In to out – not the other way

Scripture Read: Romans 2:24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Application:  Father, this is the essence of the desire of our heart and yet seems so unattainable in our Flesh. Many feel they are living Romans 7 too much of the time. We really do know what we want to be – but many times we do not see ourselves becoming that. Please Father fill us with Your Spirit in such a way that we see the inner man become the norm. We do not desire to be a child of God outwardly only. We desire our outwardness to only be the reflection of that which is inward. Sometimes we can feel so tired – Lord make us like Caleb – still full of energy – energy for You - not for sin. We do not want to be content with the victories You have led us in. We thank You for them and they comfort our soul, but our desire is to see victories in new frontiers. Lord God grant us You! We don’t want to be just close –we desire to see this reality and we know You do to. It is us Lord that holds us back. Show us where we are being to hard on ourselves and show us where change is needed. We do not want to fail this test called life Lord – without You leading we will. Thank You Dad for listening.  Our flesh, our appetites and our lack of conscious living. That is our trinity that competes with You - the real Trinity. Father help, Jesus lead and Holy Spirit please strengthen.

A true guide

Scripture Read: Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

Application:  “Guide” ὁδηγός hodēgós; from hodós - way, and hēgéomai - to lead. A leader of the way, a guide, ὁδηγός is found in the NT only in the lit. sense of “leader,” “escort.” Judas is called this in Ac. 1:16 because he led the police to the place where they could arrest Jesus, the meaning is the lit. one of “guides” rather than “teachers.” 

“Corrector”  παιδευτής paideutés; An instructor (Rom. 2:20); a corrector, a chastiser Paul devoted himself to the study of the Law of the fathers according to the precise method of Rabbinic and Pharisaic exegesis. Hence he was zealous for God and the Law. From his youth up he was educated in the Law. He could thus understand the importance of such education for the pagan world. As a Christian and an apostle, however, he had to dispute the claim of the Jews to be παιδευτὴς. The Jew has knowledge and truth in the palpable form of the Law. The expressions quoted do not refer, at least in the first instance, to an intellectual understanding or the consequent transmission of a doctrine. The reference is to the practical influencing of life and moral conduct which was necessarily and not at all arbitrarily bound to shine forth from the strictness and consistency of the Jewish mode of life into the morally insecure and religiously questing world around.

This is the essence of what it means to be a real teacher of God. Not only the data AND not only the actions – BUT a deep belief from inside my heart and soul that these truths are true. That is what produces real authenticity of the message. This is where we can struggle Lord. We  know what we believe and want to perform that, but our flesh seems to win far to often. Am I lying to myself? I want to sense that what I know to be true has the power to overcome what my flesh wants!! Continue to guide me Oh God! I am in joy when my life inside and out match what I know You are!

Sin is not Light

Scripture Read: Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Application: “Lightly” καταφρονέω kataphronéō from katá, against or denoting evil, and phronéō, to think. 1 to despise, disdain, think little or nothing of, To hold in contempt, to think lightly of, despise, to neglect, not to care for - The NT warns especially against despising the riches of God’s kindness (R. 2:4) in much the same fashion as the Jew of Wis. thinks unworthily of God, It also warns against the contempt of the community in the form of unseemly and unsocial conduct at the agape

-This word is really the word I need to meditate on and realize that this is what I do when I have a habitual sin in my life. I need to see that it is not some little thing – I am taking God’s kindness and treating it with contempt. Oh Lord you know in my heart I do not desire to do such things – yet I find myself so weak at times. Father You are so kind and merciful – create in me an awareness of this thought pattern and help me break it. I hate this part of who I am, I know You accept me in Christ – but when I treat sin lightly I do not feel that. I want to feel what I know. To do that I need to live in a way that pleases You. I have such good days and yet fall into wrong thinking many times at night. Lord fill me with Your Spirit today so that I will have a victorious day with You. I love You.