear others down, lift ourselves up. You have called me to another path, a difficult path, a loving path. Help me to love as You love. Help me to put aside the ways of this world and offer myself, my words, my actions as a living sacrifice to You. Amen.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Lord, To be more than a conqueror, to be more than victorious, that in and of itself is amazing. Thank You that because of You the trials of life don’t define me, can’t contain me. Thank You that I am more than a conqueror in You.

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

Savior, Nothing can separate me from You, nothing except my own pigheadedness, and even that can’t separate us–it just makes me feel isolated. Thank You that Your love for me is so fierce, so unconditional, so unequivocal that nothing can stop it. Help me never forget that powerful love for me.

Romans 8:39a neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, 

Jesus, Life can be so tough, and it’s easy for me to feel defeated. Thank You that I am more than a conqueror with You in my corner. Thank You that no force, internal or external, can separate me from You. Thank You for Your fierce love and amazing grace. Help me to be more like You every day. Amen.

Romans 8:39b will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have a blessed day.