DAY 19
(Lesson from Day 17 of the Book, Romans Road)
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:28 is one of the most abused the scriptures in the Bible. Too often it is used as a catchall or a cliche, something for which God’s word was never intended. God is certainly merciful towards us, but if I write a bad check and pass it on nothing good will come of it! As a matter fact, it could result in a criminal prosecution. This is not was Romans 8:28 is talking about.
This text was not intended to cover our mistakes. This text, and all of God’s word, is given to encourage and teach us. The main focus of the text is not only “all things work together for good” but “those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” and “be conformed to the image of His Son.”
God’s purpose is the foundation of your purpose. God is deeply concerned about the circumstances of your life, but He frames your life in the larger context of His purpose. First we are predestined, which means that before you were born of God had a plan for you. Second, we are called, which means He gives us the opportunity to follow him through Christ. Third, we are justified which means He makes us righteous through the redemptive gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fourth, you are glorified meaning that you enter into the purposes for which you were born.
Reflection Question: What are the two qualifications having all things work together for good?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon
DAY 18
(Lesson from Day 21 of the Book, Romans Road)
Romans 11:34, “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
I am amazed and amused at how people seem to think they can always speak for God or seem to convey that they understand Him more than others. It is certainly true that we can learn of the Lord and share His word with others, but no one person knows everything. No one helps God!
The entirety of Romans 11 addresses many profound topics such as God’s dealings with His chosen people Israel and the mystery of how He has “grafted in” Gentiles (non-Jews). The chapter is dense with theological truth and doctrine. At the end of the chapter, Paul concludes by writing the following: “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (v. 36)
In our lives, is appropriate to think, ponder, and seek to understand God’s words and God’s ways. But there comes a time when you reach an end of your thinking and understanding. At that time, the best thing we can do is trust God and worship Him as the one who knows all things!
Reflection Question: What should you do when you come to the end of your understanding?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon
DAY 17
(Lesson from Day 23 of the Book, Romans Road)
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.
We are never in a position where we need to be conceited, brag, or try to “show off” to impress others. You are already exactly the person that God had in mind!
In a world where people are confused about their identity and sometimes seek to assume the identity of others such as celebrities, we have the opportunity to discover our unique “measure of faith.” Your measure of faith are the abilities, assignments, and opportunities God has made available to you. God has given everything you need to serve Him.
One of the great blessings of serving God is summed up in the phrase, “where God guides He provides.” It is truly amazing how God can provide faith and provision for everything He wants you to do. It is also amazing that our individual gifting results in stronger coordination and collaboration as the body of Christ. We are a team and a family, each having individual responsibility resulting in the fulfillment of greater collective purpose.
Reflection Question: What is your measure of faith?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon
DAY 16
(Lesson from Day 21 of the Book, Romans Road)
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Continuing from the previous lesson, we learn from this text that faith can only come from the Word of God. Just as people can only earn college degrees from learning the content during college classes, God’s “content” is learned from the Bible and through people who preach/teach the word.
People who don’t hear or take the opportunity to obey the Gospel cannot be saved, though God continues to extend His mercy. This is why the apostle Paul extensively traveled his world preaching and planting churches. That is why we continue to send missionaries around the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ
.
When people hear God’s word they can have faith to believe Him for salvation and for everything else God wants to do.
Reflection Question: What and who are your sources for hearing God’s Word?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon
DAY 15
(Lesson from Day 19 of the Book, Romans Road)
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “’Who will descend into the abyss?’”(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Genuine faith in God requires neither “signs” nor our “help” to fulfill God’s word. We don’t need Jesus to come down from heaven. We don’t need to go to heaven to see Him. If He was still in the grave, we would not have to go to that place to bring Him up. God’s word and promises have their own power.
Genuine faith does not demand external evidence. The beauty and simplicity of the faith is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to make it possible for us receive from God by believing and speaking.
Religion demands that people do something to prove their earnestness to God. Cults only require allegiance to a person.
For the person who wants new life in Christ, they only need to receive what Jesus has already provided. Not only has God provided salvation, He has provided the “measure of faith” to receive it. For the person coming to faith in Christ and for believers who already serve Christ, the word of faith is in your mouth and heart.
This is not some magical formula, it is not a particular Christian movement, it is simply the way that we access the grace of God. Ephesians 2:8 says “we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.”
Something that is provided by the grace of God can only be received by faith...and that faith begins with believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. God does the rest!
Reflection Question: Why does faith speak? What does faith say?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
Order Your Copy of Romans Road on Amazon
