Day 211 Bible Readings for July 31 – Romans 13: 8-10 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 7 & 8, Romans 13, Psalm 114

Romans 13: 8-10 (ESV)

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Verses 8 through 10 from Romans 13 are Paul’s recommendation for how to live life as a Christian. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, we need to love one another or as is written “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If we just love one another, we will fulfill all of God’s laws including the laws in the ten commandments. I like how Paul explains “loving your neighbor as you love yourself.” I try to live my life this way. I try to treat people as I like and want to be treated. I don’t always succeed, but that is my intention when I interact with other people. I don’t wish bad things on people when they don’t agree with me or persecute me. I know what it is like to be mistreated and persecute unfairly, so I try not to mistreat or persecute other people. I think Holy Spirit is trying to teach me to everything that happens to me in my life as part of God’s plan, to always look at each event or circumstance as a gift from the God. There’s a treasure if you look for it in any event or circumstance no matter how awful. But you need much faith in God to think this way, and that is perhaps part of the teaching for me from the Holy Spirit.

Day 210 Bible Readings for July 30 – Romans 12: 17-19 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 6, Romans 12, Psalm 113

Romans 12: 17-19 (ESV)

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Verses 17 through 19 from Romans 12 show Paul’s advice to the Church in Roman for how a person who believes in Christ should act towards those who commit evil deeds. Paul tells us to do what is always honorable in any situation and live in peace with all people. A Christian should not take revenge on anyone because it is God’s job to judge the person doing the evil deeds. Paul tells us that God will always repay those who do evil deeds with his wrath. This advice is great but sometimes so hard to put into practice. We want immediate justice when someone does us harm. But I have found over the years that I don’t know the whole story when someone has done me harm. Only God can see into a person’s mind and heart and judge whether the person has done evil deeds, so we need to let God always exact the justice that we feel we need. If we can leave the justice to God, we can have peace in our lives knowing that God has a plan and is taking care of punishing those who do evil in the world.

Day 209 Bible Readings – 1 Chronicles 4: 9-10 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 4: 9-43, 1 Chronicles 5, Romans 11: 11-36, Psalm 112

1 Chronicles 4: 9-10 (ESV)

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.”

Verses 9 through 10 from 1 Chronicles 4 talks about Jabez, who was descended from the tribe of Judah. Jabez prayed to God that he would always be with him and to keep him from harm so that the harm would not bring him pain. When I was at a very low point in my life several years ago, I discovered the prayer of Jabez in several songs. I used to listen to these songs every day, sometimes for hours, and it brought me out of what was a short season of depression in my life. Sometimes I would cry uncontrollably when I listened to these songs of the prayer of Jabez. Whatever I was going through during this season of depression, listening to the prayer of Jabez in song brought me so much comfort. I don’t much listen to the album anymore, but I have it in case a season of depression comes upon me again.

The album I listed is called “The Prayer of Jabez: Music … A Worship Experience” – The Prayer of Jabez album

If you are in need to listen to worship music during a season of depression, I recommend this album.

You can also find it on YouTube - 

Day 208 Bible Readings for July 28 – Romans 10: 8-10 (ESV)

1 Chronicles 2: 18-55, 1 Chronicles 3: 1 Chronicles 4: 1-9, Romans 10: 5-21, Romans 11: 1-10, Psalm 111

Romans 10: 8-10 (ESV)

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Verses 8 through 10 from Romans 10 shows Paul emphasizing again that we are not saved by works. We are saved when we say that Jesus is the Lord and believe in our heart that Christ was resurrected from the dead. Many bible commentaries say that to confess means to agree with, so if we confess we are also agreeing what God said about Jesus that he is the son of God. But we must alos believe it in our heart that Christ was raised from the dead and resurrected for our sins, because to believe in our heart is to trust God. But you cannot just confess and not believe in your heart, or believe in your heart and not confess with your mouth. You must do both because to confess is the action of what in your heart you believe.

These verses remind me of a friend I had at a church a long time ago. She confessed to me in secret that she did not know if she believed in the resurrection. I was shocked and asked why she came to church. She told me it was because she liked being in a community of faith. I believe this what Paul meant by these verses. My friend was confessing belief but she did not believe in her heart the truth of the resurrection. God asks us to do both, to tconfess and to believe. This is our responsibility to God as believers in Jesus Christ.