Love must be sincere. Hate wh...

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

- P26

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- P27

Love must be sincere. Believers must hate evil, cling to what is good, and bedevoted to one another in love. Paul instructs them to keep their spiritualfervor, joyful hope, patience in affliction, and faithfulness in prayer. Believersare to share with those in need, practice hospitality, and bless those whopersecute them. - P27

Paul indicates the attitude that we should have as we serve God and His people. We are to love earnestly and sincerely, without being hypocritical, lukewarm, or inconsiderate toward the ones we love. Rather than being competitive or comparing ourselves with one another, we should honor other believers and be devoted to them. - P28

We can point out what we appreciate about them and find ways to show our loyalty and commitment. We should despise evil and cling to what is good—the good things being a reflection of God Himself. - P28

Our commitment to one another is a fruit of our zeal and fervor to serve the Lord. It is as we devote ourselves to Him that our love for others becomes stronger and purer. - P28

Some of us have no problem being joyful in hope and faithful in prayer, butbeing patient in affliction can be unusually difficult. It requires endurancewhile experiencing prolonged pain. Being hospitable and sharing withthose in need can also be a challenge because it requires the investment oftime and money.  - P28

Perhaps the greatest challenge of all is to bless those whopersecute us. Responding in these ways is difficult, but it is possible whenwe keep our eyes focused on God and remember the sacrifice of Christ.
- P28

When we reflect on the difficulties and pain Jesus willingly accepted on ourbehalf and consider His great love for us, we find that our own responsesare opportunities to demonstrate His ways and become more like Him... - P28

Dear Lord, thank you for modeling how we should respond to difficult situations. When my love and passion start to wane, inspire me once again to reflect Your character and follow Your ways. In Your name I pray, amen. - P29

When my passion to serve God and His people begins to fade, I notice thatthis usually happens because I have experienced some severe disappoint-ment or have not spent enough quality time with the Lord. In either case,
I find that listening to worship music, particularly songs that declare God‘sgoodness, faithfulness, and love, is a helpful first step toward renewing andrestoring my soul. I remember how faithful God has been to me and thatno disappointment is so great that He cannot help me overcome it. Thesongs remind me that I am loved and cherished and that I have the privilegeof serving our great and powerful God. - P29

reset myLastly, fasting from any negative or distracting influences brings peace tofocus and re-center it back on God. This can involve avoiding so-cial media or certain people or events. Replacing these influences with moretime with God and paying greater attention to what He is doing rekindlesmy love and fervor for building up His kingdom. - P29

Paul exhorts the believers to bear with one another and please others above themselves, resembling Christ, who did not seek to please Himself but endured the insults of others. We are encouraged to follow His example, learning from what was written in the past in the Scriptures, which teach us about endurance and inspire us to have hope. Then, we are able to bear with one another’s differences, embrace each other, and become of one mind and one voice. - P54

We are reminded that, when we face difficulties within the church, we can look to Christ, who gave Himself up to fulfill the perfect will of God. May we humbly commit ourselves to becoming one in Christ for His glory.
- P54

Citing many different Old Testament passages, Paul proves the point thatScripture teaches us to accept one another, just as Christ accepted us. Whenwe show such unity and grace, we bring praise to God. His divine plan wasto bring His people together, and that plan continues today. Therefore, asHis children, we submit to the will of our Father and follow the exampleof Christ, choosing to love and accept one another.  - P54

When we encounterdifferences in the church, we do not need to respond with judgment orcriticism that divides the community. Rather, by the power of the HolySpirit, we can be filled with joy and peace as we trust in the God of hopeand offer our praises to Him. - P54

From my mother and my senior pastor, I have learned that the best rolemodels are those who not only teach with words but also live out what theysay. In today‘s passage, Paul reminds us that the Scriptures testify to the ex-ample of Christ, which we as believers are called to follow: His endurance,
His willingness to bear with others, His mercy and acceptance, and Hishumility. All of these are written for us so that we may learn from Him,
become more like Him, and glorify God through our lives.  - P55

As we devoteourselves to the daily reading of Scripture and make an effort to live out itsteachings, we will find ourselves becoming more like our Lord Jesus Christ. - P55

Dear Father, thank you for the perfect example of Your Son who shows me how to accept and live harmoniously with those around me. Help me to bear and endure and accept and love for Your kingdom and Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P55

1Therefore, I urge you, broth...

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

- P22

2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

- P22

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

- P22

Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. He calls them not to conform to the pattern of this world but tobe transformed.  - P23

Each person is to think with sober judgment and use theirgifts-prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, andshowing mercy-in accordance with their faith. - P23

Paul encourages the believers to consider God’s mercy and let it lead them to live sacrificially for Him. They may be tempted to live as the world lives but they are to let God transform them instead. Everything that we are, do, and say can be an act of worship to the Lord. We can please Him by not following the patterns of the world, but instead allowing our minds to be renewed and transformed. - P24

When our thoughts and ideas are aligned with God’s, we are able to discern His good, pleasing, and perfect will and begin to live the life He intends for us. - P24

As we sacrificially give ourselves fully over to God, we will discover what a truly good and perfect life we have in Him. - P24

Paul reminds the believers not to think more highly of themselves thanthey ought to. They all have different gifts to be used for the one purposeof serving God and His church. Rather than comparing ourselves withothers and thinking that our gift is better or not as good as theirs, we areto recognize what gifts we have been given so that we can do our part incontributing to the body of Christ. This may involve teaching, serving, orgiving financially.  - P24

We should also not underestimate the value of a word ofencouragement or of cheerfully showing mercy to others.  - P24

If we are unsureof our gifts, we can ask friends or leaders to help us identify them and thenbegin to serve in the ways that we can. - P24

"Don‘t let your time in the Word and prayer be crowded out by your to-do list. Cometo Jesus first."-Heather Davis Nelson - P24

Dear God, thank you for the gifts You have graciously given me. I want to live a life that is holy and pleasing to You. Help me not to conform to the pattern of this world but to live wholly for You and to use my gifts to bless Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P25

Consider the example of a man called Joseph, who was given the nick-name "Barnabas," which means "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36).
Barnabas likely acquired the nickname because he was noticeably gifted atencouraging others, and we see that he plays a pivotal role at several pointsthroughout the book of Acts, encouraging Saul of Tarsus at the beginningof his ministry. With Barnabas‘s help, Saul met with key leaders of the earlychurch and later became the apostle Paul who wrote much of the NewTestament! - P25

Dear God, all good things com...

Dear God, all good things come from You and through You. I cannot see what You can see or understand what You understand. Still, use me to glorify You forever. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P-1

29for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

- P146

Paul says Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number ofGentiles comes in. Then, all Israel will be saved, as it is written. They are lovedon account of the patriarchs, and God‘s gifts and call are irrevocable. God hasbound everyone over to disobedience in order to have mercy on all. Paul endswith a doxology of God‘s wisdom. - P147

Paul wants the Gentiles to know that all Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles are saved. This is mysterious because much of Israel does not believe in Jesus as their Savior, but Gentiles coming to faith will signal the rise of Israel’s faith. We see that salvation history is designed to feature God’s wonderful mercy, of which we are all recipients. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ, cannot draw distinctions among ourselves based on how Christ saved us. God’s salvific mercy rains upon us all. - P148

Let us therefore not measure ourselves against one another according to our obedience or disobedience but instead encourage faithfulness in one another and see each other as equally loved by the Father. - P148

After a thorough explanation of God‘s salvation plan for His people, Paulappropriately concludes his letter with divine praise. He offers an honor-ific doxology to the One who transcends all and stands sovereign over allthings. He extols the depths of God‘s wisdom and knowledge and His un-searchable judgments and paths, which are greater than any human couldfathom.  - P148

Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11, expressing his admirationfor God. May we follow Paul‘s example in glorifying our Lord. Let us reflecton God‘s past faithfulness and ongoing fulfillment of His divine plan andbe moved by how great and wonderful He is. May we bestow glory, majesty,
admiration, respect, and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ! - P148

19You will say then, ˝Branche...

19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.

21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

- P143

After explaining Israel’s failure to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, Paul says that, because of Israel’s transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Paul is proud to minister to the Gentiles, but he also hopes to provoke envy in the Israelites and save some of them. He ponders the great riches that can come with the full inclusion of His people finally accepting the gospel. Let us be encouraged! - P144

As God’s people today, our stumbles, struggles, and spiritual stupors cannot stop His powerful love that is capable of saving and sanctifying anyone He chooses. - P144

May we remember Israel in our prayers, and remember Christ’s sacrifice, not just for one nation, but for all of His people around the world. - P144

Heavenly Father, You love Your chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. As You spread salvation to all of Your people, help me to do my part to bring the good news to them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P-1

24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
- P143

Israel‘s stumble has resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles to make Israelenvious. If Israel‘s rejection brings reconciliation, their acceptance will bringlife. Paul compares Israel to branches broken off an olive tree and Gentiles towild branches grafted in. He warns Gentiles not to boast but to continue inGod‘s kindness, or they too will be cut off.me - P143

Paul offers two analogies-dough and an olive tree-to illustrate that God‘soriginal promises to Israel‘s forefathers also apply to their descendants andto show the salvation process for both Israel and the Gentiles.  - P144

Paul remindsthe Gentile believers that it is not by works that they are saved but by thesovereign grace of God. Thus, they should not be arrogant against Israel fortheir failures. We, too, should not be prideful in comparing ourselves to theworld‘s unrighteousness.  - P144

We did not earn our way to God. It is Jesus Christwho earned our salvation for us. Therefore, let us be kind and compassion-ate to everyone as we do our part to help bring His salvation to the world. - P144

Heavenly Father, You love Your chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. As You spread salvation to all of Your people, help me to do my part to bring the good news to them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P145

4And what was God’s answer to...

4And what was God’s answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
- P138

6And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,

8as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day."
- P139

9And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."
- P139

Paul says God has not rejected His people. Paul uses his own example andGod‘s word to Elijah to show that God has chosen a faithful remnant by grace.
If we were chosen by works, grace would no longer be grace. Paul quotesDavid and Isaiah to show the future of those who are hardened. - P139

Paul shows that God has clearly not rejected His people because Paul him-self is an Israelite who is descended from Abraham. Paul also uses the exam-ple of Elijah to show God‘s faithfulness. In a time when Israel was steepedin rebellion and idolatry, Elijah felt that he was the only one who remainedfaithful to God. However, Elijah did not realize that God had saved a rem-nant. Some of the people of Israel earnestly sought to understand Godthrough the Law, but they could not hear or understand Him. Others, likePaul, received the grace of knowing and understanding Christ.  - P140

When weare discouraged like Elijah, may we remember God‘s faithfulness and thetestimony of Paul. We can find hope in knowing that God is at work andthat He is faithfully extending His grace. - P140

Dear Jesus, thank you for Your amazing grace, which helps us to stand heretoday. Help us receive Your grace every day so that we may persevere in ourjourney of faith no matter what. In Your name, amen. - P141