A FEW THOUGHTS ON TODAYS READING...
As a Christian, we are told to remember those events surrounding our decision to give our life over to Christ, so that we can use it in our personal testimony while sharing our faith. Also important, is for those who have chosen to distance themselves from Christ to remember what it was that caused them to make that decision. Sort of their un-testimony.
In the section of Romans 1:18-3:20, we read of God's righteousness revealed in condemnation. If we read this section carefully, we can take one of two approaches: we can highlight those areas that we feel that we are not guilty of, or we can highlight those areas that we are guilty of. The second approach is the better one. Unless we realize just how guilty we are before an infinitely Holy God, we never realize our need for repentance. Without repentance there can be no salvation. We read in Romans 2:11, "For there is no partiality with God." So many people believe they are in good standing because they belong to the right team (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.), but there are only two teams in this world: in Christ or not in Christ, saved or unsaved. What man elevates means nothing to God. We read in Romans 2:25,29, "For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision...but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." At funerals, God is not a respecter of that dead individual's denomination, the rites or rituals performed throughout their lifetime, their church attendance, how much they gave to the church, etc. The question simply is did they at some point repent (change their mind about their sins and agree to God's standards) of their sins (not just confess),understand what Jesus' sacrifice truly represents and accept His payment rather than our own, and render Him Lord over their lives.
For many, the Book of Romans is that book that transforms their life. For those who are on the fence about their faith, please drink in the words of this book slowly and allow it to transform your life. We should approach God's Word not out of duty, but with fear and trembling realizing that we are actually holding God's perfect Word in our hands. Paul writes later in this book in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. ~Psalm 51:10

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Nothing makes a deathbed so uneasy and hard as a life spent in the service of sin and lust; nothing makes a deathbed so soft and sweet as a life spent in the service of God and Christ.
— Matthew Mead (c. 1630–1699)








"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
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