datethewordtest

Tag: Romans

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16
    Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
    A Powerful verse about the POWER of the Gospel

    In describing the apostle Paul, one has to use the phrase “UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL.” For a person who attacked the gospel as a believer, he became one of the greatest ANNOUNCERS and DEFENDERS of the gospel. While there were those who were OFFENDED by the gospel and others who considered the gospel a FOOLISH fable Paul never backed down from proclaiming the life-saving message.  While there are many verses that the Apostle Paul could have for his own life verse I tend to lean toward Acts 20:24 as it conveys his full dedication to sharing the gospel.  Acts 20:24 has the Apostle Paul saying, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  He was just never going to be ASHAMED of the gospel! 

    We might ask why? What could cause a person to be so dedicated and passionate to the level of being willing to die for this message?  I think the rest of the verse gives some good answers.

    The Apostle Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it was the POWER OF GOD to bring salvation to everyone who believes.   The word POWER comes from a Greek word that we get DYNAMITE.  The gospel, (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,) is powerful to CHANGE a person’s life on earth and change their eternal destination.   It has the power to CLEANSE a filthy sinner of any and all sins, to cancel the penalty of sin, and the power to BREAK the BONDS of sin.   

    Furthermore, the Apostle Paul was unashamed of the gospel because of the PEOPLE it was available to as he wrote it was the power of God unto salvation to EVERYONE who believes.   EVERYONE! While the message of the gospel is exclusive, it is also inclusive, as it is for anyone and everyone.  It is exclusive in that it is the only message that when believed gets a person into heaven.  As Acts 4:12 says, “There is no other name given under heaven whereby men may be saved.”  Jesus made it abundantly clear that He was the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except by Him. (John 14:6)  But it is also inclusive as it is a message for anyone and everyone anywhere.  As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16.  It says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

    As you consider the priority of proclaiming the gospel is there anything that you are ashamed of regarding the gospel?  

    Continue Strong sharing the gospel,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21
    Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
    TWO POWERFUL RESPONSES TO EVIL

    I want to make an appeal as we start to DATE Romans 12:21 and that appeal is that you MEMORIZE this verse as I am convinced you will need to apply it.  While I would hope you memorize a lot of the DATE THE WORD Scriptures this is one that needs to be HID in your heart!

    As we consider Romans 12:21 we need to know it has TWO commands.  First is the command to NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL.  The second is to OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.  Let’s look closely at both because both are going to be needed. 

    The verse begins with the strongest of admonishments to not allow EVIL to get the best of us.  No matter what evil is done to us we do not let it DEFEAT US. Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”  Romans 8:37 tells us, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 

    A quick personal note: one of the most moving places I have ever visited is the Martyrs Memorial in Oxford, England.  It was built to commemorate the martyrdom of 3 Protestant leaders in 1555, Hugh Latimer,  Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer.  They were burned at the stake with Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley side by side and Thomas Cranmer not long afterward.  As an illustration of not being overcome by evil, it is reported that Latimer said, “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”  And the light of their “candle” has never been put out!  They did not allow evil to defeat them!

    And we do not let evil DRAW US DOWN to its level.  We look back at Romans 12:17 to be reminded that we are not, ABSOLUTELY NOT, not to repay evil with evil.  As the old saying goes two WRONGS do not make a right.  While wrong is being done we must continue to do RIGHT.  For the believer to do evil betrays our testimony and gives evil a win.  

    So, number 1, we are not going to be overcome by evil.  We will not be defeated nor drawn down to its level. 

    The second command of the verse is to TAKE POSITIVE ACTION and do good to those who are doing evil TO YOU and to others.  One OVERCOMES (defeats, wins) against evil by DOING GOOD.  It is helping the very person who is hurting you.  It is praying for the very one that is persecuting you.  It is blessing the very one that is cursing you.  It is giving a cup of cold water and a hot meal to the one who would like to starve you to death.  It is being nice to the one who is mean.  

    Are you getting the picture?  You overcome evil by DOING GOOD!!  

    And yes, I know what has been written is HARD.  It is easy to give up when evil is done to you.  It is easy to give in to doing evil when evil has been done to you.  And it surely is hard to be nice to a mean person.   Yet this is what we are called to do.  We are called to be OVERCOMERS OF EVIL, not overcome by evil!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21. It says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

    Continue Strong as an OVERCOMER of EVIL! 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18
    Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” 
    Let there be PEACE!

    Romans 12 is considered one of the greatest chapters in the Bible.  The Apostle Paul has transitioned from explaining the great doctrines of our Christian faith to teaching the duties of the Christian.  His teachings will cover the duties of a believer to God who has graciously and mercifully saved the believer.  His teaching will cover the implementation of ministering our spiritual gifts for the building up of one another.  His teaching will cover how we relate to other believers, to the lost, and to those who mistreat and persecute us.  As he teaches how to respond to those who disagree with us he appeals that we do our best to KEEP THE PEACE.  He appeals that WE make every effort possible to live peaceably with ALL men.  

    Are you a peacemaker or a peace breaker?  As Jesus listed what we call the beatitudes He said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:9  

    Our verse to DATE, to consider, to ponder calls for us to be actively involved in peacemaking with other people, others who just may not have any interest in a peaceful relationship.  How, if we are to be working to KEEP THE PEACE, do we accomplish this?   Let me give a few thoughts. 

    First, know that you can disagree agreeably.  You can debate over what is best without blowing the proverbial gasket.  I have always believed a person has the right to be wrong.  
    Second, not every argument has to be won.  You don’t have to agree to argue every argument presented to you.  It has been said that we need to decide what hill we want to die on and in the big picture of life, there really are not that many.  Now there are some but in reality, there aren’t that many.  
    Third, with relationships resolve to solve, not dissolve.  
    Fourth, (from John Maxwell) practice the 101% rule.  Find the 1% you do agree on and give that 100%.  
    Fifth, (from Steven Covey) Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood and go for the WIN WIN!  
    Sixth, (from Jesus) turn the other cheek and go the extra mile.

    These are but a few suggestions on how you can work to live peaceably.  I am sure you can add to the list and I hope you do.  The bottom line is we have from Romans 12:18 the instructions to do as much as possible to live peaceably.

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18. It says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

    Continue Strong as a PEACEMAKER.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14
    Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
    RESPONDING DIFFERENTLY to MISTREATMENT

    Our Christianity affects all of our relationships. It affects our relationship with God.  It affects our relationship with other believers.  It affects our relationship with the people who are lost. And it affects our relationship with those who viciously attack us, persecuting us.  The Apostle Paul teaches here in Romans 12:14 what Jesus had earlier taught when it came to responding to those who were mean and hating and persecuting. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” 

    Jesus’ teaching and now Paul’s teaching is in stark contrast to the world around them and what the world says today.  

    As we consider those who oppose and yes persecute, we are to pray for them and desire God’s greatest blessings on them.  And you know what the greatest blessing would be?  The greatest blessing would be that they would be saved. Consider that your opponent today may be “SAUL” and tomorrow could be “PAUL.”

    So, BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE!! And definitely do not stoop to their level of cursing them!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14. It says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

    Continue Strong responding differently,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12
    Romans 12:12 says, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”
    Three KEYS to the SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

    As the Apostle Paul pens the letter to the Romans, he has moved from doctrinal teaching to practical teaching for living out the Christian life. As one lives a transformed life one now sees life differently and approaches life differently. The Christian’s view of others is to demonstrate genuine love to them (v9) and honor others better than themselves. (v.10) They move from living for themselves seeking to fulfill selfish desires to now seeking to serve the Lord and serving Him with intense enthusiasm. (v11) To help one serve the Lord, the Apostle Paul now gives three actions to take.

    He first calls on believers to have a joyful attitude as one always has hope when one is serving the Lord as the Lord is always with them! (A great promise from the Lord is He will never leave us nor forsake us.)  There is the hope that His Word never returns void!  There is the hope that as we share Christ there will be a breakthrough.  And ultimately, we rejoice in hope because our salvation concludes (and really starts) in heaven so the best is yet to come!  What a HOPE we have in Jesus!  

    Now, being very realistic Paul tells the believer secondly they will need to be patient in tribulation or to endure, to persevere with tribulations.  Jesus told his disciples that in this world they will have tribulation but be of good cheer, He had overcome the world. John 16:33.  I trust no one told you that becoming a Christian means you will have no more problems and no more trouble.  If they did you were told something that just is not true.  Getting saved does not mean we do not have any more trials and troubles and tribulations. It does mean though that we have someone to help us get through the tribulation, helping us to ENDURE.  I truly believe one of the great marks of the Christian is endurance or perseverance.  We don’t QUIT. We REMAIN UNDER the pressure. 

    To help the believer be patient, to endure the Apostle Paul teaches us to CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER. One will only persevere in life by handling life with continuous prayer!!   This, friends, cannot be just a quick morning prayer. It needs to be persevering, continual prayer. The harder life gets the harder (if you will) one must pray!!  The idea of “continue steadfastly” is that of continuing to do something with intense effort. The harder life gets the harder (if you will) one must pray!! 

    So we have three more actions of the transformed life. There is the JOYFUL attitude. Never QUITTING and always praying!  Are these actions that describe your life?

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 12 (12/12) is Romans 12:12. It says, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

    “In hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, persevering.”

    Continue Strong rejoicing, enduring, and praying!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10
    Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; “
    The CHRISTIAN’S TREATMENT of OTHERS

    Getting saved brings about TWO new relationships.  The first new relationship is with God, and He is now our FATHER!  We are no longer aliens to God but adopted children in the family of God.  Being in the FAMILY of God brings about a new relationship with people, with the OTHERS of this world. We have a new vertical relationship with God whereby He is our Father, and we have a new horizontal relationship with people who are saved as they are our BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 

    Romans 12 is now addressing this new horizontal relationship.  Romans 12:4-8 taught how we use our spiritual gifts to edify each other.  Moving into verses 9-10 we are to genuinely love one another, being kindly affectionate to one another.  The idea of kindly affection speaks of being DEVOTED to another.  It means being there when they need you.  It is Ruth being there for Naomi.  

    The apostle Paul now moves us to a new level of LIVING as we are to honor others above ourselves. We are to GIVE PREFERENCE to others!  Others before us and others above us!  This new level of treatment means we don’t just treat people like we want to be treated but rather we treat them better than we want to be treated! 

    Do you treat OTHERS better than you treat yourself?  

    BTW – The version of the International Standard says, “Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.”  What a different world we would have if we EXCELLED at RESPECTING one another!!!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 10 (12/10) is Romans 12:10. It says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

    Selfish people think only of themselves. Saved people think of OTHERS. 
    They think of others before they think of themselves and they place others above themselves!

    Continue Strong Loving your brothers and sisters,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2
    Romans 12:2 says, “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.” 
    Getting the WORLD out by GETTING THE WORD IN!

    As the Apostle Paul moves from doctrinal teaching to practical teaching he calls for in Romans 12:1 a PRESENTATION of one life to Lord. With the presentation, there will be DEDICATION of oneself to Lord as the believer is a living sacrifice and will live holy and acceptable to the Lord.

    In order to live holy and acceptable there will need to be a major change, a TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE whereby the mind thinks differently.  Our minds are a battlefield with the WORLD seeking to influence how it thinks in order to influence how one believes and behaves.  The “world” is a system that does not regard God’s authority.  It has no desire in doing the will of God.  The world wants a person to have it their way, doing whatever feels good and brings immediate gratification.  The world system seeks to conform us to its image. The Apostle Paul says that is not to happen writing DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.  

    Choosing to not be conformed to this world is not easy UNLESS one understands the positive that the Apostle Paul gives by teaching that one can BE TRANSFORMED by renewing the mind.  Instead of letting the world’s ideas in our minds, we RENEW our minds by PUTTING in the WORD’s instructions in our minds.   We are able to GET THE WORLD OUT by PUTTING THE WORD IN. 

    WORD IN! WORLD OUT!!!

    Notice I used the word “PUTTING in the Word“ to renew one’s mind as one must be intentional!  It takes discipline.  Recall from Psalms 119:9 that asked, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”  To help heed God’s Word one then needs to HIDE God’s Word so one can draw on it when facing temptations!  Psalm 119:11 says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”  This is the PUTTING in the WORD.  

    When the world is going in you are going to have sin.
    When the Word is going in (and you heed/obey it) you are going to have sanctification.

    When a person moves from sinning to living sanctified you have TRANSFORMATION! And with transformation one now WANTS TO KNOW and DO what God’s will is for their life.  

    As you consider Romans 12:2 may I ask the question of how have you CHANGED, CHANGED LATELY?  The transformed life will have you BECOMING more like CHRIST and less like the world and, listen, less like you.  Remember the word for transformed is “metamorphosis” and is used for the change of, the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly.  Thus you should be continually CHANGING.  

    Let me lastly ask are you allowing the world to get into your mind?  Or are you intentionally PUTTING, HIDING God’s Word in your heart?   

    Getting the WORLD out means PUTTING God’s WORD IN!!  WORD IN!  WORLD OUT!!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2.  It says, “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.”

    Continue Strong intentionally putting God’s WORD in which brings about a transformed life!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 1 (12/1) is Romans 12:1

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 1 (12/1) is Romans 12:1
    Romans 12:1 says, “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.” 
    A PRESENTATION that will lead to TRANSFORMATION

    Romans is the first book that is called the Epistles of Paul.  Following the 4 Gospels that tell the stories of Jesus Christ, we have the book of Acts which tells the birth of the Church.   Now that the world has the church and has Christians both the church and Christians need to know WHAT THEY BELIEVE and HOW TO BEHAVE.   The book of Romans is known primarily as a book where we learn what we believe or a DOCTRINAL book.  However, it does gives a significant amount of teaching for how to behave as a believer.   The transitional verse for moving from the great doctrines to practical living is Romans 12:1.  The word that sets the transition up is “THEREFORE.”  I was taught, and maybe you as well, that when you read the word “therefore” you ask what is before the therefore?”  

    As a quick reminder, what is before the “therefore” of Romans 12:1 is the teaching that the just lives by faith. (Rom. 1:17).  One then learns of CONDEMNATION and of JUSTIFICATION and of SANCTIFICATION.   

    With a quick review of what has happened to us as believers, the Apostle Paul APPEALS to us to now live ACCEPTABLE lives to God.  To live acceptably to God is to make a PRESENTATION of oneself as a living sacrifice.   A sacrifice in the Old Testament was something that was dedicated to the Lord.  The believer is now presenting themselves as a dedicated vessel to the Lord. A believer GIVES themselves totally to the Lord.  This dedication of oneself impacts future behavior as now the believer is going to live a holy life.  Whereas the unbeliever lived in and for sin, the believer is now living for holiness and righteousness.  The presentation brings about a huge transformation.   From sinful living, the believer is now living a sanctified, holy life.  

    How have you responded to the appeal of Romans 12:1?  Have you PRESENTED yourself to God as a vessel, a dedicated vessel to live a holy life, to live for Him?  

    On a personal note I wrote a mission statement for my life by Romans 12:1 that goes, “Lord, I want to be a clean, holy, vessel in Your hand to be used to impact the world for Your glory.”

    Maybe today you need to interact with Romans 12:1 and write out a personal commitment to the Lord.  Based on all that God has done for you, showing you His mercies, respond to the appeal to make a PRESENTATION of yourself to the Lord!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 1 (12/1) is Romans 12:1. It says, “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.”

    Continue Strong as HIS HOLY VESSEL,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD