How you respond at the crisis of belief will determine whether you follow God or yourself from then on.

How you respond at the crisis of belief will determine whether you follow God or yourself from then on.

How you respond at the crisis of belief will determine whether you follow God or yourself from then on.

This morning’s quiet time was a rather strange time. I planned more reading of God’s word and writing during the holidays but as my track record would have it, I never did. I spent the entire time on myself. This morning however, was like trying to workout after being out of shape for a few months. It was sore but rewarding.

I am on day 5 of unit 3 in Experiencing God bible study. It is the last lesson on the relationship part between God and me. A Real, Personal, Practical relationship. It was always my thought that I had to be the one initiating a relationship with God but the Bible tells of a different process. From Genesis to Revelation it is God who has sought out the relationship with man. He sought out to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. He sought out Hagar to see where she was going. He answered Solomon’s request for discernment. After He sent the 12 disciples out he gave them authority. He sought out Peter and freed him from the jail. He sought out John when he was worshiping during His exile.

Doing the will of God is easy if we recognize that God is already leading the way. We just need to recognize what He is doing and be obedient. The constant presence of God is the most practical part of your life and ministry.- H Blackaby

This morning’s quiet time was a rather strange time. I planned more reading of God’s word and writing during the holidays but as my track record would have it, I never did. I spent the entire time on myself. This morning however, was like trying to workout after being out of shape for a few months. It was sore but rewarding.

I am on day 5 of unit 3 in Experiencing God bible study. It is the last lesson on the relationship part between God and me. A Real, Personal, Practical relationship. It was always my thought that I had to be the one initiating a relationship with God but the Bible tells of a different process. From Genesis to Revelation it is God who has sought out the relationship with man. He sought out to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. He sought out Hagar to see where she was going. He answered Solomon’s request for discernment. After He sent the 12 disciples out he gave them authority. He sought out Peter and freed him from the jail. He sought out John when he was worshiping during His exile.

Doing the will of God is easy if we recognize that God is already leading the way. We just need to recognize what He is doing and be obedient. The constant presence of God is the most practical part of your life and ministry.- H Blackaby

This morning’s quiet time was a rather strange time. I planned more reading of God’s word and writing during the holidays but as my track record would have it, I never did. I spent the entire time on myself. This morning however, was like trying to workout after being out of shape for a few months. It was sore but rewarding.

I am on day 5 of unit 3 in Experiencing God bible study. It is the last lesson on the relationship part between God and me. A Real, Personal, Practical relationship. It was always my thought that I had to be the one initiating a relationship with God but the Bible tells of a different process. From Genesis to Revelation it is God who has sought out the relationship with man. He sought out to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. He sought out Hagar to see where she was going. He answered Solomon’s request for discernment. After He sent the 12 disciples out he gave them authority. He sought out Peter and freed him from the jail. He sought out John when he was worshiping during His exile.

Doing the will of God is easy if we recognize that God is already leading the way. We just need to recognize what He is doing and be obedient. The constant presence of God is the most practical part of your life and ministry.- H Blackaby

Romans 2 continues the theme from the first chapter by slapping the reading in the face. Paul says that if anyone who is reading this and saying “YEEE HAWWW the immoral is finally going to get it” they need to look out because you do the same things. I think this is also the passage that people misuse because it says “DO not judge.” But I submit to you that it is a warning to those who is quick to point out things in other people’s lives and not look to their own.

I thought it was neat that in verse 12 through 15 Paul states that the law is the standard to which everyone is going to be measured but those who did not have the law will still be judged by it. If a person who has never heard the law they instinctively do what the law demands because they themselves are the law unto themselves. “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” Their consciences testify to this. You know what is right and wrong without being taught. Greatest example from history I can think of is that from Hammurabi. He wrote a law that is morally right because he knew what was right in his heart.

THe best part of this passage is that when Paul said that people’s thought are competing. They will either accuse or excuse their actions and thoughts.

Do you do this? Does your thoughts excuse your actions or do they accuse you of wrong doing?

Romans 2 continues the theme from the first chapter by slapping the reading in the face. Paul says that if anyone who is reading this and saying “YEEE HAWWW the immoral is finally going to get it” they need to look out because you do the same things. I think this is also the passage that people misuse because it says “DO not judge.” But I submit to you that it is a warning to those who is quick to point out things in other people’s lives and not look to their own.

I thought it was neat that in verse 12 through 15 Paul states that the law is the standard to which everyone is going to be measured but those who did not have the law will still be judged by it. If a person who has never heard the law they instinctively do what the law demands because they themselves are the law unto themselves. “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” Their consciences testify to this. You know what is right and wrong without being taught. Greatest example from history I can think of is that from Hammurabi. He wrote a law that is morally right because he knew what was right in his heart.

THe best part of this passage is that when Paul said that people’s thought are competing. They will either accuse or excuse their actions and thoughts.

Do you do this? Does your thoughts excuse your actions or do they accuse you of wrong doing?

Romans 2 continues the theme from the first chapter by slapping the reading in the face. Paul says that if anyone who is reading this and saying “YEEE HAWWW the immoral is finally going to get it” they need to look out because you do the same things. I think this is also the passage that people misuse because it says “DO not judge.” But I submit to you that it is a warning to those who is quick to point out things in other people’s lives and not look to their own.

I thought it was neat that in verse 12 through 15 Paul states that the law is the standard to which everyone is going to be measured but those who did not have the law will still be judged by it. If a person who has never heard the law they instinctively do what the law demands because they themselves are the law unto themselves. “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” Their consciences testify to this. You know what is right and wrong without being taught. Greatest example from history I can think of is that from Hammurabi. He wrote a law that is morally right because he knew what was right in his heart.

THe best part of this passage is that when Paul said that people’s thought are competing. They will either accuse or excuse their actions and thoughts.

Do you do this? Does your thoughts excuse your actions or do they accuse you of wrong doing?

This is the beginning of a 90 day journey reading the New Testament Epistles and Acts. I will try and have these written and out published by the evening of the prior day. This will be a challenge for me. I am not one that does this sort of thing ahead of time.

Romans is a great starting book for new Christians. It almost records the “why” aspect of being a Christian. Romans 1:16 gives the basis on which a Christian should live, “by faith”.  According to Hebrews 11:1 faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. We know that God exists by what is around us. God’s glory is in His creation. But Romans tells us that there are some people who deny His existence and we see what it means how not to live by faith.

Paul goes on to describe how people who deep down know that there is a God “did not glorify Him or show gratitude.(v. 21) They are also described as thinking that they are being smart and explaining away how everything came into being (evolution), yet they “became fools”. As Christians this should burn us up. And it does! The next verse seems as though God deals with this laissez fare, hands off. But be rest assured because God has delivered them over to their own desires. Notice that Paul starts with the most evil of desires. Sexual immorality. He says that just as the females went to unnatural sexual desires so did the men. “…in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males.” If anyone says that God allows homosexuality then they should keep reading because those who think that God is not worthwhile to be in their knowledge do the things that are listed here. They not only do them but applaud others who practice them.

Have you seen on TV when a homosexual “comes out of the closet?” People applaud it when we should condemn it! No wonder there is the issue of same sex marriages. Politicians are wanting to excuse their own evil desired by excusing others immorality. But we cannot expect a person who is blinded by satan to be aware of such things. We have to remember that they are in bondage. We cannot set them free but the Holy Spirit can.

They are without excuse, because the evidence of God is all around them and they choose to not even notice. Therefore denying God and making excuses for their own unrighteousness and immoral acts.