The success of “nobodies”

Scripture Read: Romans 16:1-8 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

Application: For most of us, when we read passages such as these, we really kind of skim right past them and not give them much thought. There are a lot of jewels in many of these passages that Your Holy Spirit, Father desires to open our eyes to. I count at least 6 good sermons in this passage alone. The idea of treating someone “in a manner worthy of the saints” brings so much to mind. How is that done, who should be treated that way, etc.? How about “who for my life risked their own necks”? A great subject dealing with love and sacrifice. “Church in their house”; “first convert to Christ from Asia” – the list could go on. Your Word has so much in it Father. The highlight that I am looking at is the simple list of names of servants for the Lord. Except for possibly Prisca and Aquila, which we recognize from Acts, these are all people we have never heard of before. The “Mary” is which one? No way to know this was a common name. I find it interesting that Paul begins with Phoebe- which means “bright and radiant”- how appropriate! In this day of “famous servants” here is a list of people never heard of yet are recorded in the only Book that is eternal! That should effect how we view “success”! We have been sucked into the world’s polluted idea of success – all surface, what it looks like, sounds like and projects itself as. When I was 7 years old JFK was killed. I would look at the pictures of his widow and kids, and other pictures of he and his wife before that fatal day, and I felt so bad that such a great loving couple that was so in love had been broken apart by such a tragedy. As I matured and studied more, and the press had to be honest about the real JFK, I saw through the fake success of that story. Tragic the assassination will always be, murder is always wrong, but that marriage had died years before the bullet hit him. There was no success story in their love - only what they and the press produced for image. Many of our successful heroes today have only this kind of success. The believers in the list Paul gives are successful in Your eyes Father. Though, they are not known, nor ever acquired great wealth or fame their success should be the kind of success we aim for. Dad we want to be on Your list of success stories – the world can have their movies, TV, Books and spotlight – it will all fade. Help us die to that old man every day Lord because He loves this world’s light – which is darkness in Your realm!

* Meditation Questions: When you go unnoticed in your service for Christ, how do you feel? What does that say? When a speaking is thanking all involved for their help, and you are left out, how do you feel? Whenever you do something good, do you make sure people know? How much to you crave the applause of God versus the applause of the world?

Striving together in Prayer

Rom 15:28-33 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Application: How many believers really seek to build a prayer support team in their lives? Is this only a need for believers that are in full time ministry? To really have a prayer support team in our life requires an openness to our life that most people seem to resist today. Paul’s admonition means so much to me at this stage of my life.  Having come this far I know it would never have happened if I did not have a support team praying for me. I appreciate the word “strive” because that’s what real prayer is. Not a few words spoken in haste – but an entering into the same battle with the one you are praying for. For some reason the church has moved to a way of thinking that is quite different than the New Testament portrayed the early church. How many passages encourage all believers to pray for one another? Could it be that our flesh has tricked us into believing that our business is no one else’s business? Of course if we open ourselves up to let others inside, some will abuse, but I wonder if not in our effort to protect ourselves from pain we don’t miss out on allowing the brothers and sisters that truly love us to minister to us through their prayers. I have always found that You Lord protect me from those that would use my transparency against me. I have a great team of people that charge Your throne in my name, and I am convinced that You have come to my rescue many times solely due to their prayers. Lord, help us to open up enough to those that love us to create at team of prayer warriors that will “strive with us” in the life You have called us to live! Thanks Dad for those that strive with me!

* Meditation Questions: Do you have a fellowship of people that pray for the things that matter to you? Are you part of a fellowship that prays specifically over the needs of someone you know? When was the last time a need that you had was supplied by the Lord and you can’t understand how it happened?

Is God egotistical?

Scripture Read: Romans 15:22-29 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;  23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you  24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while— 25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Application: This needs to be a reminder to all of us that not every desire we have will be given to us by You or at least in the way we thought. Paul desired to go to Rome – but on his way to Spain. Instead God did bring Him to Rome – but the way God chose to best use Paul and glorify Himself was to do it as a prisoner. Paul never got to Spain. There are two strong emotions as we think on this Lord. One we like, the other most of us struggle with. We like that we can trust that when we give You our desires we know that You are aware and concerned. We know this because we have experienced Your love toward us in the sacrifice of Your Son. The other emotion we feel is difficult because it is in the opposite direction. When I write that You decided it would be better to USE Paul – Dad this bothers us and I think it is because our flesh resists Your Godhood. When we say you use us to glorify Yourself – many times inside we feel disdain because it sounds so egotistic. Intellectually, I know it is not egotistical because You are GOD – You have a right to do whatever You Desire – to be egotistical is based on the fact that a person needs that for themselves. That is not the case when it comes to You. You are not a glorified human, but many times, perhaps not intending to do so, we look at You that way. Yet, if we are honest, we know it cannot be You because You are perfect within Yourself and need nothing more. You don’t need obedience, adoration or worship. You don’t even NEED to use us. Whatever You want done You could make happen with just a thought. You have chosen to give us the privilege to be involved in God’s business; You have allowed us to enjoy You through worship and adoration. You have hoped that we will escape the outcome of sin by obedience. Father help us continue to think on this right now. We need to understand what it really means to glorify You and how that works – we know our feelings are not counted against us but we do not like thinking in a way that would bring You down to our level. You are Lord and God. You also love us. Thanks for that!

* Meditation Questions: Do you sometimes have feelings that make God seem unfair or egotistical? What do you do about them? When we compare ourselves to an ant is that like comparing God to us? When we hear people say “what right does God have?” how do we feel about that? Is there a difference in questioning God and doubting Him?

Motives that kill selfishness

Scripture Read: Romans 15:15-21 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.”

Application: It is amazing how much our flesh can sneak into the spotlight of our life without us even knowing it. Many things that may appear good and properly motivated, when looked at through the microscope of the Holy Spirit and the scriptures, can expose elements of the flesh in our lives. This passage does that. Is it wrong to want to please God? The obvious answer is…no, but perhaps the real question should be after God who do I desire to please? First and foremost we should desire to please You Lord, but if we are honest is our next drive is that the pleasure we bring You serves us? Paul gives us the example of a person that has motives that flow from You. It amazes me how “other oriented” Paul was. We all should want to become more Christ-like – but many times if we are honest we want it so we will please God and that will be to our benefit. That is not wrong, but could it be that, like Paul, if we desire to please You so You could use it to bring others to You first, our motives would become more pure? It is hard Lord to keep self-serving motives out of our life. By seeking to please you and see that used to impact others will produce a motive that is selfless. Let us be like Paul – his first concern after Christ is that whatever good or bad is happening to him will cause others to know Christ! Lord create in us that kind of heart! 

* Meditation Questions: Have you ever had something bad happen to You and you felt resentment because you were walking close to God when it happened? How much do you think your works effects God’s love toward you? When you follow God’s lead do you consider all the people it will impact? How much time do you spend thinking about you? What does that say?

Being a priest because that’s what I am

Scripture Read: Romans 15:15-21 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.” 

Application: What do we think of when we hear the term “priest”? Many different visions may enter our head, yet there is for most of us one thought we have. A priest is a “special” worker for God. Wait! That is not what Peter made clear in his letters to us:

 1 Peter 2:5–9 (NASB95)  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

God’s Word makes it clear that all of us are priests. Yes there are those that have this as a vocation also, but that does not change that in essence all children of God are priest. It is important then that we understand this word fully:

Priest -  ἱερουργέω hierourgéō; from hierourgós - sacrificing, which is from hierón - temple, and érgon - work. To perform or be employed in a sacred office. Only in Rom. 15:16, referring to the sacred business of preaching or administering the gospel. ^[1]

This is really great to ponder and consider all the ramifications. It does mean to perform as a priest, but looking at the compound of the root – I love the idea of the thought of the two words brought together. Work and Temple. So many ideas spring to mind; “A working temple”; “A temple that works”; “Being the temple means work”; “Working in a sacred work that pertains to the temple of God”. We could go on, but the important fact is that we must see what we do as something very important in God’s eyes because it is tied to His work and His temple. How many times do we think about what we do being so much about ourselves. “How I lead music?” “How I teach?” “How I greet people?”, or whatever we do in the Body of Christ. It should not be about us, but about Him. We should never forget that – we should always behave in such a way that we understand that everything we do testifies of Him. Lord help us in this endeavor.

* Meditation Questions: Do I believe others are closer to God than me because of their title? Do I ask Priests, Pastors or Missionaries to pray for me because I feel like they have more pull with God? Do I think there are times I am working for God and times I am “off the clock”? How integrated is my “work” life, my “leisure” life and my “church” life? What does that show?

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^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Is believing once good enough?

Scripture Read: Romans 15:8-14 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Your name.” 10 Again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him.” 12 Again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another 

Application: What does it mean to “believe” according to the Word of God? Surely we have to admit that context is essential. There are so many scriptures that point out that people “believed” only to see them fall away. Consider the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23) So we need to be careful when we count ourselves as one of His because we say we “believe”. That word really takes on meaning based on the context we use it in. Notice …  

“In believing” is “en tōi pisteuein” (ἐν τωι πιστευειν), literally, “in the believing,” interpreted, “in the sphere of the act of habitually believing.” ^[1]

What a great truth – we don’t just believe – we must continue to believe. Many say they believe in God for salvation at one point, yet seem to cease to trust Him with their life! Obviously there are two possibilities for these individuals. Many made a one “moment” proclamation of belief that was merely emotional and so no real understanding of being lost, under judgment, or eternal separation was present, so no conversion took place. How many that claim to be in the Body of Christ are in this predicament? Jesus warned of this in - Matthew 7:21–23 - The other outcome is the carnal life that some believers have. Could this be why many believers seem to lack joy and peace? Joy and peace are no more a one-time possession than faith is a one-time action. Yes – coming into a relationship with You does happen at one point in time when we understand what it means to be lost and reject that option, opting instead to humble ourselves and trust in the sacrifice of Christ to forgive all of our sin, and make us children of God. Yet, it is clear from scripture that the initial act of believing is just the beginning of our trusting relationship with You. At that moment we ARE Yours forever, but for us to sense that and experience Your joy and peace, we must continue in that belief. If we do not – for most, it exposes that we did not enter a relationship with You through conversion, instead we felt an emotional need for You and called out, but did not surrender ourselves to You as Savior and Lord. For some – we did come to a point of understanding, entered a relationship with You through trusting faith and we were converted from children of this world and separation to Your children and joint heirs of Christ. Then we took back control of our life and now do not experience the joy of a relationship with You or the peace You offer. If we remain here we will die with great doubts of where we will spend eternity because we have no sense of Your presence due to the fact that we run our life and You are an after thought. We must continue in trusting You and in doing so we will continue to sense Your peace and joy. Perhaps the way we need to train our mind is to ask the question – if I feel like I am lacking His peace and joy – it would be wise to check and see when was the last time I trusted Him for something. That might lead us to a real discovery. Dad we want to see ourselves trusting You continually – thank You for Your wonderful grace. 

* Meditation Questions: What evidence do I have of what I really believe in? How does my life show I trust in Jesus Christ? Am I worried what we happen to me after I die? What does that say? Is my life just “getting by” or is it filled with His joy and peace? What does that say?  

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^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Being pleased to bear others burdens.

Scripture Read: Romans 15:1-7 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God 

Application: Notice the context here – the pleasing of himself has very little to do with pleasures and materialism. Even in the Body of Christ, the majority of praise for answered prayer has to do with “things”. Is it wrong to ask God for the desires we have, even … if they are material wants, not just needs? The plain answer from scripture is “no”, You tell us to ask You for our wants and needs. What we need to understand is there should be balance, that includes our definition of pleasing ourselves. The definition of what it meant that Christ did not please Himself, but instead pleased You and in essence us! The issue is that those things that we offended You with God – He took to please You and for our good. When we do the same thing what does that look like? This is denying ourselves the rights we have, because we have done nothing wrong, yet we take the hit for someone that is wrong to minister for their good even though it cost us. This is a very difficult concept – how does this apply? This does not exclude tough love and it does not mean that you live as a doormat for people – but it does mean you may be a doormat for people sometimes for the Lord’s sake. Sometimes the Lord is going to request that we allow someone to wrong us and get away with it, for His cause and sake. Father we don’t always know when You desire for us to stand or when You desire us to yield. We must believe the Holy Spirit will guide us. Help us to care more for the rights of others than our own rights. Jesus this is most like You, which we desire to be.

* Meditation Questions: When I have been misused what’s the first thing I feel? What do I do with that feeling? Have I ever paid for someone else’s mistake? And felt good about it? If I know God is asking me to take a hit for someone else, how do I feel? What does that say about my heart?