Day 194 Bible Readings – Romans 1: 24-25 (ESV)

2 Kings 24: 8-20, 2 Kings 25, Romans 1: 18-32, Psalm 108: 1-5

Romans 1: 24-25 (ESV)

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

In verses 24 and 25, Paul writes about what happens to people when they reject Father-God’s truth. Father-God respects human free will and passes judgement, by letting people explore and experience the consequences of their choices. Since we are made in Father-God’s image, “imago Dei”, when people reject him by dishonoring their bodies. Father-God gave us bodies so we can have an in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit and when we dishonor the body, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell within us giving us guidance. When people reject Father-God, they will begin to service other gods or anything that takes the place of Father-God in our lives. If we observe the people around us who do not believe in Jesus Christ, we can see that they choose to stop honoring their bodies and eventually suffer the consequences of their choices. When the people around us reject Christ, we see that they will worship other gods and end up being rich in whatever they worship but still unhappy. Watching the people in our lives who do not love Christ can sometimes be like watching a train wreck in slow motion; they will crash eventually. These verses teach us that as believers in Christ, we need to guard against prioritizing Father-God over everything in our life. That we must honor our bodies so the Holy Spirit can dwell within us and give us guidance. And we must always look at our hearts because the rejection of Father-God comes when we give into the desires of heart and act on them. I’ve experienced placing something else besides Father-God as a priority in my life and then faced the consequences of that choice, which was misery and unhappiness. It took me many years, but I’ve come to realize that I have the blessing of Father-God when he is the priority in my life.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses and you’d like to experience the blessings that faith in Jesus can bring you, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I admit that I’ve sinned. I repent. I believe in my heart you raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I‘ve received forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience his blessings in your life.

Day 193 Bible Readings – Psalm 107: 35 (ESV)

2 Kings 23, 2 Kings 24: 1-7, Romans 1: 1-17, Psalm 107: 33-43

Psalm 107: 35 (ESV)

“He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.”

In verse 35 from Psalm 107, we read about Father-God’s power over the natural world. Deserts in the world of the Old Testament were a symbol of hardship Father-God can transform the dry and parched land of the desert, into pools and springs of water. Father-God brings life and abundance to place that once barren. A flowing spring in the desert also meant there would be continuous water and provision for the people in the desert. Sometimes life can feel like a desert. I know I’ve felt this way in the past. I’ve been in situations where I’ve felt desolation and hopelessness not just in my physical life, but in my spiritual life as well. I would pray and wonder if there was really a God out there listening to me, because I had no evidence to suggest that he was hearing me. But through the faithfulness of Father-God, I experienced a river of blessings into my life that parched the desert of my physical and spiritual life. Father-God has the power to not only change the physical world, but the spiritual world as well. The Lord can bring renewal into any situation, if we trust in his timing and his faithfulness. Father-God also has the power to make you feel like you have a continuous and eternal living spring of blessings and abundance inside of you.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this Bible verse and you’d like to experience the eternal and living spring of blessings and abundance inside of you that faith in Jesus can bring you, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I admit that I’ve sinned. I repent. I believe in my heart you raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I‘ve received forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the word of Father-God preached and experience the faithfulness of Jesus Christ who will give you the eternal and living spring of blessings into our life.

Day 192 Bible Readings – Acts 28: 30-31 (ESV)

2 Kings 21-22, Acts 28: 17-31, Psalm 107: 23-32

Acts 28: 30-31 (ESV)

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

In verses 30 through 31, we have a summary of Paul’s life while he was under house arrest. Paul lived in the rented house that he paid for and continued to speak to all who came to him teaching boldly about Christ and no one stopped him. History also tells us while in Rome, Paul wrote the Letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, and the Colossians. Even though Paul was under house arrest and could not travel, he continued in his ministry to spread the words of Jesus Christ in whatever ways were available to him. Paul’s life in Rome under house arrest gives us an example of what we can accomplish no matter what our circumstances in life. Paul remained faithful to Father-God during his time in Rome and shows us to how much can be done to spread the words of Jesus Christ even when we are facing trials. Paul’s time in Rome also shows us that we need to trust that Father-God can use any situation to further his plans for earth. Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ gave him a spiritual freedom to not fear for his life. The power and grace of the Lord allowed Paul to teach boldly about Christ, and he was not stopped despite being under house arrest.

In our current time, we can face cancellation on social media and among our friends if we talk about Christ. But let’s use Paul’s time in Rome to inspire us to not be fearful about telling people about our faith in Jesus Christ. Even while imprisoned Paul was not afraid to talk about his faith and fulfill Father-God’s plan for his life. We need to follow Paul’s example and continue to follow the Lord’s plan for our life no matter what our circumstances.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses and you’d like to experience the strength and freedom to follow Father-God’s plan for your life, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I admit that I’ve sinned. I repent. I believe in my heart you raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I‘ve received forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the word of Father-God preached and experience the strength and spiritual freedom that believing in Jesus Christ can bring to your life.

Day 191 Bible Readings – Acts 28: 16 (ESV)

2 Kings 19: 14-37, 2 Kings 20, Acts 28: 1-16, Psalm 106: 10-22

Acts 28: 16 (ESV)

“And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.”

In verse 16 from Acts 28, Paul finally arrived in Rome and was put under house arrest. This verse tells us that the promise of Jesus was fulfilled that Paul would bear witness for him in Rome. Even when Paul was lost at sea, Christ promised him that he would make it to Rome so he could be brought before Caesar. Paul was also not in a normal prison but had his own living space in a rented house. In Philippians 1: 13, we find out that during his house arrest Paul preached to all the guards who watched him including the palace guards. Paul continued his ministry by writing letters to all the churches he started and was even allowed to have visitors. This verse also teaches believers in Christ to trust in Father-God’s timing and faithfulness. Even though Paul was under house arrest, the Lord was able to use this restrictive circumstance for good because it gave Paul the opportunity to continue his work and preach to the Roman guards who watched him. Father-God can work through any situation to fulfill his plans. What Paul’s journey teaches us is that we need to steadfast in the work Father-God want us to do whatever the obstacles, because Father-God will work all circumstances for his good to fulfill his plans for the earth.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this Bible verse and you’d like to experience Father-God’s unwavering faithfulness and love in your life, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I admit that I’ve sinned. I repent. I believe in my heart you raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I‘ve received forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the word of Father-God preached and witness the signs, wonders, and miracles that believing in Jesus Christ can bring to your life.