Song of Solomon 8

If she is a wall,
We will build upon her
A battlement of silver;
And if she is a door,
We will enclose her
With boards of cedar. v.9

Read chapter 8
As the story ends the country girl has returned home and reunites with her beloved country boy.  Her brothers act like the older protective brothers of their younger sister and describe how they will protect and praise her.  If she is a wall that keeps out intruders, a virtuous lady, they will build upon her towers of silver or decorate, adorn her giving a fine dowry for her marriage.  What great brothers looking out for their sister!  Yet if she is a door, open and accessible to anyone, they will enclose her or barricade her from enemies.  Basically lock her up so that she doesn't just become open for seduction to just anyone, though just locking her up doesn't seem that it would help, rather they should teach or train her in becoming like a wall.   Well she responds that she is a wall (v.10), that she firmly resist every allurement of the enemy attacks and now a woman ready for her spouse.  

Are you a wall or a door?  Are you ready to be adorned or need to be enclosed? 

Song of Solomon 7

I am my beloved’s,
And his desire is toward me. v.10

Read chapter 6
Gentle yet firm.  Solomon just finished talking sexually inappropriately with her, trying to stir up her passion in describing her physical beauty (vv.1-9).  Yet she refuses to fall to this flattery and speaks gently and firmly to the king that she is her beloved's, her betrothed country boy.  Her affections are already for another man whom she already loves deeply.  She is refusing the petitioner (Solomon) who was speaking and says she already belongs to another.  She reveals that she's already married to another and that's who she's going to stay with.  Oh how sad that today though knowing one is married, so much adultery and inappropriate sexual indulgence still happens.  May we all be able to resist both being the one trying to excite passions of one who is already married and also being disciplined to resist temptation of someone that is not our spouse.  To be firm in this standing takes discipline and denying desires of the flesh, but it will save from much destruction and heartache that would follow.
Who is someone you may need to be firm towards in guarding your relationship with your one beloved? (This is both for singles and marrieds to consider)

Song of Solomon 6

I went down to the garden of nuts
To see the verdure of the valley,
To see whether the vine had budded
And the pomegranates had bloomed.
12 Before I was even aware,
My soul had made me
As the chariots of my noble people. vv.11-12

Read chapter 6
Just a little curiosity and BAM she was caught up in it.  This young Shulamite country girl goes back in to history of how her and Solomon first met.  She says she wasnt planning to meet Solomon but happened to run in to Solomon and his entourage.  She explains that she just went down to check on the garden to see if anything ready for picking.  She admits that out of curiosity wanted to see Solomon and his chariots and unaware of how far her curiosity got her until he had taken her.  She admits that she brought upon herself this yoke with the king that she no longer wanted, it was just a chance meeting that got out of control.  Though she explains this, Solomon still tries to keep her though she desire to return to her home and her beloved country boy (v.13).  
Where and when has your curiosity led you too deep into something that you have taken on a yoke that you never intended?  How do you get out of it?

Song of Solomon 5

I opened for my beloved,
    but my beloved had left; he was gone.
    My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
    I called him but he did not answer. v.6

Read chapter 5
What a nightmare to see the one you love be missing.  She starts this chapter off saying she sleeps but her heart is awake (v.2).  This chapter seems like a nightmare this girl is having after having been with her husband in chapter four but now he is gone. Her heart sank that he'd gone and searches for him but can't find him.  I've never been in love, but know so many people who've said their biggest worry or fear is that their spouse would ever leave them.
Often what happens in your nightmares are your greatest fears.  Her greatest fear seems to be that her true love would come and leave because she was no ready to leave with him.  
Our greatest nightmare would be if the Lord came for us and we were not ready for Him- no greater nightmare is there that God, our love, would come for us and we would not be ready.  Just as Jesus tells us in some of His parables about being ready like the ten virgins in Matthew 25, five were wise and five were foolish not being ready for the bridegroom.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept." (vv.1-5)

What is your nightmare or greatest fear that would come true?  Are you ready if the Lord were to come today?

Song of Solomon 4

You have ravished my heart,
My sister, my spouse;
You have ravished my heart
With one look of your eyes,
With one link of your necklace. v.9

Read chapter 4
Love at first sight.  I wonder if it's really true.  How sweet it is when we hear a man say the first time he saw his wife he knew she was the one.  Here we read the words of the beloved country boy speaking about his soon to be wife.  He says by just one look of her eyes and one link of her necklace he has become ravished in his heart.  He may have known her his whole life growing up in a little country town outside Jerusalem, yet is still in awe of her beauty and character and the fact that she's his.  Just one look by her and he's taken.  Whether you have someone like that in your life, remember you can be that to someone too.  Not just in a romantic love kind of way, but in a friendly kind of way.  A quote I read once goes something like this:

One smile can start a friendship,

One word can end a fight,

One look can save a relationship, 

One person can change your life.

What's one thing you can do today to impact someone's life?

Song of Solomon 3

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
Do not stir up nor awaken love
Until it pleases. v.5

Read chapter 3
How often do us women try to awaken love before it's time?  So often do women get impatient waiting for the guy to make the first move whether the initial asking out, or pressuring for an engagement.  The Shulamite woman is saying to these women of the city to not press her and excite her passions for her lover till it is time.  She desires to maintain purity as hard as it can be.  These girls aren't being good accountability friends to her to help her desire for purity in her relationship with her fiancee.  Yet it also seems like these women are trying to insight an unhealthy relationship with another man than her fiancee- with Solomon instead of her country boy.  How often too today do other women fantasy of other men even though they are married or in a relationship with another, and do it plainly in the sight of others and encourage this behavior.  It may start with just a fantasy but often leads to so much more that in the end causes broken relationships and more pain than the initial pleasure.
When have you awakened love too early in your relationships?  What succeed?  How have you encouraged others to engage in unhealthy passions rather than encourage purity? 

Song of Solomon 2

Like a lily among thorns,
So is my love among the daughters. v.2

Read chapter 2
The country girl calls herself  a rose of Sharon in verse one.  A rose of Sharon is a wild flower in the plains; a flower found in great abundance; a common flower.  She's saying she's just a common flower, a common country girl.  Yet her beloved contrast her thoughts of herself with his view of her.
 He says that she is a lily among thorns.  What does that mean?  A lily might be a common flower but a lily among thorns is what he calls her. That she's a rare prize and beauty that is hard to find among so much plain, ordinary, destruction.   She may think she's ordinary so he replies that even if she's common she still rare to find among thorns and she outshines them.  That's how much his love is for her, that she outshines all others, they are nothing but thorns to him.  What a compliment that any woman would want to hear from their lover! 
How easy is it to feel lost in the crowd, not special?  Is there someone in your life that reminds you you're a lily among thorns?  
I lived in the middle of the desert for many years as a single woman with a handful of other single ladies and for any single gentlemen reading this let me tell you there are some amazing lilies among thorns out there- so go get yourself one;)

Song of Solomon 1

I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon. v.5

Read chapter 1
Song of songs, meaning the song above all songs or the most beautiful or excellent song.
Many ideas of what this book is about.  Some say it's a love poem from Solomon to one of his wives or it's a picture of God's love for his people.  Yet both these ideas don't really make sense as we dig in to what these chapters say.  Would God make a the most romantic hero a polygamist like Solomon who had hundreds of wives and concubines?  It is unknown who this book is written by though most people say it's by Solomon, yet it appears more this book was written FOR Solomon and not by Solomon.  
C.D. Gingsberg believed this book was the story of a love triangle between a country boy and county girl and Solomon as the villain trying to steal away the girl from the boy.  This seems to make more sense as we see the different characters speaking throughout the book and remains consistent of the characters throughout the book as well as rebuke to Solomon in his polygamy.  Kind of like when the prophet Nathan rebuked David for his sexual sin by a story.  This book is written like a play, only seeing the line yet no connecting narrative.
Here in verse five we read the Shulamite woman speaking.  She saying she is dark.  Women of high class back then were pale looking where the working women were dark because of their tan from the sun (as we see in verse six).  So we can assume this girl is one that must work and play outside, like a country girl.  She's in the city Jerusalem though now and talking to women or maids of Solomon. She appears to be day dreaming here of the handsome and famous king Solomon, like a teenage girl today having a crush on a celebrity.  Yet she's not going to let herself get caught up in this day dreaming though these other women try to talk her in to fill this fantasy than stay true to her fiance at home.
So as we start this beautiful song, what picture has been painted about this book to you before or are you forming now? For Gingsberg narrative read Companion Song of Solomon

Romans 16

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. v.19

Read chapter 16

"Romans" 

"What what"

"16"

"What what"

"19 says..."

"Be excellent at what is good, be innocent of evil"

Ok try picturing a group of teenage girls chanting this at summer camp, that's what I think of every time I read this verse as well does it often pop into my mind.  And it's such good truth and practicality.  Be wise in what is good, know and discern to choose what is best, get a lot of this.  And be simple concerning evil.  This doesn't mean ignorant of evil, but knowing just enough to avoid it.  I'm sure there's many evil things we all wish we didn't know so much about.  Sometimes firsthand knowledge of evil has led to something you wish you never experienced.  What might that be for you?  How can you become excellent at what is good and innocent of evil?  When you live this out, your obedience in what and who you believe in is obvious to all.

Romans 15

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation. v.20

Read chapter 15
Paul had never visited these in Rome before he wrote this letter to the Romans!  The Jews in Rome who Paul is writing to had heard the gospel yet through another apostle.  Paul was writing them to clear up matters of being Jewish believers in Jesus Christ and did finally visit them as we see in Acts 28 at the end of his ministry.  Paul says that his desire was not just to backup someone but present new the gospel of Christ as to why he hadn't come to them yet.   We read at the beginning of this letter Paul saying, "Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also" (Romans 1:13-15).
Paul's desire was to proclaim the message of Christ to where it had not been heard yet. 
Often it's a lot easier to be a support to a Christian leader who's already built a foundation with a community than to be the one starting from scratch.  
Christ may have been proclaimed in your community, but how can you still pave a way of those that are "forgotten" or "unreached" to develop them their walk with Christ or present the gospel to them in a way they haven't fully comprehended?  I always say I thought I was a Christian till I became a Christian. Often one may accept and believe in Jesus Christ but stop there.  How edifying it is to have godly influences to help direct us to live a life for Christ.  Who can you be that to?  Who has been that for you?

Romans 14

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. v.23

Read chapter 14
Eating in faith?  What does that even mean?  When we eat are we only to eat if we are told by God to?  If we forget to pray before we eat does that mean were sinning?  Sounds foolish right.  Well if you don't read the context of this whole chapter but take this out of context it is foolish.  This chapter is talking about people's conscious of eating foods that were once unclean that now God has declared clean.  Paul was saying that even if they knew that eating a certain food is fine but someone else is grieved by it in their consciousness with God for they don't know God's word about the matter, they ought not to eat whatever food to not cause their brother to stumble for it is sin of their conscious before God (see verses 14-16).   No food today in our culture seems that it would cause someone to stumble, but what about alcohol for example?  Our world has many alcoholics and it's common practice if someone is a newly recovering alcoholic in our midst that there's no temptation of alcohol present at a gathering to help the person not be made to stumble.  Ought we to then avoid things that would cause someone to stumble, even if our conscious is clear before God?
What God has declared about what is clean and unclean to eat is taking His word and then acting on it.  So God declaring all food clean, an Israelite no longer needs to avoid eating pork for example.  So saying whatever is not from faith is sin is not taking God at His word.  And to not take God's "word for it" is to sin- whether it's about eating, sex, love, pride, all matters of life. 
What might you need to avoid to help a friend or family's struggle with a stumbling block in their life, even though it's not in yours?   

Romans 13

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. v.1

Read chapter 13
Obeying authorities.  It is good and right to obey authority but there are some authorities who do opposite of what God desires.  Are we then to still obey them because of their authority?  Jesus said to render to Cesar what is Cesar's and God to what is God's, so I"m not trying to teach rebelling against our leaders today. What about Hitler though?  He was in authority, so does that mean he was placed there by God for the good of the Jews according to Romans 13:4?  Of course not.  My point: this section of scripture is applied wrongfully today.  The book of Romans was written during the Acts period when God's government was on earth for a time, meaning His rule was in authority of what the Kingdom will be like when it comes in fully.  His apostles were the ones ruling at this time for we see throughout the book of Acts the power they had.  These rulers were appointed by God and could not be resisted without resisting God.  Only those who did evil would've feared, not just anyone who did good. So these are the rulers and governing authorities mentioned here in Romans.  Understanding this makes every verse in verses one through seven make sense.
In Bible Teacher Nathan Johnson's article on "The Dispensational Place of Romans" he notes on this section in Romans 13:1-7:

This passage is speaking of the “governing authorities,” as the New King James has it, or the “higher powers,” as the King James has it. The ideas both of “governing” and of “higher” are in the Greek. If we should try to apply this to anything today, we will inherit no end of troubles. Most try to apply this to human governments today. Yet this would result in our concluding that, for example, Hitler was not a terror to anyone good, but only to evil people, and that ultimately he was God’s minister to people like the Jews for their good, and conscience should have told everyone in his domain to do everything he told them to! This is, of course, utterly impossible, and makes a mockery of the Bible. On the other hand, to apply this to religious authorities today is just as fallacious, and gives far too much power to the man-made religious organization called the “Christian church.” There are no religious authorities who fit the bill for this either.
Yet if we leave this passage where it belongs, squarely in the Acts period, we can quickly realize that there were representatives then of a much higher government than any that exists on earth today. These were God’s apostles, the ones He had given rule over His government. The statements here, when applied to the apostles, are all completely true and accurate, and indeed make perfect sense. It could not be otherwise, when talking about apostles. So this passage shows clearly that Romans was not written to people in our situation today, when we have no such authorities, either civil or religious. 

How have you tried to apply this passage to today but cannot fully do or agree to?  How does understanding the timing of when and who Roman's was written to help you understand  this passage better for today?

Romans 12

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. v.2

Read chapter 12
How do you renew your mind?  So easily are our minds are distracted and consumed by the things in this world, we can not live on this earth and not be bombarded by its influence.  It takes discipline to not conform.  This world we live in has many beliefs that are contrary to the word of God.  Even the common thoughts in the religious world today are corrupt.  Where we indulge our mind is what we will conform to.  For example porn is everywhere and is a "normal" thing among most men (and women), so does that mean it's ok?  Well here is where we can apply this verse as a believer, to be diligent and disciplined with our mind and thoughts so that we may be transformed and prove God's perfect will. The believer is not to be apart of the flow of this world, rather to be transformed into the way of Christ.  The battle is in the mind.  Transformed thinking results in transformed actions.  Even the lyrics of music result in what we believe, think and do, whether the words are good or bad.  Following the ways of God may seem contrary to this world, but ultimately proves good and acceptable and understanding God's perfect will.
What do you fill your mind with?  How will you take action to renew your mind this week? How have you seen proven God's way better than the world's way?

Romans 11

Or I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. v.25

Read chapter 11
What is this mystery or secret Paul is talking about here?  A secret is something that is not known by all.  Therefore not something that was a prophesy in the Old Testament that Israel would've already known.  This whole chapter is talking about gentiles being grafted in to Israel's promises by God but this was known from Old Testament passages.  Yet what was not known is that there would be a partial hardening or a partial blindness of Israel. They were not complete hardened but almost like frozen in place as to their mindset of rejecting Christ.  It was as if He was giving the Israelites a second chance or other opportunity after reconsidering what God was doing.  Hardening actually appears to be a gracious thing so that later on he could soften them after having an opportunity to reconsider. Reconsider what?  Reconsider what was drawing and winning gentile believers to follow God- Jesus Christ.  These gentile believers that were inheriting promises to Israel was to provoke Israelites to jealousy so that they might match or surpass the gentiles rather than quitting all together.  

Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!...if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.  For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? vv.12-15

Does seeing someone you never would have guessed come to know the Lord and live a life of joy and abundant blessing, cause you godly jealousy to seek the Lord more in your life or hardening of your heart because of God's grace that you don't like?

Romans 10

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. v.17

Read chapter 10
How does one have faith?  Many will quote Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."  And yes that is correct, but still doesn't answer how one gets it, how it comes. Here in Romans 10:17 we find our answer that when one hears a message by God they have a chance for faith.  Faith isn't just hope of something you want God to do, faith takes hearing a message and that message is a word of God.  So therefore it's impossible to have faith without a word from God.  Yet how misused then is the word faith today!  It's more used as a hope.  That hope may be a good thing and if it comes to pass it's a sweet joy and good to give God the thanks and glory, but if there was never a word of promise by God about it we cannot call it faith.  For example, I hope God will fundraise my salary I'm raising right now.  Yet He has not specifically told me that He will give me the exact amount I'm to raise and when I'm going to raise it by and how I'm going to raise it.  I may trust in the way I've seen Him provide for others in their fundraising and hope He'll do the same for me, but I cannot say I have faith He will do it for I have not heard a message from Him.  Based on His character I trust God will lead me, I trust He will bring me through decisions I've made, but trust and faith are not the same thing.   Bible scholar Otis Q. Sellers says in his article What is Faith?:

In the Bible, the basic act of faith is always one of taking God at His word and responding accordingly. The Godward side of faith is that God speaks and says something. The manward part is that we take Him at His word and respond in harmony with what He has said. All parts must be there or the act can never be called one of faith. In spite of the poor translation in Romans 10: 17, it is entirely true that: "Faith comes by hearing, and the hearing by the Word of God." It was “by faith" that Abraham offered up Isaac. He was being tested to see if he could take God at His Word and respond accordingly (Heb. 11:17). However, he had a direct communication from God which told him to do what he started out to accomplish.

What is one thing you have faith of God in?  What's one thing you trust God in?

Romans 9

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,  that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh. vv.1-3

Read chapter 9
Paul's almost seems as if he's taking an oath here that he is willing to die for his brethren. Seems like he's taking a charge to words spoken against him.  Paul's conscience and the Holy Spirit bearing witness of this sorrow and heaviness of heart for his fellow Israelites. Paul was an apostle, a commissioned one of God, so having the Holy Spirit as witness was not just a mystical thing to say, but if lying could fall down dead right there like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).  This sorrow and heaviness Paul was feeling was because they were rejecting Christ.  He wished himself accursed from Christ.  Accursed means a severing.  Paul was wishing himself severed or cut off from Christ if it meant his fellow brethren could be saved.  Of course that's not how it works, but that's how much he wished they were saved by faith.  He was trying to tell them that's it's not of the law and because they are the seed of Abraham that they'll receive salvation.  Being Israelites were permitted so much as we read in the following verse four for as to Israel was the adoption, glory, covenants, law, services and promises of God- none which were for gentiles.  At this time Israel had not yet lost their privileged position over other nations, yet many of them were still rejecting the promised Messiah- Jesus Christ.  Paul's trying to get across that just because they were privileged people being born of Israel, because they rejected Christ through faith they are not saved. 
Can you feel Paul's pain in your own life?  Certain people that may have grown up in a Christian home or church yet reject Christ?  Sorrow for people to the point that you'd trade in your salvation so that they could be saved?

Romans 8

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. vv.38-39

Read chapter 8
Wow this chapter is packed with so much!  The end of this chapter seems to be Paul's powerful climax of his letter to those in Rome (though there's still a few chapters left in this letter).  Five times in this chapter Paul asks questions to draw out the conclusion of being Christ's:

1. If God is for us who can be against us? v.31
2. How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things? v.32
3. Who shall bring charge against God's elect? v.33
4. Who is he who condemns? v.34
5. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? v.35

The answer to all these questions: NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.  We may have been abandoned to receive love from those in our life due to numerous things, but this is not the same for Christ.  The list of neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present, future, height, depth, any created thing sum up every possible category one could think of.  This Paul is convinced confidently and assured of, who himself faced so much tribulation.  What a high honor and hope we who believe have in this promise!

Is there a sin of yours that you think God can't forgive or you think makes Him love you less?  Well don't believe it, it's a lie.  Are you confidently convinced of Christ's love for you?  Why or why not?  If not, what would it take?  What makes you feel God's love as distant?

Romans 7

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.  v.15

Read chapter 7
Tongue twister in these verses.  What Paul wants to do he doesn't but what he doesn't want to do he does.  How true is that.  We want to get healthy but we find ourselves gorging on sweets, what our flesh desires is fighting with what our mind desires.
Now this doesn't mean we can justify our sin because even Paul said he did things he didn't want to do.  Paul is talking about being under the law.  Under the law he couldn't keep all that God commanded and so he's not doing what he wants to do since the laws requirements could only be upheld fully for those inside the holy land.  He hates breaking God's law, but that's what he's doing because he's outside the land and cannot uphold all the law.  He and the Jews in Roman didn't have the means to keep the law unless they moved back to Israel- which was not necessarily feasible at that time.  Today when we struggle with sin, we cannot say we don't have the means to stop this stumbling, for one we have the Holy Spirit, but also it's not the law of the Old Testament we're trying to uphold, but living for Christ wherever we're at.  Usually it's because we don't want to stop sinning, not that there's no means to stop.  We also as believers can desire to live for Christ always but it's not realistic that we will never sin against Him again, the tendency to lean towards sin is far too real and we can fall into a lifestyle or habit of something we hate.
What are you doing that you will not to do?  What do you will to do that you are not?  

Romans 6

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!  Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? vv.15-16

Read chapter 6
Who's your master?  Everyone has a master whether they choose to admit it or not.  Someone or something that has the ability or power to use or control or dispose of something is our master.  
Seemed like at the time of believers understanding grace verses the law that people started having the mindset that it was okay to sin so that grace could do more work.  Yet Paul responds "Certainly NOT."  For what we choose to obey that we choose to be our master.  We were once slave to sin, but when we have become believers in Christ we become His slave.  Being Christ's slave doesn't mean this horrible bondage, rather it means freedom!  Freedom to what we thought was freedom by doing whatever we wanted and giving in to the flesh that ultimately trapped us.  The saying is true: First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, than the drink takes the man.  There is not fruit or benefit of sin, for "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life" (Romans 6:21-22).
Often we are deceived by the devil believing we can never defeat a sin in our lives so we give up trying.  We think we can never have consistent victory so we stop the fight for it. Having this mindset we're already defeated for what we believe determines how we live.  Our efforts on our own cant defeat sin, but Christ's already finished work can.  Let us follow our master Christ who brings us into righteousness and eternal life and not return the bondage of our old master Satan who only brings defeat and death.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss says, "One single hour lived in truth can become a day, a week, a month, a year, a lifetime.  Christ has conquered.  Live in His victory" (The Quiet Place, July 29th).  What sin do you feel most defeated by?  How can you choose to live today as Christ as your master?

Romans 5

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. vv.7-8

Read chapter 5

Is Jesus Christ sufficient to save even an underserving person like yourself?

Who in your life do you love and care about so much you would die for them?  Do you know anyone that would do the same for you?  Can you grasp that Christ didn't die for only the people that have it all together in their life, for only the happy people that have no struggles, for only the people that have never experience pain or hurt (there's no one in history that meets any of these), but Christ died for sinners, while we were still in our mess. 
Bible teacher Nathan Johnson explains this passage so beautifully and true for the sinner, 

Jesus Christ is God Himself. When He died for you, His death more than paid for your sins. He is the Creator Himself, as John 1:1-3 tells us. Therefore, His life is worth more than all creation…more than all of us put together. When He set out to save us by paying the penalty for our sins, He was more than sufficient to do it. His life was so much more precious than ours, that there was just no question but that it was sufficient to pay for ours. Our sin is so small and insignificant next to the price He paid to redeem us that every wrong thing we have ever done is washed away by His blood. You do not have to stare at yourself for months and years and cry and wish and despair. The Lord Jesus Christ IS the Savior of sinners like you. He DID pay for every sin you have ever committed or will commit. When He is your Savior, you WILL be forgiven and you WILL have life. Considering Him and Who and What He is, there can just be no doubt of this. (Can I Be Saved, www.precepts.wordpress.org)

The answer to my first questions is YES, yes Jesus Christ is sufficient to save the most undeserving person that includes you and every human being- we and they all just have to realize that and accept His free gift of salvation.  Do you ever struggle with thinking your sin is to grave to be forgiven?  Or do you look at someone else thinking even Jesus can't save them?  Put your trust in God's work, not man's. 

Romans 4

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  v.13

Read chapter 4
The promise to Abraham by God that he would be a father of many nations was 430 years before the law as given.  Here where it says "heir of the world" doesn't mean he's going to be the king of the world, but that he's going inherit a portion in the kingdom, the coming world.  Because of his faith in God's promise it was accounted to him as righteousness, having nothing to do with upholding the rules and commands of the law that was later given to the people Israel (Abraham being their forefather).  These believing Jews that Paul is writing to in this letter to Romans were still so hung up on religion than faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul wasn't annulling the law at this time, but he was telling Jewish believers that it's not by upholding the law that they are saved or else faith is null (v.14). The law was to reveal their sin for without the law there is no transgression (v.15).  So faith is according to grace so that the promise is available to all and not just those that can uphold the law (v.16).  This promise of Abraham was inherited to all the Jews if they had faith because he was their father.  Paul was showing this example of Abrahams faith that it is not by works that please God but faith.  
Having faith as a gentile believer doesn't make you a son or daughter of Abraham, but it does make you a child of God!  Think of it today, you may of many godly father figures in your life but just because they are an image of a father to you doesn't mean you become their biological family, but what you learned from them has helped shaped and grown your faith.
Who are some godly father figures in your life that have helped you in your faith walk with God?

Romans 3

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. v.23

Read chapter 3
A well known and used verse: Romans 3:23.  This verse has led many to life in Christ, realizing they fall short in this life, never quite able to reach what they don't even know they're grasping for.  But this isn't just a verse to prove to people that they're not God, but to show their need for a savior and that Christ by His grace is the savior they need.  ALL have sinned, not just some.  Often there's the thought "my sin isn't really that bad" or the complete opposite "my sin God can't even forgive," yet Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was the answer to forgive EVERY sin, to fulfill every denial of need for a savior and every doubt of His love. So why do we all need a savior?  Bible teacher Otis Sellers puts it to the point:

The lesson all should learn here is that while we may be highly esteemed by our friends, family, and fellowmen, yet because we are sinners we are lacking the esteem of God. You may be extolled in life or at death as having been a good citizen, good father, and good churchman, but you are still lacking the esteem of God. Your children may esteem you highly as a good mother and your husband may praise you as a good wife, but you are still lacking the esteem of God. Something must be brought into your life, there must be some definite act of yours that will bring you to God's favorable attention that will result in Him esteeming you for what you are and what you have done. As to what this is there can be no question. Your neglect of the God appointed Savior must cease. You must appropriate God's great provision for your great need - your need of a Savior. You must be able to stand before Him as a sinner who has a Savior - not a sinner without one. This will cause Him to esteem you as a believer, and you will no longer lack the esteem of God. It is your crying need that you bring-yourself to some final dealing with God in regard to this. Truly, you need a Savior. (www.seedandbread.org)

Have you realized your need for a savior?  Are you a sinner that has The Savior or are you without one?

Romans 2

 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?  You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? vv.21-23

Read chapter 2
This letter of Romans we have to remember is written to Jews, not gentile believers (though for a brief aside in chapter 11), for this is seen over and over again throughout (1:7, 2:17, 3:9, 4:1, 7:1, 9:3-4 to name a few).  Spiritual pride was going on and Paul's not afraid to call them out.  And how does he do this?  He asks questions.  Questions that will make them think of the answer themselves instead of Paul telling them flat out.  How easy it is when we notice hypocrisy in someone to want to tell them flat out what they've done or do wrong, but how much more are we or others willing to change from our sin when we realize it ourselves.  Sometimes just a simple question can turn a heart for they come to an answer on one's own rather than being told.  These Jews were living in hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing another which caused the gentiles to see blaspheme of God's name.  And this is still sadly an outcome today that non-believers see the hypocrisy of believers and therefore don't want anything to do with God.  Yes we should not trust or distrust in God based on fallen sinful people whether believers or not, but we must know that as believers we're looked at and watched more carefully and under the microscope for any fault to blame God.
What hypocrisy might you be living in and what question has sparked a desire for change in you?
Do you tell people how to live?  How can you ask good questions to others to encourage them in their walk with Christ?  

Romans 1

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. vv.20-23

Read chapter 1
Everyone knows there's a god even if they've never seen a Bible or heard of the creator. Creation clearly shows there's an intelligent designer behind it all that even evolutionist marvel-whether they give someone or something the glory instead of God Himself.  Through creation God's invisible attributes are clearly seen (seems like an oxymoron, but this is understood by the things that are made as a result).  The Greek word for see here is intensified that means we don't just see but "see down to the core."  This is said to show that men are without excuse.  Without excuse that they never had the chance to wonder about the Creator.  Yet many choose to go from adoration to speculation.  People have to actively choose not to believe in God.  And doing this they have actually become fools rather than wise.  I wonder what men of the past knew that today many think man came from apes or a swamp or a rock.  Paul is speaking to Jews that lived in Rome who knew God on a more intimate level than the nations, so are held at a higher standard. 
How do you see God in creation?  How do you think others can know the true God without having a Bible?  

Lamentations 5

Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored;
Renew our days as of old, v.21

Read chapter 5
Lamentations is a great picture of how a godly man responds to sin and the results of sin.  Written by Jeremiah, we see that he isn't just passive and does nothing about Israel's sin and its result into captivity, rather he suffers alongside them, calls them out in truth of their sin, and leads them as a nation to repentance.  This shows a nations repentance leads to a nations blessing.  He identifies himself included in the sin of Israel, as he is an Israelite, though he was righteous before God.  Throughout this book we have seen Jeremiah's extreme distress of their situation- the destruction of Jerusalem and all Judah and Israel either killed or in captivity.  The only result to the mess they're in is to turn back to the Lord to be restored.  And notice it is God acting first.  He's the one to turn them back. By themselves they will never turn to the Lord, yet by His grace to allow them to return is it possible.  

It all comes back to God- EVERYTHING!

Jeremiah, a godly man, didn't just ignore or become indifferent to sin and neither should we who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.  How do you react to sin of others around you?  Why do we so often choose to ignore sin and its results?  How do you notice that everything in this life comes back to God?  

Lamentations 4

How the gold has become dim!
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are scattered
At the head of every street.

The precious sons of Zion,
Valuable as fine gold,
How they are regarded as clay pots,
The work of the hands of the potter! vv.1-2

Read chapter 4
Have you ever seen how gold is collected and found?  It's not just someone walking around with a metal detector and when he hears beeping he digs in the ground and discovers a block of gold.  Actually it can be unseen to the naked eye (unless you're a geologist).  My sister is a geologist of a gold mine in Australia.  I've gone out to visit her and of course that included going to her work mine site and getting a whole in-depth tour.  It consisted of putting on all this gear to go under ground and drive around in huge rigs to different drill sites, hear how and where they choose to drill and then see what they've excavated from the earth of the process of sifting, melting, purifying the dross away to finally getting a brick of gold.  It's insane and a bit over my head.  I remember my first thought was that everything just looks like piles of dirt, but from this mountain of dirt they would get so many ounces of gold.  It may take hundreds of thousands of dollars of all the work that goes in to getting maybe one kilo of gold, but that kilo is worth so much more.  Well this is the picture that we get here in this chapter of Lamentations.  God calls His people precious and valuable- as fine gold, yet the Babylonians only see them as clay pots.  Clay pots are just common utensils that no one looks or thinks twice about. And if a clay pot broke it was just replaced rather than fixed because it had so little value so not worth the effort to repair.  The Babylonians had smashed/killed many of the Israelites and those that were left that were taken into captivity were regarded as just a common thing that could be replaced when needed.  
How do you feel like a clay pot sometimes?  How do you feel like fine gold?  Only when gold has gone through all the refining process does it truly go from dirt, to dim, to shine! Let the Lord refine you.

Lamentations 3

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” vv.22-24

Read chapter 3
I had a hard anguish type day last week that I just couldn't seem to kick, even as I laid on my bed at night I tossed and turned and just cried out in prayer to the Lord for what was troubling me.  When I woke up the next morning my soul felt renewed, my problems weren't solved but my spirit was refocused and started anew that day.  I immediately recalled this verse of the Lord's mercies are new every morning.
This book is the prophet Jeremiah's lamenting, his cry of anguish; yet in the middle of it he praised the Lord and has hope as we read here in these verses in the middle of this long chapter of anguish.  Remember all of Israel and Judah have just gone into captivity and Jerusalem has been destroyed, I'm sure smoke was still in the air from its destruction as Jeremiah is looking on Jerusalem and writing this. And what do we see Jeremiah remind himself?  

• The Lord's compassions never fail
• The Lord's mercies are new every morning
• The Lord is faithful
• The Lord is all he needs- his portion

You may be thinking how could anyone cry out in the middle of such loss and anguish or only a prophet can do that.  The reason though is that Jeremiah knew God could triumph over any trouble and turn a curse into a blessing, he knew God's character and promises that he could cling to and trust in.  Even through hard times the Lord is working, He has not abandoned, He gives us the strength we need for each day.

How can you lift up your head to the God of mercy in a time of anguish in your life?