"Establishing the Right Priorities"

Romans 1:16c

...first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

 

The Jews were God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6), "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." If we had been present when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), we would have observed a room full of Jews -- no Gentiles.

On Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas in Acts 13:44, he took the Gospel first to the Jews: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles."

However, the Lord's specific instruction to Paul given through Ananais in Acts 9:15 was in reverse order -- the Gentiles first, next their kings, and then the Jews. "The Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.'" Paul would keep trying to minister to the Jews first, and continued to be frustrated as a result. I believe this is how we sometimes get upset in our own ministries -- we don't understand or aren't obedient to the Lord's plan. We serve the Lord our way first -- not His way.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

 

The Lord's plan was for the Jews to hear the Gospel first, then the Gentiles.

It just wasn't the Lord's plan for Paul.

Have you been feeling a little frustrated in your service to the Lord?

Is your ministry floundering a bit?

Could it be that your priorities are out of order?  

What were the Lord's instructions to you specifically?

An Outward Sign Only ?

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Day 545: Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.     Thoughts for Today:   Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with His chosen people -- but it was only an outward sign, there was no other value in the practice itself. Circumcision demonstrated a man's belief in Mosaic Law. So what if the man didn't subsequently obey the Law? Paul said it would then make a mockery out of the act of circumcision. The same is true for our own practices within the church. For example, a water baptism is an outward expression of an inward change -- a work of God in the heart. Only God knows our hearts, but it would seem to be a charade if there is no evidence of behavioral transformation in the person.     Questions to Ponder:   Are you a Christian in name only -- in the practice of baptism, church membership, and communion? What are some of your behavioral changes? Should there be more evidence? What else needs to change ?

Because of You

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Day 544: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 6 of 6: Romans 2:24 As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."     Thoughts for Today:   A man wrote to a publication recently asking for advice. His sister had just become a born-again Christian and was making the entire family crazy. He complained her nose was always buried in a Bible, she regularly ran off to Church, prayed before meals, and talked to anyone who would listen about Jesus. She was making quite a nuisance of herself. He asked the author of the publication for help. The author responded with these comments: There was nothing much the brother could do about his sister's new found faith -- other than let it run its course (perhaps he might consider listening). In the meantime, he would have a front row seat to witness some of the more amazingly unselfish acts of kindness and charity (performed in the name of Jesus), he would ever see in his lifetime -- so enjoy it while it lasts. If these "amazingly unselfish acts of kindness and charity" lasted a lifetime -- wouldn't it bring honor and glory to God, rather than His name being cursed? Too often Christianity is about judging and condemning the behavior of others, or claiming higher moral character -- only to fall short, disgraced in full public view. Paul tells us, "God's name is cursed by the Gentiles because of you." That's a pretty serious accusation, and one we should all be concerned about.     Questions to Ponder:   When was the last time you performed an "amazingly unselfish act of kindness and charity" in the name of Jesus Christ?   When your behavior brought honor and glory to our Lord? How can you serve? Will you make a daily commitment? Will you begin today?

Do You Break the Law?

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Day 543: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 5 of 6: Romans 2:23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?     Thoughts for Today:   I was on a financial blog the other night discussing the Biblical principles related to making money -- whether through interest charged, making a profit in business, or savings (interest earned). It was very interesting to hear how some people were absolutely convinced the Bible is against making a profit and saving. Others passionately took the opposite position and provided just as compelling arguments. So what does the Bible say about these issues? A lot. But I think it can be summed up in the story of the rich young man from Matthew 19 -- I'm sure you remember it well: A young man approached Jesus and asked what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the commandments. The young man confidently replied, "All of these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The story ends with the young man walking away in disappointment because he had great wealth. Most of us when looking at this story come to the conclusion the young man valued riches in this world over treasure in heaven. Others might add Jesus was speaking about the condition of his heart. Jesus knew both pride and possessions were between the young man and God. I believe in our passage today, Paul was speaking on a parallel subject -- the Jews like the young man were prideful, covetous, and self-righteous. They bragged about the law and by doing so, broke it. Paul is telling the Jews: The big thing between you and God is the law -- you've made it into something you own and boast about -- as a result you've not only lost its meaning, but it's source as well. You have brought dishonor to God.     Questions to Ponder:   What is more important to you, following rules or your relationship with the Lord?   The problem with the law is it is hard to follow, subject to multiple interpretations, and cause many to get caught up in legalistic wording rather than divine intent.   Are you more concerned with the law or its purpose? Which of your rules need to be reevaluated ?

Do You Rob Temples?

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Day 542: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 4 of 6:  Romans 2:22b You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?     Thoughts for Today:   Although the Jews hated the idols worshipped by pagans, it didn't stop them from selling or using them in some other way in their own businesses -- I believe that's what Paul is speaking about. In other words, making money in un-Godly ways. It is always interesting to me how some find a way to separate their business, professional or personal activities from church life. However, a number of the more tragic cases of fraud have been intentionally perpetrated by one church member upon another ("robbing temples"). One extreme example came to a conclusion in 2007 when Donald Deardoff, the former treasurer of the Baptist Foundation of Arizona was ordered to serve four years in prison and pay $159 million to victims of an investment scam (former foundation president William Crotts and general counsel Thomas Grabinski were sentenced in September 2006 to eight and six years in prison, respectively, on fraud and racketeering charges). According to the Associated Baptist Press: "The foundation collapsed in 1999 after state regulators ordered it to stop selling securities. Controlled by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, it had generated money by soliciting funds from clients -- mainly elderly Baptists -- ostensibly to build churches and retirement homes. Instead, courts found, foundation leaders used the funds for a classic pyramid scheme. The foundation shuffled bad debt and overvalued property between phony companies, paying high profits to backers from the money paid in by subsequent investors. About 11,000 investors lost more than $550 million in the foundation's collapse." In a Feb. 6 editorial, the Tucson Citizen called the case a "sordid story" and predicted that investors wouldn't get back nearly the amount of money they had entrusted to the foundation. "It is a sad story of greed perpetrated in the name of a church," the editors wrote. I think that quote pretty well sums up what Paul is addressing in our passage today as well as the core issue in every investment scam: Greed.  To Ponder:   I have always made it a practice to not mix business with church. Not that my business is conducted in anything other than high Biblical and moral standards, but rather so no one would confuse my intent or position at church with business objectives. I am a little concerned whenever I see someone using the church membership directory as a network for business -- and equally concerned when a member thinks doing business only with Christians is a guarantee of "fair dealing". In several instances, including the one cited in today's devotion -- just the opposite is the case. So be careful -- especially where money is concerned. Greed is a potential snare for all of us.

Wherever Life Takes You Be prepared to share the Gospel !

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Do You Commit Adultery?

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Day 541: Evidence of Responsibility, Part 3 of 6:  Romans 2:22a You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?     Thoughts for Today:   Many of us feel that un-acted upon impulses or thoughts is not really sin. It only becomes sin if it is acted upon. Jesus clears this up for us in Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." James Allen (1864-1912) wrote: "The aphorism, 'As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,' not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." I think James Allen got it right although his "aphorism" is a quote from Proverbs 23:7a: "For as he thinks within himself, so he is." Or the King James Version: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The Bible agrees, we are indeed a sum total of our thoughts. In our passage today, Paul asks the Jews: "Do you commit adultery?" God himself broadly defined adultery as not just relations with a member of the opposite sex (whether actual or fantasy), but all activity which takes us away from His influence and Lordship over our lives. (For more information on this subject: The Book of Hosea emphasizes all the ways the Jews had distanced themselves from God by establishing other priorities and chasing after other interests -- God considered all of this adultery. Questions to Ponder:   If you consider God's definition of adultery -- have you been faithful? Have you been pursuing other interests or placing greater priority on activities not directed by the Lord? Do you need to re-order some of those activities? Do some need to be eliminated? "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." What thoughts are in your heart? Would God be pleased? Do you need to do some housecleaning?