Through the Bible - Psalms 99-101, Romans 14
Good morning,
For well over a year now, leading up to and following the election there has been a lot of talk about change. We've all heard of "climate change" and the slogan that helped win the election was "change we can believe in". As time goes on many have found out that they don't believe in the changes. The only change that I can truly believe in is from God, after all, as we saw in yesterday's verse, "of Him and through Him and to Him are all things".
The change we need is not something external that we need the government to legislate in our lives, it is a change that comes from God, and is a work of the Spirit on our hearts as we considered last week in Psalm 51:10:
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. ESV
and renew a right spirit within me. ESV
The word create is the same one from Genesis where God created the heavens and the earth. It's a clean, fresh start. The right spirit is one that is true to God, to following Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans chapter 12 tells of that change that is possible, the fresh start is "of Him" and "through Him" and "for Him". Verse 2 describes how this is achieved, through the "renewing of your mind".
Rom 12:2 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. NKJV
It's a different mind set, not being pressed into the mold of the world, it's breaking out of that mold and the world's ways and following and obeying Christ. It's a change in the way we think.
The word transform comes from the Greek word "metamorphoo", metamorphosis. The best picture is that of catapillar that goes into the cocoon and emerges as the butterfly, it's breaks out of, sheds the old, and becomes something new. Before, it crawled along the ground, now it is free to fly. Consider the words to the Newsboys song "I am Free"
Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you our hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams I am free
I am free
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you our hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams I am free
I am free
Romans chapter 12 gives us a picture of what this transformed life will look like. For today's verse we'll go to verses 12-13.
Rom 12:12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. NLT
What I'd like to focus on today is verse 13 which speaks of helping others in need and "practicing hospitality".
It may be easy to be hospitable to friends but in the Greek the meaning of "hospitality" as seen here is literally "pursuing the love of strangers" (Heb. 13:2) . John MacArthur writes, "not merely entertaining ones friends. In NT times, travel was dangerous and inns were evil, scarce, and expensive. So the early believers often opened up their homes to travellers, especially to fellow believers. Church leaders should be role models of this virtue."
When was the last time you opened up your home to out of town visitors? There are opportunities to do so, sometimes with visiting youth groups, college students, and missionaries. If you've done this in the past you've probably been blessed. If the opportunity comes up, why not make a change from the status quo, show that you've been blessed to be a blessing. (Gen. 12:3)
Heb 13:2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! NLT
Read the passage in Romans 12 below and if you have time, read the whole chapter. What can you take from it and apply in your life today?
A Living Sacrifice to God
12 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! NLT
No comments:
Post a Comment