Category: Romans

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Look at these salutations. Many are wonderful and heartwarming – whom I love in the Lord; my dear friend; tested and approved in Christ! Do you talk about others in your congregation like this?

SJA Notes

* Loving God, please teach us today from Your word.

“I comment to you our sister Phoebe, …”

God’s word places importance on lists of names.

We see them in both the old and the new testaments.

One thing they remind us of, and point us to, is the most important list – the Lamb’s Book of Life.

What a wonderful grace and mercy list that is!

But too we see here in Paul’s list of names the pattern we are to undertake in our prayer life.

Paul has these lists because he prays for the people. They are people he has come across through his life, but not all are immediate in his life right now.

Even if our memories are not the best, prayer is the antidote to help us remember. Lists is whatever form, they help us to bring people to the Lord.

Let us be encouraged in our prayer life by this passage today.

* Gracious Saviour,

Thank You that you have called us from darkness into light, that You have saved us from hellfire into heaven, that You have remade our dead hearts alive.

Thank You for placing our names in the Lamb’s book of life, before the world was made!

Thank You Lord God, what a loving God You are!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Meditate on the subject of prayer as found in verses 30-33. Is Paul asking for a once-off prayer, or a continuing struggle in prayer with the Lord until He grants our requests?

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, may You shine Your light into our hearts today as we read Your word and approach You in prayer.

“In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.”

There is a fine line between boasting in self and boasting in the Lord – But here Paul unpacks it a little.

We can show pride (and have reason) for the work we do.

Why?

Because of Jesus!

Because the work we do is (if it is indeed) done for God.

We should not be proud of anything we do that is NOT for God.

But exhorted, we can press on, and strive for the work that pleases our King, that through Jesus (His work, His salvation, His righteousness, His intercession) we can be proud of our work for God.

This is a good truth to wrestle with!

* Dear God,

Please convict us today of our sin – Please forgive us Lord God, for we are in need daily, moment by moment, of Your grace and Your mercy.

May we be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable – So that the work we do, for You, we might find pride in – because of Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Don’t these first verses search your heart? Paul expounds the parable of the Good Samaritan with telling effect – who is my neighbour?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for Your word to us. Please show us Jesus.

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We can see here that there is a strong link between living together in harmony and with glorifying God.

How do we do this?

When we think through the issues that can plague our church family, how hard it can seem to live in harmony.

But it is not impossible.

And it is within our reach.

“May the God of endurance and encouragement …”

Paul notes two characteristics of God, which are also two practices for us – that are important here.

We are to run this race with endurance, to the end.

We are to be sons and daughters of encouragement.

These two practices will be of much help to us as we strive to live together in harmony with God’s people.

* God Above,

Thank You that You are the God of endurance and encouragement.

Please help us to live with one voice, to glorify You Heavenly Father.

Amen.