Day 968:  I trust that God will fill your future with the knowledge of His presence in everything you do . . .

Scripture:  For divisive people are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ; they are serving their own personal interests. By their smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone had heard of the obedience of the believers in Rome, and Paul was full of joy over them. But I am to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil!  Romans 16:18,19

Thoughts/questions:  ’It might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, or it my be your own personal interests, but you gotta serve somebody’ Oh sorry Mr. Dylan, these verses added an extra line to your song, but you’re right, we humans do have to serve somebody! It is a repeated warning in the Bible, and therefore, repeated in God2me – serve self or serve the Lord! A daily battle and in this case, we are a formidable foe to God Himself. Our demands cry out more loudly than God’s quiet reminders to us regarding His Lordship. May you strongly state, ‘No devil, no self, as for me and my house, we will SERVE the Lord!’

Wise/good and innocent/evil! And we must not get these confused and be wise in evil and innocent in what is good! But evil is so attractive and seems to match my ‘personal interests’ more than what is good. So we must follow the example of Daniel, who ‘made up his mind’ to not be involved with what he knew was evil, and then ‘made a plan’ to follow so that he would stay away from it! (Daniel 1:8,12,13)

Be wise – make up your mind! Be innocent – make a plan to stay away from evil! For this is the will of God in Christ concerning you!

Suggested prayer:  Living God of the universe, help me not to be deceived and to stay away from all evil . . .     

Memory verse for Romans 16:  I am to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil!  Romans 16:19b

Day 967:  May you seek to experience His peace, not to understand!

Scripture:  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his Mother, who has been like a Mother to me as well. And greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers and sisters who are with them. Also, send my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings! And now Paul urges me to watch out for those who cause divisions and are offensive in ways that are contrary to the teachings I have learned.  Romans 16:13-17

Thoughts/questions:  My daughter’s dog was named Rufus, so the first greeting is a funny one to me! This is the last of the greetings to the members of the church in Rome’s Hall of Fame.

One should always try to be rich and famous – rich in the things that count and famous to the people who matter! How is your ‘fame’ regarding those who matter? Are you a person of distinction among them and do they consider you to have a place of prominence in their lives? Not prominence because of your position (a relative or the place you hold on the workplace flow chart), but by your actions? Has what you’ve meant to them caused you to have ‘celebrity’ status in their thoughts towards you? BE the type of person who truly deserves to be famous!!!

Opinions today run rampant! Everyone either has one, or agrees with one that appeared in their Google search. However, we must be careful. Arguments and divisions can no longer characterize the church of Christ. We who are part of this church must work hard at coming together, as we soon may need each other more than ever! By majoring in the minors, we loose focus on what’s really important in our relationship with Christ! Watch Out for those whose primary purpose is to cause strife – stay away from them!!!

Suggested prayer:  Living God, make my life count in the lives of others . . .

Memory verse for Romans 16:  I am to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil!  Romans 16:19b

Day 966:  May your days be filled with the love only God can give – unconditional love!

Scripture:  Greet Andronicus and Junias, Paul’s relatives, who had been in prison with him. They were respected among the apostles and became believers in Christ before Paul did. Greet Urbanus, their fellow worker in Christ and also Paul’s good friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ, and greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Heroduon, another of Paul’s relatives, and those believers who are in the household of Narcissus. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who are women who work hard in the Lord. And greet my dear friend, Persis, another woman who had worked very hard in the Lord.  Romans 16:7-12

Thoughts/questions:  More members of the church in Rome’s Hall of Fame. Both genders, people who worked hard, co-workers, friends, believers – beloved to Paul and believers who definitely supported him in one way or the other!

Today we’ll look at Apelles! Tested and approved in Christ! All of us want to be approved; few of us want to be tested! So, just how does one win someone’s approval. Usually through passing some type of test! Is this true of God as well?

We are not tested regarding receiving His love and we don’t have to earn that, but His approval might be a different story! The temple money changers certainly didn’t receive Jesus’ approval when they knew what the Scriptures taught, but did whatever they wanted! God is not a big fan of self and doesn’t approve when ‘self’ wins out over Him and His word!

Self Iish Ness- yes, there is SIN in selfishness and God does NOT approve of that! We don’t know what Apelles was tested regarding, but we do know He was approved. And that approval could only come by him choosing the Lordship found in Christ over the sin of self. Self will test us continually, will we be approved?

We are to consider God and others as more important than ourselves! Only then will we be tested AND approved!

Suggested prayer:  Father God, may I always be humble before You and before others . . . 

Memory verse for Romans 16:  I am to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil!  Romans 16:19b

Day 965:  May God grant you His peace, protection, and deliverance today!

Scripture:  Paul goes on to commend Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea, to those at Rome. He asked them to receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and to give her in anything she might need. For she had been a very great help to many people, including Paul himself. Paul then asks them to greet the following people: Priscilla and Aquila, who were his fellow workers in the ministry of Christ. They even risked their lives for Paul, and not only was he thankful for them, so were all the Gentile churches! Greet also the church that meets in their home. Paul asked them to greet his dear friend Epenetus, who was the very first person to believe in Christ in the province of Asia and to greet Mary, who had worked hard for them.  Romans 16:1-6

Thoughts/questions:  Paul pretty much finished the body of his letter to the Romans and now sends his greetings to 26 individuals by name. To name them, Paul had to know them; and because he named them, they had to have played a uniquely positive role in his ministry – the Hall of Fame in Rome!

Helping others seemed to be the number one requirement for admission to the Hall! They were a great help, risked their lives for others, became dear friends, and worked hard – definitely Hall of Fame material to God!

Let’s focus on Pheobe. She was coming to Rome and Paul was telling them about her. So, if today you were moving to a different church in a new city and someone was giving them advanced notice of your arrival, would you receive the type of commendation Phoebe received?

What does your ‘spiritual’ resume look like?  Would it fill more than one half a page? Our motivation for our choices of activities shouldn’t be what we can add to this resume, but our ‘spiritual’ resume should be motivated by love and FULL of things we have done for God and others – maybe it’s time to add some items to your resume!

Suggested prayer:  Living God, show me what You would have me to do and help me to do it . . .

Memory verse for Romans 16:  I am to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil!  Romans 16:19b

Day 964:  This world is not our home, we’re just passin’ through!!! Some day we’ll all be home!!!

Scripture:  Paul now urges the Roman believers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to join him in his struggles by praying to God for him. To pray that Paul would be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that the saints in Jerusalem would accept the donations he was bringing. Then God willing, Paul could come to them with joy, and they could both be an encouragement to each other. May the God of peace be with all of us. Amen!  Romans 15:30-33

Thoughts/questions:  The Bible addresses prayer; Jesus taught us how to pray; and there are many other examples of prayers contained in the pages of His word – must be important! There are said to be 375 references to prayer in the Bible, and research has shown that 84% of people in the USA pray regularly!

Paul knew the value of prayer as a giver and receiver. In his letters, he referred to him praying for his readers and included prayers within the letter – Ephesians 1:16-19a is an excellent example a prayer of Paul and illustrates the depth of his prayers for others! And in these verses, he solicits prayer for himself.

God is relational; therefore, it makes complete sense that He would desire that we speak with Him (pray) to make our relationship with Him a vital one! What type of relationships would we have here on earth if when we talked with others, we only asked them things regarding ourselves, and then we never took the time to listen to them? Probably no relationship at all!

Are your prayers only characterized by requests for your needs and the ones of those you love, or are do they contain deep concerns about the spiritual well-being of yourself, those you know, and believers all around the world? Are you taking the time to listen? How long is the gap between when you say Amen and  when you go on to something else? Let’s do three things – pray less selfishly, always remember the persecuted believers, and say with Samuel in I Samuel 3: 10b, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening!

Suggested prayer:  Lord, help me to listen . . .

Last day for memory verse for Romans 15:  So that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Romans 15:13b

Day 963:  MMM – Make Mondays Matter! Today, like every day, IS the day that we have made so if it happens to be a good day, we should be happy, but if it’s Monday, then . . .  OH wait, this IS the day that the Lord has made and we should rejoice in it, no matter what name it has!

Scripture:  The churches in Greece were pleased to help, as they were indebted to the believers in Jerusalem. For if the Gentiles shared in the spiritual blessings of the Jews, they owe it to the Jews to share their material blessings with them. As soon as Paul had delivered their contribution and completed this good deed of theirs, he was going to see the believers in Rome on his way to Spain. And he was sure that when he visited them, he would bring to them the full measure of the blessings of Christ. Romans 15:27-29

Thoughts/questions:  The full measure of the blessings of Christ! Everything Jesus has to offer us! Jesus said, I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly! What a promise – whatever we go through in our lives, we may always be living abundantly – living in His blessings!

Two things: 1) Romans 8:28 and I Corinthians 1:4 combine to affirm what this full measure and living abundantly is all about! Romans tells us that God will take whatever situation we find ourselves in and work them out for our good – what a blessing!!! Nothing that will ultimately be bad will ever happen to us! And when we go through difficult situations and God brings us comfort, the Corinthians verse gives us hope! His comforting of us will be the foundation for us to bring comfort to others when they are faced with similar difficulties! Confidence and hope ALWAYS!

2) As Christ followers, we experience so many diverse and varied worldly circumstances ranging from one of persecution, danger, and opposition to ones filled with the ‘things’ the world can offer; nevertheless, God blessings are the same! No matter what ‘changes’ may come in our future, we can be assured of one thing – the same God is there with the full measure of the blessings of Christ!  Thank You Jesus!!!

Suggested prayer:  Father, thank You for Your amazing blessings . . .  

Memory verse for Romans 15:  So that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Romans 15:13b

Day 962:  Amazing – May 20 – wow! Treasure each day!!!

Scripture:  So now there was no longer any place for Paul to minister in those regions, so after all of the years of waiting, he could now go to Rome. He planned to go to Spain, and on the way he would first stop off in Rome. There, he would be able to enjoy their company, and the believers in Rome could help him to continue his journey. At this point, however, he was on his way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. For the believers in Macedonia and Achaia, cities in Greece, had eagerly taken up an offering for the believers in Jerusalem who were going through financial difficulties.  Romans 15:23-26

Thoughts/questions:  The body of Christ in action – Paul was going to serve the saints in Jerusalem; the believers in Rome were going to help him; and the Greeks had given money for the needy in Jerusalem. Serving and helping! Helping others financially can be very difficult, but God expects those who can give to do so. And not only give, but with a good attitude!

Many are blessed to give, serve, and help - BUT they have a difficult time with the flip side – receiving, being served, and being helped! If this describes you, you must remember two important things: 1) Without a receiver, you would not be able to experience the blessing of giving; therefore, if everyone was like you and ‘wouldn’t’ allow someone to give to them, you would not have the joy of helping anyone either! Someone has to receive for you to give!!!

2) The term ‘circle of life’ is often used – well this circle is manifested in the body of Christ by giving and receiving; serving and being served; and helping and being helped! And at any given point we never know which side of this coin we will be on. God desires us to be a blessing as a giver AND to be blessed as a receiver! BOTH are required, so no matter if you are helping or being helped, consider it to be a blessing from God and find joy in your current role in the body!!!

God loves a cheerful giver AND a cheerful receiver!

Suggested prayer:  Lord, let me give humbly and receive humbly . . .

Memory verse for Romans 15:  So that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Romans 15:13b

Day 961:  May you experience God’s promised ‘Sabbath rest’ not just on the Sabbath (Saturday), but rest in Him every day!!!

Scripture:  Therefore in Christ, Paul found reason for boasting regarding the things of God, as he did not want to boast about anything else but what Christ had accomplished through him. The Gentiles were brought to God through his words and the way he lived before them. Powerful signs and miracles were done through him by the power of Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum he fully proclaimed the Good News of Christ! It was always his ambition to preach this Good News where the name of Christ had never been heard, rather than where a church had already been started by someone else. He followed the Scripture in Isaiah 52:15, “Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have not heard of Him will understand.” Because he had been preaching in these various places, he was often delayed in visiting the believers in Rome.  Romans 15:17-22

Thoughts/questions:  Paul definitely was an ambitious servant of Christ, but his ambition was not just him being a Type A personality. Two things guided him:  1) His ambition was very specific – his desire and goal was to bring Jesus to those who had never heard of Him. Even if the specific nature of his ambition interfered with other activities, his ambition allowed him to easily prioritize his actions. 2) His ambition was scripturally based! He didn’t arbitrarily pick a goal that sounded good to him, but he based his decision on God’s word!

Paul definitely lived intentionally. We are to be ready and willing to be obedient to God’s direction each day, but we also should live intentionally! If God has placed a desire or goal on your heart, that should be your ambition! And if that’s your ambition, what are you intentionally doing about it? And if you don’t have the time to do all of the good things on your plate, your ambition can help you focus on the specific plan God has for you!!!

Have an ambition; base it on God’s word; and intentionally make it happen with His help!

Suggested prayer:  Lord, direct me in the path You want me to go . . .

Memory verse for Romans 15:  So that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Romans 15:13b

Day 960:  TGIF!!!  This evening and Sat. morning I will be speaking at a local men’s retreat. Prayers appreciated!

Scripture:  Paul was fully convinced that his Roman brothers and sisters were full of goodness; complete in knowledge; and competent to teach others. He wrote quite boldly to them on some points, knowing that all they needed was a reminder from him. By God’s grace, Paul was a special minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God!  He did this so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable unto God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:14-16

Thoughts/questions:  Purpose – what an important word! Defined as ‘reason for existence,’ it is such a motivating force that it often results in one achieving far beyond what they believed to be possible. Paul is an excellent example of that!

A dedicated Jew who learned under some of the strictest and most difficult teachings, he surely was raised to despise two groups – all Gentiles, and the new sect of those called Christians! His purpose in regards to them was to avoid the any interactions with Gentiles and to help destroy the blasphemous, false Messiah worshipping Christians!

Then he met Jesus and his purpose toward them did a 180!. Not only did he become very involved with Gentiles, he considered himself to be a special minister to them with the expressed purpose of helping them become part of those Christians. What a turnaround!

How did this change of purpose turn out for him? Well, he did what God called him to do and then he was put in prison and flogged multiple times; faced death over and over; received 39 lashes 5 times; was beaten with rods 3 times; stoned once; shipwrecked 3 times; and often hungry, thirsty, cold, or naked. Without a specific purpose, he could have NEVER endured all of that.

Has God changed your purpose for living? What difference has that made in your life? Has your new purpose brought you perseverance and hope? Does adversity confirm your dedication to your purpose or get you discouraged? Let God’s purpose be our purpose and may our ‘reason for existence’ change us completely!

Suggested prayer:  Father God, may I seek to know Your purpose for me and to fulfill it . . .

Memory verse for Romans 15:  So that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Romans 15:13b

Day 959:  A first – I forgot to finish this post and woke up at 5:15 thinking ‘did I finish?’ – got up and nope, I had worked on preparing 3 talks for a men’s retreat and had forgot. Just yesterday, I was considering the initial purpose of God2me was the first person paraphrase and how that purpose had been lost a bit, so I planned on posting an entire chapter to remind readers of what I trust is a meaningful paraphrase – today is a good day to quickly do just that!!! (I trust this goes to emails today!)

Scripture:  James 1:  This letter is from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to Jewish Christians scattered everywhere and to me.  Greetings!

When I encounter various trials and temptations, I should be joyful; for when my faith is so tested, the purpose is that my patience and endurance will grow.  I need to let my patience and endurance develop until I become a mature follower of Christ, and then I will be complete and ready for anything.  But if I don’t understand how to do this, I can ask God for wisdom.  He will gladly give it to me without holding anything back.

However, I have to be sure to ask Him in faith without doubting, or I will be like a wave in the ocean that is driven and tossed by the wind, and my decisions will always be uncertain and their results will be unstable.  Without complete faith and trust in the Lord, I cannot expect anything else.

Even though I might be poor by worldly standards, I must focus on my high position in the Lord.  Or if I find myself rich in the things of this world, I must still focus on my eternal position in Him.  My riches will soon be gone like a desert flower that has had its beauty destroyed by the scorching of the sun and wind.

Yes, I can be joyful during my trials and temptations, for eventually I will receive the crown of life promised to me because I love Him.  Praise the Lord!  But when these times come, I shouldn’t say that God is tempting me because God never tempts me to  do anything evil. I am tempted when my own thoughts and desires pull me away from God, and then sin results, which eventually leads to death.  I should not be deceived in this area.

Whatever is good and perfect comes to me from God, who is the Father of lights; He is never uncertain or unstable.  He brought me to a new life in Him through the truth of His word, so I could become a child in His new family.  I must always remember to listen completely, speak only a little, and not become angry; for my anger does not help me achieve the standard God has set before me.

Therefore, I should put aside all filthiness and wickedness in my life and humbly take in God’s word, which is able to save my soul.  These words must be obeyed and not just listened to.  For if I am only a listener and do not obey, it is similar to looking in a mirror; and as soon as I walk away, I immediately forget what I look like.  But if I gaze intently on God’s perfect law of liberty and truly live it; I won’t forget, as I will do what it says.  God will then greatly bless me in everything I do!

If I say that I am a follower of Christ, but I can’t control my tongue, my religion isn’t worth much. God’s idea of true Christianity is taking care of orphans and widows and remaining true to Him – without being stained by the world.

Suggested prayer:  Lord, help me to understand how personal Your word should be to me . . .