Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Romans

Once again Sunday was a WOW!! Day! God spoke LOUD and CLEAR! HE has been using my Sunday Morning Bible Study teacher (Jeff) to beat me to death here lately. We were in Romans Sunday morning and I can hardly explain the red flag that was waving at me.



Let me start in December with this story. I started looking for a verse or group of verses to challenge myself with this year. I say challenge because I wanted to do something that I had never done before. I wanted to take a verse or group of verses and really try to apply them to my life. Romans 12 was the chapter I decided to work on this year. Well you know "they" say be careful what you ask for because God will give it to you. He has put this on my heart and this has been a struggle for me daily. It seems like everything we have been studying lately has come back to these verses. Even our DOXA weekend made me step back and look at how I do things. Well...Sunday morning I was a little late to Bible Study and as I was sitting down Jeff said we were going to be in Romans. I can't get away from it! God has got my number and He is going to keep on me until I do the things that I am needing to do. Obviously you don't know what I am struggling with but let me tell you this struggle is going to come to an end. I only have to be told once (ha ha!)...more like twenty times what to do! Right now I feel like one of my kids after I have told them a dozen times to pick up their dirty clothes or take out the trash. It would of been so much easier if I had just done it the first time.



We are all like our kids. We are a work in progress and we are all still learning. I guess until the day that the Lord takes me home I will be a work in progress. I am just so thankful that he does not give up on his children.



God is so Good!





Romans 12
A Living Sacrifice

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Gifts of Grace

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 comments:

A House FULL of Grace said...

Oh Debbie, thank you for sharing. Isn't it true that when we give God "permission" to work on an area of our lives He doesn't give up until we get it?! It is for your sanctification and His glory. Hang in there. Keep pressing. Keep expecting. There is great blessing in obedience and sacrifice! I'm praying for you, friend!

Lois Christensen said...

Love the scripture. It's been awhile since I read Romans and I can't believe how "up to date" that chapter is...live in harmony. Perfect!!!

Thanks so much for posting it!