Proverbs for May

Join us for DEVOUR this month as we read a chapter from Proverbs every day!

Romans 15

Click here for the April reading schedule.

There is a treasure buried in Romans 15 that I needed to find today. Maybe you need it, too. It’s this…

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

There is so much packed into this one little verse.

First…

The God of hope.

Ahhh. Do you need to remember that today? I do. My God is a God of HOPE. Hope is good.

Next there’s this…

He fills us with all joy and peace.

Did you see the word ALL? Who would like to be filled with all joy? All peace? Sign me up. What do I need to do?

Just this…

Trust in him.

God, I do trust you. Help me to trust you more.

Now comes the climax of the verse…

So that you may overflow with hope(!)

Are you seeing the picture? The God of Hope sharing so much joy and peace that here I am overflowing with hope. HIS HOPE is leaking out of me and spilling over everywhere. Wow. I want that.

But that’s not all. There’s one more phrase that is the key to all the rest. Look…

By the power of the Holy Spirit.

This hope has a source, and that source makes all the difference. This is not just optimism. Not just wishful thinking. Not just a good attitude. This is hope with power. HIS POWER. This is is Spirit filling me with JOY and PEACE and POWERFUL HOPE.

And today, that’s a good reminder. That’s exactly what I need.

Romans 14

Click here for the April reading schedule.

Those of us who are a part of Legacy Christian Academy have a very unique opportunity to experience life in community.

Our own family has been a part of this community for fourteen years, and our best friends are our Legacy friends. We are like family. Or even better.

Twelve years ago when Grant was in the first grade he was invited to be a part of a baseball team with other (then Meadow Creek) kids. The team stayed together through Grant’s junior high years, and several of the guys continued playing ball together in high school. Our families formed a bond thicker than blood that remains to this day. This spring the last of those “Crusader” boys will graduate and move on to a new season. But I’m convinced that the community that was built here at MCCS/LCA will last for years to come.

Of course, our community isn’t limited to baseball. We enjoy countless rich relationships because of this place. We love our Legacy friends. It is the best thing about sending our kids to this school. By far. Every penny we have spent on this education would have been worth it for the community alone.

When I read Paul’s letters to the churches and he writes about how thankful he is for his Christian friends, and how deep his love is for them, it makes me think of my Legacy friends.

To his friend Timothy Paul writes, “I thank God, whom I serve… as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Timothy 1:3-4).

To the church in Philippi – “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now… It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart… God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-8).

This affection is woven throughout Paul’s letter to the Roman church as well. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12).

It is this passion for the Christian community that compels Paul to write the section of his letter to the Romans found in chapters 12, 13, 14 and 15. His greatest desire is to see the church united in love.

Love must be sincere (Romans 12:9).

Be devoted to one another in love (12:10).

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law (13:8).

Romans 14 makes this love practical. Summed up, Paul says – Don’t let stupid things keep you from loving each other!

He tells them not to quarrel over “disputable matters” (v. 1). He tells them to stop passing judgement, and to determine not to be a stumbling block to a brother or sister (v. 13). He says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (v. 17).

Paul knows how quickly a community can divide over disputable matters. He cherishes community too much to see it fall apart over petty things.

There is nothing more precious than genuine Christian community. We need to do whatever it takes to preserve it.

Romans 12

Click here for the April reading schedule.

Therefore…

A word that should always make us stop and ask the question – What is it there for??

There’s only one way to find out, and that is by going back. What is the last thing we read? Here it is…

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Therefore.

In view of God’s mercy.

The rest of this chapter is going to challenge us to live a genuine Christian life. A life of sacrifice and transformation. A life of humility and service. A life of sincere love and devotion. Hope, patience and faith. Peace.

But first we need to know how. We need to understand the “therefore” which gives us our view – “In view of God’s mercy.” Eyes fixed on Jesus. Focused on the light of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Keeping his glory in mind.

Therefore…

Offer yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

Romans 11

Click here for the April reading schedule.

Paul is wrestling with a great mystery, and he asks questions.

Did God reject his people? Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?

Paul asks his questions about the people of Israel – his own people. His family. What is their story? What has happened to the promises given to them? Do they have a future?

God chose the people of Israel to be his own covenant people. He rescued and redeemed them and he made promises to them.

Then Jesus came. Jesus was the Promise.

Jesus came first to his own people. This was his family, too. But most rejected him.

Now Paul has been given a ministry and it’s not the ministry he would have expected – not in a million years. He has been called to deliver the promises to them. The Gentiles.

Paul says this about his ministry – Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. (Romans 11:13-14)

Paul is obedient to God’s call to bring the good news to the Gentiles. But he also hopes in the promises made to his own people. He trusts God for the salvation of his family.

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! (Romans 11:11-12)

We can learn a lot from Paul as he grapples with mystery. Paul knows that he doesn’t have to have all of the answers. He knows there will be things that are beyond figuring out. In the meantime, he can remain faithful to his calling.

He can believe God’s promises.

He can trust God.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)