Sunday, January 01, 2006
Our First Chapter- Jan. 1- Romans 1
Key Verse: Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Title: The Fruitless Exchange (v.25, They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.)
Observation: The Apostle Paul says something here that is both wise and true for his generation and ours- that people know there is a God. Somewhere in the 90% range of Americans can say something about the truth of one God, the God that Jesus taught. But Paul goes on to say something equally valuable- that the 'wicked generation' (applies every bit as much to our generation as 1st Century Rome) has exchanged the truth of God for a lie- and the lie I think is money/prosperity. Our culture worships money/prosperity and not the true God. The majority of Americans know that Jesus came to be their savior, but are still trusting in/ and worshipping there stuff. Lord have mercy on me.
Application: I need to step back from my material possesions. When I speak to those outside the faith I don't need to step around the truth of Jesus- most of them know intellectually that he is the Christ. I need to challenge (gently, gently ((good word Toni Jo!))) what they are doing with the truth they know. It isn't they don't know the truth, but they are living in the hypocracy of not acting on it.
Prayer: Lord God, have mercy on me, for my lack of trust in you, when I lean and even scheme to get things, possessions. Help me to worship you, the creator and not the created things. Lord Jesus, give me boldness to speak the truth in a generation that has exchanged natural worship of God for unnatural worship of created things.
Change my heart to see you at work all around me. You are Good and Faithful in all you do. Bless me and my family as we seek to follow You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
God bless you as you do day one of your devotional.- Matt
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Title: The Fruitless Exchange (v.25, They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.)
Observation: The Apostle Paul says something here that is both wise and true for his generation and ours- that people know there is a God. Somewhere in the 90% range of Americans can say something about the truth of one God, the God that Jesus taught. But Paul goes on to say something equally valuable- that the 'wicked generation' (applies every bit as much to our generation as 1st Century Rome) has exchanged the truth of God for a lie- and the lie I think is money/prosperity. Our culture worships money/prosperity and not the true God. The majority of Americans know that Jesus came to be their savior, but are still trusting in/ and worshipping there stuff. Lord have mercy on me.
Application: I need to step back from my material possesions. When I speak to those outside the faith I don't need to step around the truth of Jesus- most of them know intellectually that he is the Christ. I need to challenge (gently, gently ((good word Toni Jo!))) what they are doing with the truth they know. It isn't they don't know the truth, but they are living in the hypocracy of not acting on it.
Prayer: Lord God, have mercy on me, for my lack of trust in you, when I lean and even scheme to get things, possessions. Help me to worship you, the creator and not the created things. Lord Jesus, give me boldness to speak the truth in a generation that has exchanged natural worship of God for unnatural worship of created things.
Change my heart to see you at work all around me. You are Good and Faithful in all you do. Bless me and my family as we seek to follow You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
God bless you as you do day one of your devotional.- Matt
