Listening to the Word

Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light…Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:12, 14 What does it mean to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus? How is that similar to putting on the armor of light? Jesus is the fulfillment of all the pieces of armor Paul described in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:10-18). Jesus is our salvation (“helmet”), he is our righteousness (“breast plate”), our Truth (“belt”), and our Peace (“shoes”). He is our faith (“shroud”) and the living Word (“sword”). Clothing ourselves with Jesus Christ each morning as part of our prayer of dedication to him and by thinking through each piece of our spiritual armor is a way we consciously clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. When our thoughts are on Christ, we are less distracted by thoughts of indu...

Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12   “…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you…so in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others…Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:3, 5, 10 Paul’s image of the Body of Christ having many parts and each part or member being important and interdependent on all the other parts, is foundational for our understanding of the importance of humility. We don’t think of ourselves more highly than we ought because we are a part of a body, not the whole. We belong to others and they belong to us. Our sin affects others just as does our faithfulness. We are to honor one another above ourselves because when the other parts of the body flourish, we all benefit. No matter how small, each part of the body is essential and can also be taken for granted until they are injured. Who can we honor and encourage to...

Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11 “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke…Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice…He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” Proverbs 13:1, 10, 18 How we respond to a rebuke, receive instruction, or take advice, reveals our attitude toward authority and our capacity to learn and grow. It’s often these character-issues which limit our development, rather than our gifting or knowledge. Sometimes our best instructors are those we would rather not listen to because of what they are saying. Even our most challenging relationships can be places of growth in humility and insight if we are willing to swallow our pride and listen. Humility fosters teachability and learning, which are a lifelong process. Which voices have we been ignoring or avoiding? “Lord Jesus, I choose humility and ongoing instruction, for your glory.”

Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10   “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.” Proverbs 12:28 “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4 Righteousness is a path we walk in, not a product we barter for or purchase. It is a gift of grace to receive the righteousness of God and to walk with God. This gift of receiving right standing with God so we can walk with him in life that is abundant and eternal must be received by faith. We trust Christ, not only for what we can receive from him, but also for where we are traveling together with him. Together we are walking on the “Way of Holiness” as Isaiah saw in Isaiah 35:8-10. We are the people of the Way, and immortality is the reality for those who walk with Jesus on this road. Our destination is heaven, our guide is Jesus, and our path is righteousness. Are we traveling on this path, or have we lost our way? “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness. On t...

Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9   “…it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring…What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us…” Romans 9:8, 23, 24a Why has God not elected everyone for salvation? As Paul wrestled with this important question, he noted our response to receiving mercy. Wisdom reminds us we are not God.   However, as those invited to know God and experience his glory, are we grateful? Are we growing in our understanding of the riches of God’s glory and the inheritance of his kingdom? Rather than asking why all people are not saved, we ask, why are not those who are saved more grateful? To experience God’s mercy, kindness, and love, is to experience new life and rebirth. We testify to this kindness and love and invite others to know him because this is God’s mission for us. To the degree that we kn...

Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8 “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear…” Romans 8:13-15 How do we “put to death the misdeeds of the body”? Paul said “by the Spirit.” How does that work?   As we humble ourselves before God and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal sinful patterns, habits, wounds, unforgiveness, and anything blocking the glory of God in our lives, we can be sure the Spirit of God will counsel us. When sin is exposed before God, we can ask him to show us the root of that sin. If something specific is revealed, we can repent for that sin; or, we can ask for God’s healing if it is a wound in our soul. The Spirit of God is holy. He will empower and guide us to apply Christ’s victory over sin and death on the cross. As we repent for sin and resist its p...