Tuesday Morning: 02 Apr 2019 – Romans 10 ~ believe and declare

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Romans 10 (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say,

“How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.”

But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,

“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”

And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,

“I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”

But regarding Israel, God said,

“All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

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Morning Reflection:

“It is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God,
and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
– Romans 10:10

What does it mean to “believe in your heart?”

+ It is the working of the Holy Spirit creating in us a hunger and longing for something to fill our emptiness.

+ It is the reaching out to Christ, and Him coming to live in us, and our pressing Him close to us.

+ It is the conviction that Christ is just what we want and need, even though we may know very little about doctrine or theology.

+ It is the joy and gladness we experience when we realize that Christ crucified has removed our troubles – we are forgiven and set free.

+ It is the confidence in Christ that sustains us throughout all the cares and sorrows of our lives.

+ It is the certainty at life’s end that we shall see Christ face to face, and know Him even as we are known by Him.

What does it mean to openly declare our faith?

+ It is uniting with other believers in public acts of worship – regularly “calling on the name of the Lord.”

+ It is publicly professing our faith – at our church we provide content to our profession our faith by repeating the words of the Nicene Creed which singularly unites all of Christendom.

+ It is our baptism in public that marks the death and burial of our old life, and our resurrection to our new life in Christ.

+ It is our participation in the Lord’s Supper that declares our distinction from the world and nourishes our new life in Christ.

+ It is our association with other believers who are learning and growing in Christ, and who pray for one another.

+ It is bearing the crosses we have been given – in our own families and in the unique temptations and challenges we face.

+ It is telling others the Good News of what Christ has done for us and trusting God to use it for good in their lives.

Questions for consideration:

When you reflect on “believing in your heart,” what stands out for you? Is there anything missing? Please explain.
When you reflect on “declaring your faith,” what stands out for you? Is there anything missing? Please explain.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
– Romans 10:13

What does this scripture verse mean to you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Thank you for bringing me to a place in my life where I called out to you wholeheartedly in faith. Thank you for the gift of your Spirit that creates in me a hunger and thirst to draw closer to Christ, and to grow in faith and practice. Thank you for your sustaining mercy and grace throughout the years. And thank you for the believing friends and faith communities that I have known. Bless your people and your church that we may be lights to the nations, sources of help and healing and hope. I ask this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.
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“Call On The Name” – Vertical Church Band

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Monday Morning: 01 Apr 2019 – Romans 9:18-33 ~ vessels of mercy

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 9:18-33 (NLT)

So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”

No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,

“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.”

And,

“Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,

“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
only a remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”

And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:

“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”

Israel’s Unbelief

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

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Morning Reflection:

“God’s glory is promoted in the overthrow of a sinner as much as in saving one.” – James M Stifler, “The Epistle to the Romans”

Today’s reading doesn’t get any easier. Paul continues his teaching on God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. (See Romans 9:1-18 ~ chosen to receive mercy.)

In today’s reading, Paul uses the analogy of the potter’s right to shape and use the clay any way he chooses. Some vessels are used for beauty, and some are used for garbage. (vs 21)

“The human race is dealt with by God according to his own wisdom, and there are vessels of mercy unto glory, and vessels of wrath unto destruction.” – T F Lockyear

Paul then cites the examples of realized prophecies in the Old Testament –

+ Hosea – God’s right to reject Israel for idolatry, and God’s right to restore.
+ Isaiah – God’s right, while rejecting Israel, to spare a remnant, with whom the Gentiles would be joined.

Up to this point in our reading, the obvious question is: “Has God made me a vessel of mercy or a vessel of wrath?” And in the last verse, Paul gives us a clue – a standard by which we can assess our status. Speaking of Israel’s unbelief –

God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” – Romans 9:33

Questions for consideration:

What does it mean to be a “vessel of wrath,” destined for destruction? Think about people that you know. What are some of the practical implications? Please explain.
What does it mean to be a “vessel of mercy,” destined for glory? Think about people that you know. What are some of the practical implications? Please explain.
How does God’s patience fit into all of this? Why does God delay his judgement on those with whom he is angry? Please explain.
What does it mean to trust in the “stumbling stone” God has provided? Please explain. If you’re not sure, click here for help.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You are the potter, I am the clay, shape me into a vessel of mercy according to your great purpose for my life. I place my trust in your Son, Jesus Christ who is my Savior and Lord. Do what you must with me that the riches of your glory may shine brightly in me. I ask this in Jesus’ name and for you glory. Amen.
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“Cornerstone” – Hillsong

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The 4th Sunday of Lent – 31 Mar 2019 – Luke 15:11-32 ~ lost and found

Fourth Sunday of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

God of compassion, you await the sinner’s return and spread a feast to welcome home the lost.

Save us from the temptations that lead away from you, and draw us back by the constancy of your love, that we may take our place in your household and gladly share our inheritance with others.

Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever.
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“Good Good Father” – Chris Tomlin

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Gospel Reading: Luke 15:11-32 (NLT)

Parable of the Lost Son

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You love us and happily welcome us home from our distress in far countries. Hear our prayers and show us your mercy –

+ That all who follow your Son, Jesus Christ, may return home to your embrace during this season of Lent….
+ That people who have quarreled with each other may be reconciled to you and one another….
+ That families experiencing difficulties and conflict may learn to forgive one another as you have forgiven them….
+ That believing communities in every country may live in peace and be respected….
+ That believers who are suffering great persecution may be delivered from evil and their lives restored….

Heavenly Father: Show us your mercy and rescue us from the darkest places of our exile. Restore us to our families and faith communities, that heaven and earth might rejoice in our return to your household. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Lion and the Lamb” – Big Daddy Weave

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Blessing – 1 Corinthians 5:20-21

We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Saturday Morning: 30 Mar 2019 – Romans 9:1-18 ~ chosen to receive mercy

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 9:1-18 (NLT)

God’s Selection of Israel

With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses,

“I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”

So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
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Morning Reflection:

God alone determines fairness.

It is God who decides to show mercy.
We can neither choose it nor work for it. – Romans 9:16

How to reconcile human responsibility with Divine sovereignty remains a problem as difficult as that of reconciling the existence of evil with the power and righteousness and benevolence of a merciful God. Our wisdom is to bow with reverence in presence of these great mysteries, and to say, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” – C.H. Irwin

What then can we say about God’s sovereignty?

1. God’s sovereignty is exercised in righteousness. God’s freedom of choice is not grounded on works, but on grace. God is free to choose or reject whom he will.

2. God’s sovereignty is exercised in mercy. God’s freedom of choice demonstrates his mercy and compassion. God doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve.

What can we say about human responsibility?

1. We are free agents to choose between good and evil. And yet, we have all chosen to sin and justly deserve condemnation.

2. Our unbelief and guilty consciences are themselves a testimony to our freedom of will and personal responsibility for our estrangement from God.

Questions for consideration:

Do you believe that God has the “absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure?” [Easton] What are the some of the implications as applied to your life circumstances? Please explain.
Do you believe that God is good, merciful, and compassionate, and that all his decisions are “morally correct and justifiable?” [William Lane Craig] What are some of the implications as applied to your life circumstances? Please explain.
Do you believe that the default position of all humanity, apart from Christ, is one of estrangement and condemnation before God? What are some of the implications for unbelieving family and friends? Please explain.
As a believer, what is your role in bearing witness to the justice, mercy, and grace of God to unbelieving family and friends? What is your role in interceding for them? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: 1 Peter 2:9-10

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Heavenly Father: You have called me out of darkness into your wonderful light. And you have adopted me, chosen me, to make known your compassion, mercy, and grace. I belong to you; help me to live as your beloved child, an heir of all your riches in glory – that others may recognize what they are missing, repent, and seek your face. I ask this through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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“Who You Say I Am” – Hillsong Worship

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Friday Morning: 29 Mar 2019 – Romans 8:31-39 ~ Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Morning Reflection:

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? – Romans 8:31b

No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
– Romans 8:33b

No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us,
and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.– Romans 8:34b

Against the background of human sinfulness, today’s reading assures every believer that we can rest assured of the God’s love – God is for us!

God’s love for us is –

+ Unaffected by extreme changes in our circumstances – believers live and die in Christ Jesus.
+ Unaffected by angels, principalities or powers – believers are one with God in Christ Jesus.
+ Unaffected by time past, present or future – believers are eternally secure in Christ Jesus.
+ Unaffected by space and place – believers are known and immeasurably loved in Christ Jesus.

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. – Romans 8:38

Questions for consideration:

Christ Jesus loves you and is continually interceding for you. What difference does that make in your present circumstances? Please explain.
How does knowing you are loved by God in Christ Jesus empower you to overcome the trials and tribulations you face? Please explain.
How does God’s love in Christ Jesus affect you when you are faced with suffering, hardship and even calamity? What difference does it make in your life? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

I arise today through the mighty strength of Christ within me
and the freedom of his life-giving Spirit.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today through the mighty strength of Christ within me
and the freedom of his life-giving Spirit.

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“The Love of God” – Power Praise [Korean]

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen