Prayer: Lord Jesus, what can I say? I love you and I am in awe of all you are. You simply overwhelm and amaze me. All glory be to your inexpressibly great and mighty Name. What a God! What a plan!!
Prayer: Lord God, this way of treating enemies looks wonderfully neat on paper; and so does the call to love other believers. In reality it can be so hard. So I once again express my need for your helping grace, and I know you will not let me down.
Romans 12: 14-21
Two strands are interwoven in this section:
How to deal with your enemies (14): Verse 14 takes us back in thought to the Sermon on the Mount (Matt.5: 10-12). We are to Bless those who persecute us. The word is repeated, as if for emphasis. We are not to curse. Blessing involves thanking God for our enemies (recognising that He has a purpose in their malicious involvement in our lives. Is there someone in your world who is like grit in the oyster? Recognise that God is using this ‘irritant’ to turn you into a ‘pearl’. Thank Him for their major contribution to your sanctification! Hard? Yes. But possible by God’s grace.) It also means we pray for them. It is hard to intercede for people without coming to love them, and to see them in a different light (even if we don’t feel as much affection as we consider we ought to at the start.) Part of blessing is being good to people; being kind (20/21). Reach out a hand to them and seek to help them, even though the only part of their anatomy they’re thrusting at you is a fist. There is a sense of causing them to burn with shame (20b) when you return evil with good. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. The Message. The exhortation here tells us clearly not to try to take matters into our own hands in order to wreak vengeance. Commit them to God; leave them with Him (17a, 19). He is the perfect Expert at dealing with all manner of people. The world says, ‘Don’t get mad, get even!’ God’s ways are so different. In everything, we are called to seek to do what is right (17b). Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. The Message.
How to live with your friends: Paul writes about how to get on with your fellow-Christians.
- Live sympathetically (15): try to enter into the feelings/experiences of others; to sit where they sit. Empathy has been defined as ‘your pain in my heart.’ It could equally be ‘your joy’ there too.
- Live harmoniously/peacefully (16a/18): However, whilst we must Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph.4:3), there is a realistic recognition here that we can only go so far. One or two people are so cranky and contentious and war-like that they make it almost impossible to be at peace with them; so determined are they to have a scrap. Nevertheless, do your very best to have loving relationships with everyone.
- Live humbly (16b; see also 3). Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. The Message. This, of course, reaches out beyond ‘the pews’ and into life in the world also. Don’t look down your nose at anyone or consider yourself superior. A lady with a rather jaundiced view of things once said to the pastor of a fairly middle-class church: ‘This church is just like a country club! What would you do if someone came in from….?’(and she named a particular housing estate, which was perhaps despised by some in that area). The pastor was grateful that he could calmly respond: ‘Actually, someone has already joined us from there and they are welcomed and loved!!’ His words were absolutely true, and there are no prizes for that particular congregation. That is just how it should be. Whatever our background or social status in the world, in the church we are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal.3:28).
O Lord, let us truly recognise that how we treat others is how we treat you. Cause this understanding to sink deep into our hearts and transform our relationships
Daily Bible thoughts 301: Monday 25th February 2013: Romans 12:9-13
Each exhortation here is worthy of ‘sucking’ like a sweet, to get the maximum out of it. Or, to change the image, be like the bee, working to extract all the pollen from the flower. Give meditative thought/reflection to each statement. But note the ‘atmosphere’ in which these words are written; it is one of mutual love. All we are called to be and do is within the context of a loving church community.
Love must be sincere (9a): A note in a Bible I looked at earlier today spoke about how easily we can feign love and concern under a cover of treating people politely. It can all be pretence. We can get into that way of being if we are not careful. We don’t mean to be frauds, but we are so busy, pulled this way and that in our daily lives, and we can become drained of genuine compassion. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. The Message.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (10a): Loving people is fundamentally about a commitment to treat people as God has treated us; to act towards others as we would want them to act towards us. Loving actions may have to come before loving feelings. This is about a decision to pour ourselves into the lives of others in a godly way because it is the right thing to do, and we trust God to energise us. (The psychologist William James pointed out that, over time, our feelings tend to catch up with our actions.)
Honour one another above yourselves (10b): See also Philippians 2:3, 4. I have often thought that if we put the teaching in these two verses into practice, we would never have disharmony in church life….practice playing second fiddle. The Message. (It takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well.)
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Of course, giving hospitality is one way of helping those in need. As Jesus said, don’t invite to your table those who will invite you back. Forget any thought of ‘exchanging’ hospitality. Freely give it to those who can’t or won’t return it. (Of course, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ever invite people round who will invite you back, but our focus should be on serving the needy. This is not a mutual bargain but an act of Christian service.)
It’s been said that loving people will hit you most of all in your diary and wallet. It will cost you time and money. These last two exhortations in our section for today highlight this. There will probably be a financial cost in helping the needy, and a time cost in opening your home. But as Jesus taught: It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17, 18).
One final thought: cooking may not be your thing, but don’t let that stop you opening your home. A cup of tea and biscuit can be shared with great love and warmth and with sincere welcome. Give people the gift of your time and share what you have with them. There is a great need in the church for mature Christians who will open their hearts and homes to new Christians on a regular basis, and mentor them in the things of Christ. Will you step up and rise to this challenge (and opportunity!!)
Friday 22nd Februayr 2013 – Lord, this day I confess my need of your grace to be all that you have called me to be. I pray that your grace will flow freely through me this day, and to you be all the glory.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 300.
Thursday 21st February 2013 – Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to thee.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 299.
Wednesday 20th February 2013 – Lord, please show me just what it is you want me to do, and cause me to thrive in the allotment where you plant me, for the glory of your name.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 298.
Tuesday 19th February 2013 – I am so thankful to be a working part in your body Lord Jesus. Help me to play my part fully alongside others who are playing theirs. Thank you that this makes for harmony and health as we take our orders from you, the Head.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 297.
Monday 18th February 2013 – May I never envy others and their gifts, dear Lord. Let me be content to be the very best version of me that I can be, by your grace.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 296.
Friday 15th February 2013 – Dear God, I long to be fruitful. Please give me spiritual children. Help me to bring people to you. Give me eyes to see those brothers and sisters you want me to come alongside and give support to. You know my fears and sense of inadequacy. Let me see that your strength is always greater.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 295.
Thursday 14th February 2013 – Lord please fill me with your strength so that I can do what is impossible in my own strength and carry out your calling for this life of mine; although I freely confess it is not mine, but yours.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 294.
Wednesday 13th February 2013 – Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee; How great thou art!
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 293.
Tuesday 12th February 2013 – Lord, I pray especially for the Jewish people to be given eyes to see who their Messiah is, and I long for the great blessing that is to come to the entire world through them.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 292.
Monday 11th February 2013 – Lord God, it is my heart’s desire to give you undiluted love and commitment. Please give me the strength to hold to you and all your paths. Keep me too from superficial judgments regarding my (or other’s) work for you. Let me do all ‘for an Audience of One.’
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 291.
Friday 8th February 2013 – Lord help me to be someone who prays before the battle and afterwards too. If prayer is my continual habit I will be more likely to pray to you during the battle.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 290.
Thursday 7th February 2013 – Thank you Heavenly Father that these Old Testament stories were written for our instruction. Help us to look and learn. As we see people taking wrong turnings, thank you that we get to benefit from watching. May we be kept from besmirching your Name and bringing deeply regrettable consequences on ourselves and others we love.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 289.
Wednesday 6th February 2013 – As I read your Word each day Lord, please speak to me and help me to change to become all you want me to be. Let your Book be embedded in me, so that I am increasingly becoming a ‘living Bible.’
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 288.
Tuesday 5th February 2013 – Why not paraphrase Jabez’s prayer for yourself this day?
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 287.
Monday 4th February 2013 – Reading these words, Lord, I long to know more of your wisdom in my life. I thank you that you will give this generously, and not find fault with me for my lack.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 286.
Friday 1st February 2013 – Thank you Lord for the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. And thank you that both Jewish and Gentile believers are being built together into a holy temple in Christ.
For today’s Bible Notes please see Note 285.
31st January – Lord, I am ‘reporting for duty.’ Let me be used by you to speak about you.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 284.
30th January – Lord Jesus, please open doors this day for me to express my faith in words. I love you and I am not ashamed to tell the world. Thank you Lord for helping me.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 283.
29th January – Lord Jesus, you graced a wedding at Cana with your miraculous, transforming power. Please will you so be at the centre of every Christian marriage that the relationship will be continually changed into what you want it to be.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 282.
28th January – Lord, please give me the joy of pointing someone to you. Let me not die ‘childless’.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 281.
25th January – Praise Him for His grace and favour, to our fathers in distress. Praise Him still the same forever, slow to chide and swift to bless.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 280.
24th January – Lord, I pray my heart will be bursting with love for those who do not yet know Jesus. May my heart beat in time with yours.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 279.
23rd January – Thank you Father for the truth of the gospel message that it is not by works, but by your grace through faith that we are saved.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 278.
22nd January – Thank you Lord that I don’t have to be able to dot every theological ‘i’ or cross every ‘t’ to worship you. I thank you from my heart for the many things you do make clear. One day, by your grace and mercy, I will see you, and that will be the answer to every question.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 277.
21st January – Father God, help me to always walk carefully before you and men, that I may daily please you and ever glorify your Name. Let me continually walk as one who is conscious of living in your presence.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 276.
18th January – Thank you Lord that you know my name, my relationships and my abilities. I dedicate this one life to you to serve your purposes in the world.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 275.
17th January – How I marvel over your Word Lord God. I can read just a tiny part of it, like today, and yet find it is alive. It speaks to me and my present circumstances and condition. This is not just about someone else’s story a long time ago and many miles away. This has such startling relevance to me. How can I ever thank you enough for blessing me with your mighty truth?
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 274.
16th January 2013 – Thank you Sovereign Lord for the beautiful mystery of my salvation. This I do understand: that you love me and gave your life for me to show me mercy and draw me to yourself. I am eternally grateful.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 273.
15th January 2013 – I recognise dear Lord that I am not a Christian because I have been born into a (supposedly) Christian country, but because you graciously chose me and gave me the faith to trust in Jesus. This is too much for me to fully comprehend. Nevertheless, I am truly grateful. Help me to always work worthily of my great calling from you.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 272.
14th January 2013 – Lord crucified, give us a heart like yours.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 271.
11th January 2013 – Help me this day, Heavenly Father, to turn away from everything I know to be wrong. May I not just say ‘sorry’ with my lips, but also with my entire life.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 270.
10th January 2013 – Lord, I know that many people want to remove your judgment from the Bible, but I don’t want to be infected by this spirit of the age. Help me to believe and preach everything your Word teaches. It is the only place of safety. You do not give us the right to pick and choose what we will believe.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 269.
9th January 2013 – Thank you Lord that I will always find all that I need in you. Cause my heart to cleave to you always and never look anywhere else.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 268.
8th January 2013 – Thank you Lord for Jesus’ cross and all it means. I am grateful that all my debt is paid and I receive full and free forgiveness as I trust in Him.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 267.
7th January 2013 – Lord I pray for (you supply the names). Although they have drifted away, please draw them back to you.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 266.
4th January 2013 – Lord, I am so grateful that your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. When my way becomes thorny and treacherous; when my route takes me through dark and dangerous territory, let me hold on tightly to my powerful ‘torch’ and put it to maximum use.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 265.
3 January 2013 – Thank you dear Lord that even when I may not feel your love I can be absolutely sure of it. Thank you that nothing in life can come between your love and me. Help me to never forget it.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 264.
2 January 2013 – At the beginning of a new year, Lord, I thank you that my life is not haphazard. I am so grateful that the blueprint is in your hands, and so am I. Thank you that you will complete what you have started. I am grateful beyond any words.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 263.
1 January 2013 – Lord, as I step into this New Year, I am grateful that I do so with you. I pray that the glorious hope of all that is to come will sustain me through any difficult days that might lie ahead. I praise you for all that is past, and trust you for all that’s to come.
For today’s Bible Notes please see No. 262.
