Clint W. - May 21, 2011
Scripture:
Romans 2:18-24...if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Observation:
Paul is kind of calling out the Jews that wanted the Gentiles to become like Jews in every way. These Jews wanted everyone who ever became a believer to have to follow all of the Jewish customs and laws. He is basically saying that if you break any part of the law, then you have broken the whole law.
Application:
I thought this verse coming up today was somewhat ironic, considering it's a day that the church may look foolish to outsiders because of what some people in the church world have said. Particularly the last verse that says, "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Yesterday morning as I was driving and listening to my sports talk radio, I heard email after email and call after call of people calling in making fun of the rapture and judgment day. It was sad to hear so many people making fun of God and the end times. However, a Christian brought this on. In the same light, how many times has my hypocrisy made others doubt God's power? I can't blame some nameless, faceless radio preacher for the times that I have cast doubt in the minds of those around me. If I speak one thing as if it is gospel, but then act differently, then I am guilty of the same thing. I need to be slower to judge what other people do, and quicker to humble myself and become nothing.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You so much for Your mercy and grace. Thank You seeing beyond my faults and incompleteness. Lord, I pray that I can always represent You well and be a worthy mouthpiece for You. Lead me along Your path, and keep my in the way I should go. I pray that I can remember Your grace and humility whenever I think someone else needs to change. Help me to die to myself and the things that I propped up as holiness, and submit to Your view of grace, mercy, and holiness. Amen.
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