Romans – “Therefore”
Choir practice is not your normal practice of a few songs to get ready to sing the next Sunday. I want to testify to what happens at the Pointe where we attend. It is more like choir worship. It is just another time to share our lives and hearts who seek God’s approval, who give back a small portion of what He has given to us, to laugh with each other and cry with each other as we do life. Last night was no exception. We sing to God and He reveals His heart to us in return. What breaks His heart breaks ours. No matter what happened that day to each individual, God’s glory begins glows on each face as we sing “a new song to the Lord”. To cap a busy day with corporate worship with this group is indescribable joy.
In the middle of it all, we stopped to pray for broken hearts and lives and then rejoiced again in song to the Lord because we truly believe that God will prevail in every situation and circumstance. The gates of heaven are open for all who believe, trust and then obey His will.
Then this morning, I read our next passage, the beginning of Romans 15 and I worship God, again. I love how God works in the details of our lives. He reminds us that that’s exactly what Jesus did. “He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out.” We are to do what HE did with God helping us.
“Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!”
Read and be blessed…
Romans 15, The Message1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
3-6 That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
7-13 So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:
Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;I’ll sing to your name!
And this one:
Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!
And again:
People of all nations, celebrate God!
All colors and races, give hearty praise!
And Isaiah’s word:
There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse,
breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,
Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
What do we learn?
–Ask “How can I help?” along with our prayers for troubled lives.
–“Strength is for service, not status.” Wow. Read, let it sink in.
–Welcome one another to God’s glory!
–Jesus did it, not we do it!
–“God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next.”
Do we want what God wants? Evaluation time.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I repent of avoidance of trouble in others’ lives. Lead and guide me with Your strength and power to ask “how can I help?” to others. May we be blessings to others who believe and to those who have yet to believe in your saving grace.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And I’m singing…
“That’s What Love Is”….yes, it’s a new song!
