Verse of the Day 1/20

Through the Bible - Genesis 49-50, Romans 16

 

Good morning,

I enjoy many types of music from classical rock, to hymns, to bluegrass, to contemporary Christian.  If you've ever gone to a symphony or even a high school band performance and heard the warm up, you hear chaos.  Everyone playing their own note on their own instrument.  What a difference it makes when all of the instruments are being played to the same tune in the proper timing led by the conductor.  Everyone is in harmony.

 

We'll continue on in Romans 12 this morning with the "Marks of a True Christian".  The marks in today's verses may be some of the hardest ones to put into and keep in practice.  They are a stark contrast to our hearts normal reaction.

 

Romans 12:14-16 (The Message) Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

or from the ESV

 

Romans 12:14-16 (English Standard Version)  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.

 

Think for a few minutes of the political and sports arenas.  Do you see this kind of reaction between the victors and losers?  If they are professing Christians, you should.

 

Take a look at your own life, perhaps when you've been up for a promotion and didn't get it, perhaps when you got a promotion and someone else didn't .  What was your reaction compared to that of the other person? 

 

Pastor and author John Piper writes, "God is calling you in this text to be a different kind of person. Not one who wants your adversary to have trouble, but one who wants your adversary to be blessed. And remember that this is radical inner change, not superficial external change. The issue is what you feel in your heart, not just what you do with your fists or your words. "Bless, don't curse" means "from the heart want things to go well with them, both now and forever."
 

Putting these verses into practice will be difficult, but they will be noticed, and may reveal a transformation.   Putting them into practice will bring about harmony.  May it be known where that change, that harmony came from.

 

To be in tune, tune in on Jesus Christ and His life.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Romans 12:9-21 (New Living Translation)

 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!

 ¹⁷ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

 ¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

   "I will take revenge;
      I will pay them back,"
      says the Lord.

 ²⁰ Instead,

   "If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
      If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap
      burning coals of shame on their heads."

 ²¹ Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.