Day 31 - Romans 8:26 - 8:30 - HALF WAY THROUGH ROMANS!!

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Tori's Comments:

"we don't know what God wants us to pray for"

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'mma stop there. What GOD wants US to pray FOR. That's a totally different mindset than coming to God with a checklist, wishlist, etc.

Vs. 27 Wow. This just shows how God most definitely knows what's best for us. 

Wow, all the feels in this passage.

I should probably stop using so many expressions of surprise, but I can't help it. 

I mean, wowwww.

Terrie's Comments:

This is a great passage,  The part about the Holy Spirit praying on our behalf has always comforted me.  He prays what our hearts want and long for in accordance to the will of God.  Even when we are so desperate that we have no clue what words to use our message is being presented loud and clear in God's throne room!

We are also hand picked by God to do his will.  Awesome!

I could sit on this portion for a long time.  What stood out for you guys?

WE ARE OFFICIALLY HALF WAY THROUGH OUR ROMANS CHALLENGE!! (Right after you leave your comments below)  THIS MEANS YOU STILL HAVE HALF OF YOUR SUMMER LEFT TO ENJOY!  HURRAY :-) 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 30 - Romans 8:18 - 8:25

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

Terrie's Comments:

All of creation was subject to God's curse because of man's sin.  That is Everything God created in this earth... rocks, plants, animals, humans... all suffer.  We are all on a path of death and decay.  

Creation knows that there is something better coming.  As a God follower we need to also ALWAYS be looking foward to this hope that we have in our eternal future.  We need to keep our eyes fixed on the end not on our everyday stuff.  Forever is such a short distance away we need to remember that.  

I think the church has forgotten how to focus on our eternal home.  If the Holy Spirit is just a foretaste of the future glory and we are promised freedom from sin and suffering with new glorified bodies that is something worth looking forward to... far better than any vacation or dreams we can plan here on earth!!  I need to begin to focus and plan way more for my eternal home than this life here which is fleeting.  I need to learn to wait patiently and confidently for all that has been promised!!

We are all spending eternity somewhere... which way does my life point?  Where is my focus?

Tori's Comments:

Verse 19 is intriguing. 

What does it mean by all creation? Is it referring to how there will be a new earth?

The Holy Spirit is supposed to be a taste of future glory. Whoa. I didn't know that. And yet He is rarely given much thought in my head.

I know I am hopeful and excited!!!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 29 - Romans 8:9 - 8:17

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Tori's Comments:

"you have been made right with God" *insert contented sigh*

"you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do". This is something that I feel like if I stopped right at my moment of temptation and just asked "Why am I doing this? Why am I wanting to do this?" it would probably stop. Because God is greater, and I know whose side I am on. 

We are children of God! Heirs! What an epic amazing cool mind-blowingly awesome thought.

Terrie's Comments:

But if we share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering... what does this look like?  I feel like the biggest obstacle in North America is to get past fear of what other people think.  Sometimes the decisions that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to make and stand up for are not on other people's radars and we need to set aside our pride and care more about what God thinks than any other human being in our world.  But the good news is that we have help.  The same spirit that rose Jesus from the grave lives inside of us!  We are not alone in this.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 28 - Romans 8:1 - 8:8

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Terrie's Comments:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus!

However I do see that it is a choice?  I see it in this passage and also in my own life experience.  If we want to please God and have victory in our lives we need to CHOOSE to think about things that please the spirit and CHOOSE to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.  YOU HAVE TO LET the Spirit control your mind so that you will have life and peace!!

Tori's Comments:

Vs. 8 is commonly quoted by Terrie and myself :) It's so lovely and....a relief. I have said several times on this blog that I am a people pleaser, and this verse is like aloe to my sunburn.

God declared an END to sin's control over us.

As far as thinking about things that please the Spirit... on thinking about this, my mind is wavering over the things I put into my mind via books, tv, movies, etc. There are many iffy forms of media that I will keep feeding myself, forgetting that it's only harming me. I'm choosing the option that leads to death rather than life and peace.

I think my major stumbling block when it comes to what I put into my mind is Tv shows. If a show begins to turn sour, I am very reluctant to let it go, usually waiting until after the damage is done.

What are some major stumbling blocks for yall?

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 27 - Romans 7:21 - 7:25

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Tori's Comments:

"I INEVITABLY" We are all screwups. 

I know God knows what's best for me. But then Satan likes to whisper the opposite in my ear, preying on my weaknesses.

He knows my weaknesses well.

I love how the author shows us how hopeless the situation that we are in is, and then all of a sudden it's like WABANG! Jesus got you.

Perhaps the Red Rule does not just apply in Sunday School: Jesus is always the answer.

Terrie's Comments:

I think I will just agree... "THANK GOD!!  The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord."  

AMEN There is hope!!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 26 - Romans 7:13 - 7:20

13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

Terrie's Comments:

I think every person that is living for God can relate to these words that Paul wrote!!!  It is so vitally important to consistently renew our minds in the word of God so the Holy Spirit has more to work with.  I have had times of great victory and times of feeling complete defeat.  I am glad that as I mature more and more those times of feeling defeated last shorter amounts of time and the times of victory are increasing.  Nothing I have done has brought about these changes it is all God and the Holy Spirit empowering me to mature in Christ.  I am a complete fool when I try to do things on my own because I forget whom I belong to.

I think this is one of the most relate-able passages in scripture... what do you think? 

Tori's Comments:

Vs. 15 is like my life. I don't want to displease God, but I seem to forget that desire in the moment. 

The end, however, has got me like:

via GIPHY

A little wordy, a little confusing, and I got a little lost.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 25 - Romans 7:7 - 7:12

7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

Tori's Comments:

This applies well to camp life. I find that when I tell a kid not to do something they seem to want to do it more. 

"Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me" really sticks out to me, although I'm not sure why.

Terrie's Comments:

Our sinful nature sucks!!  I am so grateful that Jesus took all the punishment for it so I am free to do my best and let his grace cover the rest.  If my heart condition is right with God and I am trusting in Jesus to save me my best will be enough because my thoughts, actions and words will be more and more in line with His will the longer I serve Him.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 24 - Romans 7:1 - 7:6

7 Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3 So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

4 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Terrie's Comments:

This passage again makes it so clear that we are not living by the Old Law anymore.  The thing that stood out what that "the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds"  So should we be training ourselves to live by the spirit more??  We are not obeying the letter of the law anymore but in the new way of living in the Spirit.  

I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit living in me who guides my life.  It is freeing being reminded that I don't have to know everything or anything for that matter I just need to listen to the sweet voice of the Holy Spirit living in me and decide to listen to Him.  I need to remember to die daily to my old ways, which were crucified when I made Jesus Lord of my life and remember I am never alone in this!!

Tori's Comments:

Verse 15 is THE verse for me in this passage. We don't have the rules laid out for us like they did in the Old Testament, but we do know God's character and walk through life with Him.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 23 - Romans 6:15 - 6:23

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tori's Comments:

To sum up, why would you even WANT to keep sinning?

Temporary pleasures?

Bleck.

My human nature is definitely weak, so I appreciate the illustration.

Terrie's Comments:

I immediately think of the Old Testament with this passage.  God is begging us to choose righteousness, holiness, to be pure and to live for him wholeheartedly!!  He is begging us to do this because he knows both sides.  

It is like there is two prize doors... door A and door B... you have a choice to make but you are only given a small glimse behind each door.  Behind door A there are a tonne of prizes... you win a mansion, luxury car, motorhome, lifetime supply of chocolate, endless supply of money and all the friends you could ask for (genuine of course).  Behind door B there is a pile of baked beans... a lifetime supply mind you but that is all you are allowed to eat for the rest of your life.  Both are made to sound awesome before you choose.  The host of the show is REALLY begging you to choose A... will you choose A or B... either way your life will change.  

God really wants us to live whole heartedly for him because he wants what is best for us, he loves us, he wants a relationship with us.  His motivation is not to have a bunch of slaves for himself.

 

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!" Deuteronomy 30:19

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 22 - Romans 6:5 - 6:14

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Terrie's Comments:

Wow there are some pretty powerful concepts in this passage.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin... Give yourselves completely to God  

The concept that we are always serving someone... either God or Sin... we can't be in both camps at once.  

I don't know where I heard this story from but it seems appropriate to share...

I believe it was a dream someone told me about.  I don't remember all of the details but I do remember this... they were on a fence not really deciding which side to be on (God's or Satan's)  Then the end came and Satan came to collect them because he owned the fence. (that was a really sad attempt at remembering that story but I think the image is clear enough)

If you aren't living for God then you are working against him and living your life serving sin.  

Tori's Comments:

My campers are only asleep for a little while longer so I apologize if this is short and sweet.
I am curious exactly about what it means to be free from slavery of sin. Because we still get tempted.
Is it referring to how we are made righteous and are free from the guilt of sin?
Or is it talking about how when we give ourselves completely to Jesus temptations and things kind of just fade away?

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

NEW CHANCES TO WIN PRIZES EACH MONTH!!

Because that is how you will have more chances to win cool prizes...

And leave your comment on christcapp.blogspot.ca and you will be entered into our monthly draw...

So read the daily Bible passage... leave your comments about the passage below the blog post (with your name if you want your name entered into the draw) and your name will be entered EVERYTIME you comment (comments must be relevant to the passage).... that means you could have up to 31 FREE ENTRIES into our MONTHLY DRAW as a bonus for getting to know Jesus and God's word better!! COOL

When we draw your name You will win cool stuff like...

SO...

And remember to comment to win

We will draw for prizes on the first of each month.  Winner will be posted on the blog and will have 5 days to email us with their information (like mailing address and age group so we can mail out an appropriate prize from our prize vault).  If winner has not claimed their prize within 5 days we will draw another name for the prize.

It is a win-win-win

You win - Jesus wins - We all win

We aren't meant to be alone in this World anyways... Jesus died because God cares ALOT about RELATIONSHIPS!!

Day 21 - Romans 6:1 - 6:4

6 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Tori's Comments:

Haha, I hope Terrie puts her metaphor for this passage in here. Terrie, if you're reading this before you post, put that metaphor in because I like it.

Okay, thanks.

I have always thought of sin as chains. They weigh me down and make my life more miserable, and Jesus freed me from that. Would it glorify him more to keep getting trapped so he can free me again, or to live for him? When a prisoner is freed from jail, would it be more creditable to the law if he learned his lesson and lived an abundant life after or if he went back to jail?

Obviously, our judicial system would be applauded more if the prisoner went on to live a better life.

And yes, there are flaws with that, but it makes sense to me :)

Terrie's Comments:

I absolutely LOVE this imagery of what happens in baptism.  We identify fully with Jesus Christ by being buried with Him and then rise with Him to new life.  And the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead also lives in us to give us power to live this new life in Jesus Christ,  It is all very cool.

TORI - If you want to read the metephor that you are refering to it is found on Day 10 of our Romans Challenge.  It went like this.... I am now going to quote a quote from myself... "I believe the reason that this portion of scripture is mind boggling is because it is describing a part of how we justify our sin to God.  It doesn't make sense.  It is like a child breaking a rule and then telling the parents that by breaking the rule they just proved that the parents were awesome and that the rule was a great idea.  So therefore the more they break the rule it just proves that the parents are really truly awesome!  So why should the child be punished if he is just proving how awesome the parents are??

So really you can see how this logic is truly stupid :-)" 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 20 - Romans 5:15 - 5:21

15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Terrie's Comments:

I feel like we should all break out with great sounds of hallelujah's or something at the end of that portion of this letter!!  Happy Day will do!!!  It's a great celebration song.  It's definitely an appropriate response to God's Grace!  Feel free to dance, and smile big :-) 

Tori's Comments:

I like this because it's a reminder that we can never outsin God's grace. (Totally one of my favorite sayings).And we live in triumph! Which is an awesome way to look at the struggles in life. Don't worry, we've already won.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 19 - Romans 5:6 - 5:14

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.

Tori's Comments:

"Christ came at just the right time"

What do they mean by just the right time? Like, as in the prophesied time?

vs. 8 is one of my mantras, a reminder that God's love for me isn't some nice fairy tale like Satan wants me to believe.

via GIPHY

His love is for real and there's evidence of it throughout the whole bible. And even though it's obvious, I still need to hear about God's love often.

Even the simple words "friendship with God" give me warm happy feelings. 

I appreciate the use of the word "certainty" that appears several times throughout the passage.

Terrie's Comments:

Every time I read verse 7 I am reminded that Jesus didn't have to do this and when he chose to do this he proved his love for us isn't based on what any of us have done for him in return.  He did what most humans never would.  He died for those that demanded that he be crucified.  He died for everyone who ever spoke against him.  He died for his enemies.  He died just so his enemies could be reconciled and choose to be his friends forever.  This is true unconditional love.  It is perfect love.  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 18 - Romans 5:1 - 5:5

5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Terrie's Comments:

I love standing in a place of peace with God... it does give me confidence that he has my back. I am joyfully looking forward to the future as I consider how temporary my time here on earth as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ really is.  It gives me joy in times when unrest is surrounding me knowing that I am looking forward to sharing God's glory in heaven forever!

Every trial and problem that I have run into I have either chosen to trust God or tried to solve the situation on my own.  Each and every time that I have chosen to trust God he has come to my rescue and has shown up in many miraculous ways over the years.  We need to remember to give God a place of honor in our lives and keep going to him first.  When we go to God first with everything he gets ALL THE GLORY for everything that happens in our lives and in turn our confidence and hope in our salvation is stronger.  God has never disappointed me.  

I LOVE that He says that one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to FILL OUR HEARTS WITH HIS LOVE!!!  That is awesome :-) 

Tori's Comments:

We have peace! Woohoo! :)
Undeserved privilege! Woohoo! :)
Sharing God's glory! Woohoo! :)
All the good feelings!

That chain in verses 3, 4 and 5 is a definite hopeful outlook. One that I fail to have. Optimism can be hard.

Wow! He has given us the Holy Spirit TO fill our hearts with love. I didn't know this was scriptural. AWESOOMMMMEEE.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 17 - Romans 4:16 - 4:25

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Tori's Comments:

"even when there was no reason for hope"

But I guess that kind of the definition of hope. It's holding out. It's being "fully convinced".

Terrie's Comments:

No matter what the situation looks like in the natural, our hope comes from the promises that God has made to us in his word.  Faith is believing that God will do what he says he will even when everyone on earth says that it is impossible and even when ALL odds are stacked against you.  We serve a mighty God who doesn't know the meaning of the word impossible.  Abraham's faith wasn't in his own body or in Sarah's womb but in God alone.  He trusted that even though it was humanly impossible that God would make a way because God said he would.  That is faith!!

God is erasing  every obstacle that stands in the way of His promises to you... even if you can't see the way yet.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 16 - Romans 4:13 - 4:15

13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

Terrie's Comments:

I think it is becoming very clear why Jesus came to bring a new covenant and to make the old law null and void.  Even more clear than it was in Hebrews... if that is possible (and apparently it is).  I am glad that we are required to live by faith not by the letter of the law or we would all be sunk!

Tori's Comments:

Wow, that was really short. It also pretty much sums up everything I've read these past few days.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 15 - Romans 4:9 - 4:12

9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Tori's Comments:

Well, I am at a loss for words. I do not know what else to say. I could put the minion GIF in again because it was (ahem, is) really amusing...

via GIPHY

But of course, that's not really beneficial so I'm not going to do that.

However, what strikes me is the phrase "same kind of faith". That would be the same kind of faith that had Abraham about to sacrifice his son, to pick up everything and leave all he knew, to trust God no matter how hard life gets, and when we mess up, to pick ourselves right back up.

Whew. Maybe I'm not at a loss for words. Any thoughts? Please share. :)

Terrie's Comments:

So even those who were living under the law were saved by faith alone.  Circumcised or uncircumcised, Jew or Gentile, Old Covenant or New Covenant ... it doesn't matter we are all saved by faith alone.  Faith in Jesus Christ and all that he accomplished and faith in our God who created all that we see around us.  It is acknowledging that we are nothing without Him and only He can save us.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 14 - Romans 4:1 - 4:8

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

7 “Oh, what joy for those    whose disobedience is forgiven,    whose sins are put out of sight.8 Yes, what joy for those    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Terrie's Comments:

I need to get it in my head that I can't do anything at all to earn God's blessing. I am accepted and reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ alone...today was a great reminder of this.

Tori's Comments:

Vs. 4-5 is definitely something to remember when speaking to unbelievers.

Actually, it's something to remember ALL THE TIME.

Like when my day is going like this:


via GIPHY

All it takes is a quick recap of the gospel in my head (via verses 7 and 8) to be like this:

via GIPHY

And that GIF makes my day. Well, Jesus made my day, but they certainly taught me a lesson on how to feel about it. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 13 - Romans 3:27-3:31

27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Tori's Comments:

"makes people right with himself"

Man, we do NOTHING.

It feels too simple. All in my head, I think, we just put our faith in Jesus? That's it?

Of course, this can be hard sometimes, but we are certainly getting the better end of the deal, if you know what I mean.

Terrie's Comments:

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ to save us we are also, at the same time acknowledge that we need to be saved... If we acknowledge that we need to be saved then we also are acknowledging that the requirements of the law needed to be fulfilled.  By putting our faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the requirements of the law, we are truly fulfilling the law.  If we don't put our faith in Jesus Christ then the requirements of the law are not fulfilled for us.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 12 - Romans 3:19 - 3:26

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Terrie's Comments:I am feeling like Romans was a perfect choice as a follow up to Hebrews.  It is filling in whatever blanks were left by the writer of Hebrews and making what was already clear even more clear to us.  

It is so clear that we have been cleared from the requirements of the law.  It's purpose is simply to show us how much we need God and how much Jesus actually accomplished on the cross for us when he sacrificed himself on the cross.  

I think that it is absolutely amazing that God looked ahead to the sacrifice of His son and anyone who believed that the savior would be coming were also saved through their faith that it would happen in the future.  Verse 25 clearly tells us how to be made right with God.  It is not a mystery.

Tori's Comments:I feel like I don't meditate on the gift that God's grace is. Truly, I should be marvelling at it every day, thinking about how amazing it really is. It's no wonder how many songs use the lyrics of Amazing Grace, because that grace is so  powerful. Anyone who understands just how powerful it is lives their life in full light of that.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 11 - Romans 3:9 - 3:18

9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
    not even one.

11 No one is truly wise;
    no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
    all have become useless.
No one does good,
    not a single one.”
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
    Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16     Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
18     “They have no fear of God at all.”

“No one is righteous—

Tori's Comments: 

We can do nothing to earn our salvation. Christ already did everything.

I remember having trouble with this truth, still do, actually.

But it has also brought me great comfort. I don't remember who said it, but this phrase has stuck in my head: You can't 'let God down'. He's the one holding you up; not the other way around.

My too often people-pleasing heart rejoices in that. 

Terrie's Comments:

No one is better than anyone else... we are all headed for destruction without hope.   This passage clearly paints a picture of destruction for all humans no matter what our heritage is. Thankfully this letter doesn't end here.... To Be Continued

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 10 - Romans 3:1 - 3:8

3 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,

“You will be proved right in what you say,
    and you will win your case in court.”

5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

Terrie's Comments -

I believe the reason that this portion of scripture is mind boggling is because it is describing a part of how we justify our sin to God.  It doesn't make sense.  It is like a child breaking a rule and then telling the parents that by breaking the rule they just proved that the parents were awesome and that the rule was a great idea.  So therefore the more they break the rule it just proves that the parents are really truly awesome!  So why should the child be punished if he is just proving how awesome the parents are??

So really you can see how this logic is truly stupid :-)  


Tori's Comments - 

(vs. 3) is such a comforting truth. And it's something I see in the Old Testament again and again and again... as well as in my own life. :)

His logic in vs. 7 kind of confuses me. I am ready to read how he will turn this around though!!


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 9 - Romans 2:25 - 2:29

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Tori's Comments - 

Okay, he lost me a little in the first paragraph but I think I have got the gist of it now.

But the second paragraph really floats my goat. How God cares more about the state of your heart obeying the law. Like the widow who put two coins into the offering in Mark 12:41-44. 

"And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people." (vs. 29) Do I do this? My people-pleasing heart already knows the answer. 

I have just put this in my planner as my goal for the week, though: Seek praise from God, not from people.


Terrie's Comments -

This must have rocked the Jewish world hearing this from Paul... It's no wonder they sought to kill him.  They prided themselves on following the law and circumcision was a sign between them and God... or at least a sign that they were "God's chosen People".  Now Paul is telling everyone that gentiles that follow the law and are not circumcised are better than those who are circumcised if they don't follow the law.  

Bottom line is that God cares about a changed heart.  It is also clear that the heart change that pleases God is worked out by the Spirit.  Once the heart is changed we will seek the praise of God rather than the praise of men.  I guess that is a good check point as to how we are doing.  Do I care more about what God thinks or am I making this decision based on what others think?  Hmmmm good question. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 8 - Romans 2:17 - 2:24

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

Terrie's Comments - 

The only thought that comes to mind here is to keep proper perspective in life... I am who I am ONLY because of what JESUS DID for me... It is by grace we have been saved through faith so that NO ONE CAN BOAST.  This verse came to mind as well:




Tori's Comments - 

"you boast about your special relationship with him." (vs. 17)

Just gotta say, not specifically a Jewish problem. 

I know I have put the holier-than-thou attitude on. And honestly, that attitude is nothing but cow puckey. Nothing that I did made me righteous. Only Jesus. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 7 - Romans 2:12 - 2:16

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.


Tori's Comments:

"will judge everyone's secret life." (vs. 16) That sends shivers up my back. Sometimes we tell ourselves if we just put our church clothes on and pretend like nothing is wrong we're okay. But God knows everything. I suppose that's why things like confessing and apologizing are so important. 

And I never made the connection between people's consciences and God, although it makes PERFECT sense. People who aren't Christian still have a sense of right and wrong, and it seems like something God installed into us when He created us. Awesome.


Terrie's Comments:

God cares about what is on the inside of us... "our secret life".  The one that not even our closest friends and family knows about.  And what is even less settling is the fact that God will be judging that "secret life" according to His law, whether we know what it is or not.  

However did you also notice the three words in this passage that change everything???

"through Christ Jesus"  If we were being judged on our own merit we would already be condemned.  But "through Christ Jesus" means that we are seen as pure, clean, and perfectly righteous if we have put our faith in Him.  Hallelujah!!!! AMEN


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 6 - Romans 2:1 - 2:11

2 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Terrie's Comments:

This passage makes me want to take back every remotely judgmental thing I have ever said or thought about anyone.  In the same breath however this passage also gives me hope that NO ONE IS TOO FAR AWAY FROM GOD TO BE SAVED.  God does not show favoritism!  For anyone who turns to God there will be glory and honor and peace from God.  

I think the previous two days of reading provide us with a warning to not be foolish.  Be careful to not exchange God's truth for a lie.  Worship God alone and now finally to not judge anyone and thereby condemn yourself because you have been rescued only by God's mercy and grace.  God has His arms open to accept everyone who is willing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of their life and live by faith in His word alone.


Tori's Comments:

WHOAAA.

Just let me recover for a minute, because that was a big plot twist. I did not see that coming.

One minute I thought we were condemning people, and the next we are told to stop condemning.

Was he trying to trick us? Because it feels like it.

(Vs.4) So our kindness should turn others from their sin? I guess this makes sense for people who have been cast out of 'good society' and are in need of love. And considering how many times I mess up, I am not really in a position to condemn anyone. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!