Love is Fulfillment of Law

Prepare: When we practice love, there is no need for any other law.
Read: Romans 13:9-14

Love is the fulfillment of law: In this section, Paul has dealt with the very heart of the problem: the human heart. Because the heart of man is sinful, God established government. But laws cannot change the heart. Man's heart can only be changed by God's grace. 'Love one another' is the basic principle of Christian life. When we truly practice love, there is no need for any other laws, as love covers everything. When we love others, we will not harm them. When we have the love of Christ in our hearts, we would obey God and help others in need.

Put on the armour of light: The emphasis in this passage is on the imminent return of Jesus Christ. As His children, we need to be found faithful when He returns. Paul here gives several admonitions in the light of the Lord's return: wake up, put aside the deeds of darkness, put on the armour of light, behave decently, clothe yourselves with Lord Jesus Christ and do not gratify the sinful nature.We physically grow on the basis of what food we eat. Likewise, if we feed the flesh, we will only fulfill the sinful desires, but if we feed the inner man with the nourishing things of the Spirit, we will become more like Jesus Christ. In other words, a Christian citizen ought to be the best citizen in every way. Are you one such Christian?

Respond: Gracious and loving heavenly Father, enable me to be a good Christian and a good citizen of my country. 

The Authority to Rule Originally Comes from God

Prepare: To resist the law is to resist God who established them.
Read: Romans 13:1-8

Believers are citizens of heaven, but we must not minimize our responsibilities on earth. We must be exemplary citizens so that the Lord will be glorified.

Do what is right: God has established three institutions on this earth. The home (Gen 2:18-25), government (Gen 9:1-17) and the church (Acts 2). Paul wrote this epistle when Christians were being persecuted. Paul explains four reasons why a Christian must submit to the law of the State. To resist the law is to resist God who established the government. Though God has established the governments of the world, He is not responsible for their sins. Even though we cannot always respect the person who is in authority, we must respect his office, for government was ordained by God. Even though government officials may not be believers, they are still the servants of God because it is God who has established the authority of the State.

Maintain a good conscience: The motivation to obey the law goes higher in this section. A Christian has to obey the law, not because of fear of punishment, but because of conscience and a desire to obey the Lord. If the government interferes with the consciences of a Christian, the Christian must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). But when the law is right, the Christian must obey the law, if he is to maintain a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9;4:2;Acts 24:16). Verse 7 commands us to pay what we owe-taxes, revenue, respect and honour.

Respond: O God, renew my Christian conscience regarding my attitude towards government laws and rules.

Sincerity in Love

Prepare: It is possible to use a spiritual gift in an unspiritual way.
Read: Romans 12:9-21

Love must be sincere: Paul admonishes his readers to maintain a spiritual zeal, because they are serving the Lord and not men. When life becomes difficult, the Christian cannot afford to let his zeal grow cold. Serving the Lord demands that we oppose Satan's attacks. Paul also reminds his readers here, that they must respect the feelings of other Christians. Christian fellowship means that we share the burdens and blessings of others, so that we all grow together and glorify God. A humble attitude and a willingness to share are the marks of a Christian who truly ministers to the body of Christ. When you are proud and are not willing to associate with people of low position, you depart from the Christian ideal for ministry.

Overcome evil with good: A Christian who seeks to obey God would have enemies. Though the Christian is exhorted to share in the 'offence of the cross' (Gal.5:11;6:12-15), he/she cannot afford to be an offensive Christian. Returning evil for evil or good for good is the way most people live. But the Christian must learn to live on a higher level by repaying good for evil. This requires love and faith. God's love alone can conquer evil. Faith in God alone can accomplish His purpose in our lives and the lives of others who do evil to us.

Respond: Lord, help me not to be an offensive Christian and give me grace that I may be sincere in my love for You and others. 

Translate Your Learning into Living

Prepare: 'In the Christian life, doctrine and duty always go together'
Read: Romans 12:1-8

What is true dedication? Christian dedication involves three steps. (A) Offering our bodies as living sacrifice. The Christians; body is God's temple (1 Cor.6:19, 20; Rom.8:9). We should learn to count it a privilege to glorify God and magnify God in our bodies (Phil.1:20,21). (B) Offering our mind to God. While the world wants to control your mind, God wants to transform your mind (Eph.4:17; Col.3:1-11). To make you spiritually-minded through His Word (2 Cor.3:18). (C) Offer our will to God. We must learn to surrender our will to God through disciplined prayer, to know His pleasing and perfect will for our lives.

What are the essentials for Spiritual ministry? : Each believer has a spiritual function to perform within the body of Christ. Each believer has a gift (gifts) to be used for the building up of the body and the perfecting of the saints (Ephe4:11-13). Hence, each believer needs to know what gift (gifts) God has given him so that he can glorify God with his gifts.

What is your gift? Your gift is given, not to boast about it or to belittle others, but must be dedicated to God and used faithfully for the good of the body of Christ. For a Christian to minimize the gifts of others and emphasize his own gift is to deny the very purpose for which gifts are given. Spiritual gifts are tools to build up and not to tear down one another.

Respond: Lord Jesus, enable me to be a person who would always build others up and not tear down anyone. 

The Mystery of Life

Prepare: What do you do when it looks like God is on the side of the enemy?
Read: Psalm 44:1-26

The nation was facing a crisis, and it seemed that God had forsaken his people and was helping the enemy. Israel was a scattered people, shamed and scorned.

You remember what God did: This does not mean living in the past but learning from the past. Your situation maybe painful, but God has not changed. He is still the God of miracles.

You trust in Him: If you trust your own resources, you will fail. Sometimes God allows defeat just to remind you that you must trust Him and Him alone.

You remain faithful to Him, come what may: Like the average person who is cast down and finds it hard to get his prayers answered, the psalmist accuses God wrongfully and maintains innocence for himself. Here the psalmist brags about his own faithfulness to God and his clean living, Remember Satan's lie about Job?Is ours a "commercial faith"? Are you faithful to God only because He does good things for you? God tests your faith to see if it is sincere.

The psalmist had the boldness and rashness to ask God to awake and arise to help him, after he had accused God of dealing with him unjustly. Oswald Chambers said, that "when a man gets to despair he knows that all his thinking will never get him out. Consequently he is in the right attitude to receive from God that which he cannot gain for himself. "

Respond: Trust Him even though you may not fully understand what He is doing. 

Amazing Grace

Prepare: Grace is God reaching across sin's chasm to everyone.
Read: Romans 11:1-12

Every part of the ceremonial meal of the Passover symbolizes the wonderful provision of God for the Jewish people. The Lord's Table should fill us with a profound emotion, which carried an even more passionate meaning for me as a Christian. God truly is the one who makes provision for His people. The history of the Jewish people is the history of God at work, to bring the Saviour into the world.

The theology of Romans 9-11 magnifies God's grace and extols His sovereignty. Never lose the wonder of your salvation or of the greatness of God. No matter how deep the valley or difficult the battle, a vision of God's greatness puts joy in your heart and strength in your soul. God knows what He is doing even if you do not understand it fully.

There is a future for Israel; Paul is proof of that and so is Israel's past history. God has always had a believing remnant in Israel, no matter how dark the day. When you become discouraged about the future of the church, read I Kings 19 and focus on God's greatness.

We live in a world where we can see the effects of rejection all around us. That is why the good news of God's grace renews our hope and restores our joy. Grace accepts, forgives, and continues to offer love and hope in spite of hardened hearts-and yes, even in spite of rejection.

Respond: Lord, we pray for the nation of Israel that those who reject You, may find the grace that You so freely offer. 

Selective Hearing

Prepare: Creation itself speaks to us of God's love, provision and majesty.
Read: Romans 10:14-21

Have you ever experienced what I like to call "selective hearing"? For example, you are having a conversation with someone and suddenly realize that you haven't heard a word the other person is saying. Unfortunately, it would seem that often we hear only what we choose to hear. Over the centuries, God sent many prophets to tell His chosen people of His love for them. God sent His Son, Jesus. Israel chose not to hear the One who came to offer them salvation.

The missionary heart of Paul comes out in verse 14-17. Salvation is by faith and faith comes "by hearing.. the Word of God". But unbelieving sinners (including Israel) cannot hear unless we tell them. God needs people with beautiful feet (Isa.52:7) to carry the gospel to the lost. Despite Paul's broken heart and God's outstretched hands, Israel did not believe; but the Gentiles did believe and God saved them! When you feel discouraged in your witnessing, remember Paul, continue caring, praying, and sharing the good news. Keep those feet beautiful!

God is still speaking to the world today. Charles Spurgeon said "fate is blind, but the destiny of Scripture is full of eyes. Fate is stern and adamant, and has no tears for human sorrow. But the arrangements of Providence are kind and good."

Respond: Open our ears that we might hear You. Open our eyes that we might see You. Open our hearts that we might follow You.