Romans 14-16

I think the devil created demon-inations, I mean denominations. What a great way to get Christians off the subject of Christ and fighting amongst themselves. Which Bible version did Jesus read, are guitars and drums kosher, is it ok to sing only the first and third verses of the hymns? I'm not saying that denominations are bad. Each one has a purpose and brings in a certain group that others could not reach. But rather than bringing in new people, many churches are in competition with one another. Most things that Christians fight over are insignificant, disputable matters. Things that don't have a clear boundary. Instead of leading people to Christ, we're too busy bickering over the type of wafer to use in communion.

Some individuals, some groups, and some churches have certain ways of doing things. That's perfectly fine. But don't start judging others. As long as we are in agreement about the same God and the same Jesus, I think we'll be ok. Jesus said to love God and love others. And you can't be very loving when you're looking down your nose at someone.

"Weak in faith" doesn't mean that someone is a lesser Christian. They are just more sensitive to their convictions. And we should respect their values. Also, they should not judge or condemn others who might not feel the same way about certain issues.

I've heard countless arguments over issues like gambling, drinking, observing the Sabbath, speaking in tongues, etc. Everyone has their own conscience and set of experiences. If a former alcoholic is coming to my home, I would put the bottles away. If a new Christian is coming to my lifegroup, I wouldn't speak in tongues around them (not that it's one of my gifts anyway). We don't need to be a stumbling block to someone else just because we have freedom in Christ. Jesus wasn't worried about Pharisees and teachers of the law. His focus was on pleasing God and preaching the good news. We should be leading people to the kingdom, not driving them away or dividing ourselves. Paul said it beautifully in these verses:

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
~1 Cor. 9:19-23 (The Message)

Romans 13

Submission. We don't really like that word because it opposes our fleshly desires. It opposes our pride. Satan was kicked out of Heaven because he wouldn't submit. His pride caused him to lose his place and settle for a lesser kingdom (until the time God ultimately knocks him out). Many times I have to battle my own pride. But Paul says we are to submit to the authorities because they were established by God. We do this in order to avoid punishment but also because our conscience confirms it.

Back in Romans 12, it talks about love. Being joyful, living in peace with everyone, and not repaying evil. It's not talking about being a doormat. There are a few occasions when people are called to disobey the government in order to submit to God. Very few. Because of men like Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington, we live in a different world today.

We are called to love one another. But sometimes love is misunderstood. It's not a feeling. Love is an action. It's something we have to put on daily. (Sometimes I have to remind myself hourly.) There is a difference between being nice and being loving. For example, if your friend comes out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, the nice thing would be to not say anything at all. You don't want to hurt their feelings. However, the loving thing would be to tell them. It might be slightly embarrassing hearing it from you. But you save them the added embarrassment of hearing it from a stranger. When a friend sins, you love them into repentance. You don't just ignore it, but you don't condemn them either. Often we hear, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But the next verse clarifies what that means, "Love does no harm to its neighbor."

We are to understand the present time and need. Our lives will be over in the blink of an eye. And at the end of this life we will stand before a holy and mighty God, and give an account of everything we've done. This should motivate us to think of the long-term benefits of following Christ. However, there are many who are entangled with sins that have only short-term effects. The Bible doesn't give a list of all the individual sins that people have created for themselves. And because there are vague lines of some sin, often we get as close to the line as we can without stepping over. My personal measuring stick is this question, "Am I hurting the heart of God?" If the answer is yes, then I need to change my actions.

"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." ~Romans 13:14

Romans 11-12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~Romans 12:2


The more I read in Romans, the more closely I see how Christians relate to Jews. Both groups see themselves as part of a remnant that will be saved. And we can only be saved by grace. So what is grace? It's not something we can earn. It is something that is given. But (in my opinion) grace is not one-sided. It is a gift that calls for a response. The response is faith and obedience. Paul devoted the entire chapter 4 of Romans to talk about Abraham. Abe became the "father of many nations" not by his works, but through his faith. His actions were just a reflection of his heart. It's not as though we are trying to repay God. It's more like a thank you card from Hallmark (not Dollar Tree) because God deserves the very best.


Paul tells us to consider the kindness and sternness of God. He compares Jews to the natural branches of tree, and Christians to the ingrafted branches. Neither group can boast because we are both supported by the root (God). Anyone who doesn't believe is broken off. That's the scary part. There are many Jews and Christians alike who claim to believe in God, but they don't have any real evidence. Their lives don't look much different from a nonbeliever. And I'm afraid that they will realize it too late. Jesus said that many who claim to know Him will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Some readers have asked about my opinion of "once saved, always saved." I'll share my full view on that topic in the near future, but let's continue on for now.

What do you think of when you hear the word worship? Admittedly, I think of the band playing at church or Air1 music on the radio. But Paul says, "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices for this is your spiritual act of worship." Worship is not just music. Yes, music is a part of it. But it's not the only thing. Worship, for me, means being inspired. Knowing who God is, what He's done for me, and what He asks of me. It's not just an emotion that comes and goes. It's a lifestyle change. If we are going to be transformed (different from the rest of this world), it starts in our mind. It's changing bad habits into good ones. It's a slow process, but it becomes easier the more we do it. When we take captive our thoughts, it influences everything.

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions, Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." ~Unknown

Romans 9-10

Is God fair? It's a question I've struggled with for a long time. How is it that I was adopted into a loving family while others grew up in orphanages or broken homes? Why was I chosen to live in this great country? Meanwhile, there are children in other nations going hungry, without proper medical care, and being exploited. It just doesn't seem fair.


Does God have a system behind who He chooses? I believe He chooses whomever He wants. It's not based on our desire or effort, but on His mercy. That doesn't mean we are mindless machines bending to His will though. We have a choice as well. To make the most out of our situations or to sit down in the dirt and feel sorry for ourselves. Don't blame God because you're sitting in the dirt. Get up and do something! You have a choice. God said that He will answer those who call on Him. So what do you have to lose by trying it? If it doesn't work, you can always sit back down in the dirt again.


So what was Israel's problem? They were hand-picked by God and yet some still didn't get it. They were pursuing their own righteousness (based on works) instead of God's righteousness (faith). They were completely missing the point. God said only a remnant {of Israelites} will be saved. But I believe many Christians are missing it too. We base our salvation around attending church once in a while, throwing a few bucks in the offering bucket now and then, and being basically good as long as it doesn't interfere with our wants and desires. But Christ said, "Narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."


If we really put our trust in God, then we shouldn't look like the rest of the world. We are called to a higher standard, but many of us don't want to let go of this life. We want both. However, it is impossible to have two different masters. Again, God gives us the choice.


Some might think God is unfair because there are people who have never heard the gospel. But Christ reassures us that the end will not come until after the gospel is preached to all nations. Still, there are others who were raised in different religions. I believe that God can speak to anyone, even those who aren't seeking Him. I've known atheists who have turned their lives to Christ because He revealed Himself to them. God is God, and with Him all things are possible.

Romans 8 (Part 3/3)

How many times have you heard someone quote Romans 8:28? "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I love the message of this verse. But sometimes I think we use this scripture too narrowly. We put it in our own materialistic view. Other times we use it in the right context but at the wrong time. We might blurt it out when we don't know what else to say to a friend who is hurting. Many times they just need a listening ear. It's not your advice. It's not your cliches. It's your love. They need your love. They need to know that someone is there who loves them. Don't get me wrong. I wholeheartedly believe in the truth of that verse. But quoting it at the wrong time is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Show them love through your actions, not just in your words.

God loves us. That doesn't mean we won't endure hardships. Paul certainly faced his share of sufferings. But if God is for us, then who can be against us? God's love saves us from our sins, from fear, from guilt and condemnation, from worry, and from anything else that is not of Him. God not only loves, He is the essence of love.

Do you love Him back? I mean, do you truly love God? Or do you only love the things He gives you? Satan challenged God on this issue in the Book of Job. Even though Job lost everything, he refused to curse or blame God. If you were put in Job's position, would you still be able to love God despite your circumstances?

Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ. I pray that today you feel that love, no matter what you're going through. That it gives you peace and strength in the midst of chaos. That it gives you freedom in letting go of past hurts or struggles. And in return, love your Father with everything you have.

Romans 8 (Part 2/3)

What is the difference between lukewarm people and fully devoted followers of Christ? It's a mindset. When you submit to Christ, you are no longer controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. You can't have both. Paul says that sinful nature equals death, while the Spirit equals life and peace.


I grew up in a church that preached grace more than truth. We learned that God saved us by sending Jesus, we accept Him in our hearts, and we are forgiven so that one day we can go to Heaven. Well that's good stuff and all, but (in my opinion) grace is not a one-way street.


By accepting God's grace, that should lead us to changes in our old behavior. Verse 12 says that we have an obligation to live according to the Spirit. But unfortunately, there are many who believe they can receive grace yet continue living according to their own selfish desires. Paul says that those who are led by the Spirit are sons and daughters of God. It's says led. Are you allowing the Spirit to lead you? To guide and direct your path? Have you truly surrendered your life over to Christ or are you holding some back? The Spirit works like a GPS system. It was a gift from Jesus when He left the earth. But you have to activate it, keep it charged, and plug in a destination in order for it to work. Sadly, many are driving through life with their GPS thrown in the glovebox. It's there as a comfort, but they are not utilizing the device at all.

There's a song by Kenny Chesney that irritates me. It says, "Everybody want to go to heaven, but nobody want to go now." However, the whole creation has been groaning. What does that mean? The Bible compares it to a woman in labor. Creation is waiting to be redeemed. As true believers and followers, we should be eagerly awaiting the day when we receive new bodies. The day when Christ, the hope of glory, returns to make us co-heirs with Him.

But if you're living like the rest of the world, maybe you're not ready to go. My hope for you is that you're not ready to go yet, because you realize there is so much more work left to do.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." ~Jesus

Romans 8 (Part 1/3)

This chapter brings back so many memories. I'll be blogging on Romans 8 for a few days since there's too much to share in one run-on blog. This chapter is the main reason I decided to look into my lukewarm-ness. Or aka Practical Atheism (btw Craig Groeschel's new book is coming out soon!).

Everyone (from OK at least) remembers the April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It was a sad tragic day that took the lives of 168 people. One of those people was Victoria Texter.

My family knew Victoria pretty well. She was in my parents' Sunday school class. She had "bought" me in an auction to clean her windows. Her son went to school with my brother. We had even seen Vicky the night before at a junior high awards assembly. It was my dad's birthday, and (like most days) I was ready to go eat. They were talking with Vicky and her husband. Impatiently, I hurried them along to the car. They said their goodbyes, not knowing it would be the last time.

Fast forward to the next day. I was on a school bus when the bombing happened. It wasn't until later that day I found out Vicky worked at the Murrah building. And she was missing. That night, I got down on my knees in my bedroom, and prayed with everything I had in me. I fully believed God would save her. Several days went by and her body was one of the last to be found.

My heart sank. Why hadn't God answered my prayer?? I was a good Christian girl. I went to church, memorized scripture, and tried not to cuss. What more could He ask of me? Then I came across Romans 8:5-11. The words on the page pierced my heart, and I had to ask myself this tough question. Do I really belong to Christ? Yes I had made a decision at the age of 7, but did I really belong to Christ? If I examined my life, I wasn't controlled by the Spirit, but by my sinful nature. Therefore, I could not please God. In fact I wasn't even sure if God lived in me.

It was the first time I had ever questioned my relationship with God. I began digging through scriptures, and found myself very lacking. I put on a good Christian front, but was really living by the world's standards rather than God's.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ~2 Corinthians 13:5

Too often I don't think anyone can tell the difference between nonbeliever and believers. Collectively, we've become a society of cultural Christians. We go to church and do our thing, but we don't wanna be considered "radical." Preaching and leading others to Christ is left to the pastors. After all, they're getting paid for it. Meanwhile, I picture God shaking His head, knowing He has created us for so much more than this.

Romans Ch.7

In this chapter, Paul continues to talk about the struggle with sin. But didn't we just cover that in the previous chapter? Why does he feel the need to address it again? Because so many of us Christians can easily identify with his words. We have a desire to do good but can't carry it out. Or we try to stay away from sin but get hooked by it repeatedly.

When you gave your life to Christ, your former self died. But some of us are still carrying around our old, lifeless selves. Whenever I am tempted by my former sins, I imagine myself being handcuffed to a dead body. Forced to drag it around. Carry it to work and to church. It serves as a morbid, but sobering reminder of what sin is. It's simply dead weight that God wants us to leave behind.

Here's another illustration I found while at school. We have a lizard named Larry who lives in the library. (Love the alliteration there!) One day Larry (accepted Christ and) shed his old skin. However, there was a problem. Not all of the skin came off. On the top of Larry's head was the final piece, but it was stuck on his little lizard horns. He did his best to get it off by himself, but eventually the librarian had to come to his rescue. She removed the dead skin, and Larry was a happy lizard again.

In verse 4 Paul talks about dying to the law through Christ so that we might bear fruit to God. It doesn't say we die to the law so that we can do whatever we feel like. But how can we bear fruit if we have something stuck to us? It becomes our focus. And it becomes our discouragement if we can't get rid of it. I said it yesterday. I'll say it today. Find someone who will help you. Larry would still be miserable if the librarian hadn't been there to help him.

Many people have come to this roadblock in their walk with Christ and unfortunately have given up. Please press on. I relate it to playing guitar. When I first started learning guitar, it was so much fun. Then I met the F chord. (And I know why it's called that.) No matter what I did, I could not get the strings to play properly. It was frustrating, but I practiced each day (sometimes only for 10 minutes or so). With each day, my fingers grew stronger. One day I was playing the chord and a glorious sound returned to my ears. I'd finally gotten the result I was looking for.

Your sin struggle is not about winning the war. It's about the little battles you face everyday. Taking captive your thoughts. Avoiding certain places. Opening up to your accountability partner. Spending time in the Word. And eventually you'll be strumming along and this glorious sound of God's freedom will resonate within your heart.

Romans Ch.6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
When you accept Christ as the Lord of your life, Paul says that your old self is crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with. Notice it says crucified. It doesn't say vanished, died immediately, or removed quickly. It's very often a painful process when you've been living a certain way and are called to change. Just ask a gossip, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or someone addicted to porn.

In verse 18 Paul states, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." So we're set free, only to become slaves again? Some people have a problem with this because they don't want to be ruled by anything. However, this time we have a much better master. A master who loves us deeply. A master who only wants the best for us.

So how do we free ourselves from the sin that has us entangled? In order to break a habit, you have to replace it. When I gave up drinking 6-8 Dr. Peppers every day, I had to replace it. The answer: Diet Coke. Praise be to God for that stuff! I lost 15lbs immediately. Sometimes habits take longer to break though. Imagine a soldier returning from the front lines of enemy combat. He has to retrain himself. When the cat jumps up unexpectedly, his mentality will likely take him back into survival mode. He has to keep reminding himself daily that he's home now, in a place of peace. In order to battle sin, we must do the same. We remind ourselves that we belong to Christ. We do this through reading the Word, prayer, and worship.

Sounds a lot easier than it is though. Often, Christians will struggle but try to work it out on their own. After all, we are supposed to be dead to sin when we accept Christ, right? We don't want anyone to see our boogers. And that's exactly where the enemy wants us. Alone and defenseless. How do we oppose that? Find an accountability partner. Today!! Find someone who knows you have boogers and is willing to bring you the box of tissues.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

It might be a difficult walk to the cross, but you'll have a friend to help you up if you stumble. Imagine the day when we place our sins at the foot of the cross, and we pick up righteousness.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
~2 Timothy 4:8

Romans Ch.5

Chapter 5 speaks of the peace we receive when we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Peace doesn't mean that you will no longer have problems or stress. Rather it is a security in knowing that God is there for you, and an assurance that one day you will spend eternity with Him. Paul says to rejoice in hope and also in suffering. He claims, "...suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." And if anyone had a right to complain about circumstances, it would be Paul. (Well, Job had a rough time too.) Too often we question God when bad things happen. Our suffering should not lead us to doubt, but instead to hope. I love this quote from my study guide on Romans, "Just as a resistance to a muscle strengthens it, so challenges to our hope can strengthen it."

When you accept Christ, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, God dwelling inside you! He set it up long before you even thought about loving Him. While I might not understand all of His ways, I know that He loves me. That I can get through anything because I have His power to rely on. Many times I've heard people misquote this verse, "God will not give me more than I can handle." Wrong!! Often He gives you more than you can take on, so that you have to lean on Him. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Just look at the rag-tag group of disciples Jesus gathered. They were just ordinary people who said yes. And when they received the Holy Spirit (the same one that resides in you and me), then they were able to do extraordinary things.