Daily Morning Watch

December 7, 2024

Here Paul even turns to admonitions to obey authorities, under God. That is, not to obey when it would mean breaking God's law, but as far as possible, to be law-abiding citizens. Then he points out (again, because we can never hear it too much) that it's all about love. Love God, love others, period. And finally, he reminds us that Jesus will come soon. How can love help us to be ready?

December 6, 2024

Now Paul turns the remainder of his letter to practical instructions for learning to live in this new grace. This chapter alone is full of enough to keep us busy for a long time. There are instructions for how to treat each other, and instructions for determining and using spiritual gifts. Paul ends by repeating Jesus' teaching on loving those who are not acting loving toward you. Write down your favorite three instructions and try to put them into practice today.

December 5, 2024

This chapter has two parts. First, Paul encourages his readers by reminding them that no matter how much opposition he or they see among the Jews, many of them do accept and believe. After all, those early thousands at Pentecost were Jews. Then he turns to the non-Jews. The very fact that the Jewish nation, as a whole, is rejecting the gospel makes it possible for Paul and others to move on to the rest of the world. What do you think he means when he speaks of branches grafted in? He ends with his own little song of praise. Try learning it all—from 33-36. You could set it to music.

December 4, 2024

Paul continues to write out his sorrow over his people. He shares passage after passage from the Old Testament showing that God has called this people to repentance for centuries. Jesus' message about love and grace is nothing new; it is what God has always tried to say. In verses 8-13 Paul lays out the simplicity of the gospel again, and in 14 turns to a call to go out and tell the world. What part of the world are you telling?

December 2, 2024

This is the beautiful centerpiece of the whole letter. If you have time, read it through more than once. Underline the parts you love best or write them on cards and carry them with you. Most of all, keep looking at verse 1. When is there no condemnation? At some future time after Jesus comes? After the great day of judgment? No, the verse says now. Verse 2 says He has set us free. Now. That's now. Today. You. Yes. Believe it, because it's true

December 1, 2024

If you have given your heart to Jesus in the past, you are familiar with the feelings Paul expresses in this chapter. Pay particular attention to verses 14-23. Has your soul ever cried out verse 24? Of course, it has. So never, never, never forget verse 25! Always, if you belong to Christ, He has already delivered you! When you feel it isn't true, when you aren't living in that light, it's because you've forgotten He is the one who delivers, and you're trying to deliver yourself. It's not going to work. Just cling to Him. Cling to faith. Ask forgiveness. And try again, holding His hand. (Also, look forward to the next chapter!)

November 30, 2024

Oh, good, now it's Easy Street, right? Wrong! You'd think, once we accept this free gift of grace and relax into God's love, we'd be kind and loving and faithful and diligent and obedient, and... well, that's not going to happen. For two reasons: our sinful nature, and the devil's hard work to destroy that peace. It's the thing he fears most. So, Paul begins here and in the next chapter to describe the frustration of true believers who are trying to live in the light but finding that they still contain an awful lot of darkness. Notice what he emphasizes. Does he ask us to look at that darkness, or at the light?

November 29, 2024

So, is there punishment to fear? So many people, in Paul's day and in ours, run around trying so hard to be good enough, so that God will not be angry with them or punish them. But Paul says, once we realize it's God's freely given grace that makes us right, we can relax, give a huge sigh of relief, and have peace. There is nothing to fear. We are His and He is ours. Learning to live in that grace is another matter— but the rest of the letter will go into that. First—first—we can relax into peace. Only then do we have any chance of learning to live as godly people.

November 28, 2024

Remember that Paul is writing to Jews. They are likely to argue, “But Abraham was saved because he obeyed God! And the blessings are only for his offspring—only for us, the Jews!” Paul turns that argument inside-out. How does he say Abraham was saved? And was he even a circumcised Jew yet? There was no such thing! He caps his argument by saying that all who have the faith of Abraham are children of Abraham. What kinds of “things that are not” has God called into being in your life?