The Daily Dose

Receive others

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7

Do you remember when you first met the Lord Jesus?  Do you remember the time you ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life?  You didn’t get a response like: You will need to go clean up first or I can’t be bothered by someone as low as you are right now.  Think about it . . . the King of the universe bent low to hear your voice when you called on Him the very first time.  You didn’t have to make an appointment and you didn’t have to persistently ask until He acknowledged your calling out to Him.  He was waiting to hear from you and ready to receive you into His family with open arms.  He didn’t care about your background or what mess you were currently in, He was only interested in opening wide the door to His home for you to walk through by faith into His love and sacrifice.

Such a great reception, yet do we receive others that way?  Do we look at people who are lost and hurting and quickly turn away so we don’t have to look on their sin? Or do you receive them as Jesus received you.  I know we do not condone their sin, but when you think about your own salvation, did you immediately change and get rid of all sin in your life?  Most likely it was a growth process where you worked on getting closer to Him by spending time with Him in prayer and scripture reading. After some time you were able to step away form sinful habits that had a grip on you.  Even then, you were not able to attain perfection.  We still miss it at times and when we turn back to Jesus, He welcomes us back with open arms.  He doesn’t try to make us pay for our offenses.  That would be like making His payment non-effective.  No, the price Jesus paid for our sin was more than enough for ours and the sin of the whole world.

So why do we turn others away or ignore them because their sin is hard to look at.  Even worse, why would we ever look down on someone that is trapped in a sinful lifestyle, when we have the answer and lifeline to get them out.  Not by condemning their behavior, but by loving them as a person created in the image of God.  It is bad enough when done to those who don’t know Jesus, but how much worse when done to a new believer that is learning how to trust God through their struggles?

Today’s passage sums it all up by saying: receive others at Christ Jesus received and keeps receiving you.  Open up your heart and your life to love others who may not be so lovely.  By treating people different than the rest of the world does, you impact their life in a way that opens the door for the love of God to get through.  In that way you can complete the end of the verse that says: by receiving others, we give honor and glory to God our Father.

Today I want to encourage you to receive all people into your life as Christ Jesus wants to receive them into His love.  Have an open heart and hand to help those who are trapped in the clutches of sin.  Do not despise or look down upon those who have struggled through a hard life.  Instead, show them that God loves them by loving them right where they are right now.  It is not your job to change people anyway, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to change a heart and life.  Your job is simply to love and let Him do the rest.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 15:7-13

Help them

We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  Romans 15:2

Chapter 15 of Romans starts out talking to strong believers.  Paul says: We who are strong should consider and be sensitive to the cares and concerns of new and weak Christians.  We are not here to please ourselves.  We are not here to make ourselves comfortable and never notice those struggling around us, we are here, in this world, to help others.  Just as today’s key verse says, we should help the weaker believer do what is right and encourage them in every little step forward that they take.

The place to start is to evaluate yourself.  Are you a strong believer, mature and walking step by step with the Holy Spirit’s direction, or are you one of the weak ones that is easily knocked off course with life’s adversities.  Do you walk through trouble with the peace of God guiding you or does turmoil send you into a frenzy.

Once you have determined your level of strength in the Lord, begin to watch those around you and become aware when they are struggling.  You can start right in your own home.  If you see son or daughter, brother or sister, or even father or mother going through a difficult time, help them.  The best place to start is to pray for them.  Then share a scripture that they can hold on to through their crisis.  Lastly, notice or even ask for a way to help out in the situation, either by doing tasks around the house or helping with other family members.  Whatever you can do to help them walk through the difficulty more smoothly.

Begin to extend this grace into your neighborhood and even where you work each day.  Pay attention to others who are hurting and come along side them with prayer, scripture and a helping hand.  Put your own desires and comforts to the side for that time and determine to be a source of strength and energy to empower others through their predicament, whatever it may be.

Today I want to encourage you to stop and take a close look at your walk with your Savior Jesus.  Do you trust Him through every dilemma and setback?  Do you let the peace of God have the lead when things are uncertain in the natural?  Do you need to take a step closer when life looks like it is falling apart?  Once you have decided where you stand with your Heavenly Father, take the necessary steps to grow in the area you may need to.  Now you are ready to reach out to those around you.  Pray each morning to be prepared when you encounter a discouraged person.  Follow the steps of: Praying for them, sharing scripture and then find a way to lend a hand.  When you step outside of your own comfort, you will observe many who you can guide through the pressures of life in peace and confidence.  I promise you will find great fulfillment in helping others do what is right and building them up in the Lord.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 15:1-6

Bait of offense

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

This chapter if Romans is focused on offence.  Paul is speaking here to Christians in Rome. He is encouraging the mature believers not to take on offense.  He is also telling them not to be offensive to the weaker, younger believers.  He lets them know exactly where to turn when offense tries to come.  He says:  the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, so don’t even pay attention to those things where God’s people are concerned.  Rather, turn your heart toward being in a right relationship with your heavenly Father, walking in the peace of that relationship and being full of His joy.  All these things are possible through His Holy Spirit.

Here’s the thing: Jesus said in Luke 17 that it is impossible in this world not to expect offenses to come into your life.  Whether through eating and drinking or any other area for that matter. The key is what you do with that offense.  Offense is actually a lure to draw you away from the love of God.  When you become offended with another person, you step right into the enemy’s trap of unforgiveness.  The next thing you know, your thoughts are surrounded by the voice of bitterness and resentment.  You them begin to focus on your hurt feelings and how the person who offended you was wrong in their actions.  While all this may be true, it is not the prison God wants His children to live in.

This is why Paul tells us in vs. 19 to pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify and encourage another.  So even though someone has caused you to be wounded, you are to look for the peaceful solution that brings encouragement and builds up all those involved.  Especially in the case of weaker believers.

Today I want to encourage you not to step into the trap of unforgiveness through the bait of offense.  Instead, focus on righteousness, peace and joy.  Practice turning your heart in these directions daily, so that you establish a habit of turning your heart to the Holy Spirit no matter what is going on around you.  Then when offenses come, you will be well prepared.  Your first response will be to go directly to your heavenly Father through His Spirit.  You will lay all offense down before Him and keep your relationship with Him in right standing.  Then ask Him for the solution that brings peace into the situation and take action if required.  Lastly, rejoice that God has gotten the greatest victory possible in the outcome of the entire process.  Don’t let your enemy hold you in a prison of thinking you are justified to hold on to offense.  God’s greatest victory is accomplished in bringing others closer, not pushing them farther away from Him because you are offended. Release those bitter feelings and fill up your life with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit today.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 14:14-23

What are you holding on to?

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8

Do you ever find yourself clinging to life here in the world?  Holding on so tightly that you would do anything not to lose it?  Certainly, I’m not implying that we shouldn’t value the life we have, but it must be held in perspective.  This life is temporary, this life is short, and this life is fading.  Yet how easy it is to attach yourself to it as though it were the only thing you will ever experience.

I find myself struggling at times to pry myself away from the cares of the world to sit quietly and write about God’s Word and love each day.  An activity that should be easily prioritized sometimes takes all my efforts to get there.  Why?  Sometimes I literally  feel so connected to what this world has to offer that I have to tare my spirit away from the thoughts and pressures of it.  These day-to-day activities and tasks become so deeply ingrained into my being that I have to forcibly separate to become mentally prepared.

Today’s key verse helps put all of life into an eternal perspective.  It says: When we are living life in day-to-day activities, we belong to the Lord.  If we are dying and preparing to leave this world, we are dying to be with the Lord.  So, whether we are living or dying, we belong to the Lord.  So simple.  If only we could keep this mentality every day that we are here in this world.  It just isn’t worth all the worrying and striving with others and circumstances because we are the Lord’s. He has what is best for us in His heart and mind.  All we need to do is ask, listen and the follow.  He knows the way.

This reminds me of another passage that Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi.  He said: “for me to live is to Christ’s benefit and to die and be with Him is to my benefit. (see Phil. 1:21) Paul knew that the only thing that mattered in this life was to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and when He was finished with that, He would gain his eternal life away from the suffering and shame of this earth.

Today I want to encourage you that you belong to the Lord Jesus and that is all that matters in this world.  Talk to Him today about His plan for you to impact lives around you.  Listen to what He speaks to your heart and who He brings to your thoughts to reach out to and encourage in some way.  Then do it.  Follow the example He gave when He was here in the world loving those around Him and bless all people that He leads you too today.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 14:5-13

Who are you?

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4

Have you ever done this?  Criticized or condemned others because they do things differently than you do?  What about other believers?  Do you ever look down on those who would not have the same convictions that you have?  Today’s passage talks about those who are weak in faith.  We could call them baby Christians.  It doesn’t matter how long you have been a follower of Jesus, you could still be a baby and many still are.  You can identify them quickly because they are not content and are constantly complaining about the way others conduct themselves.  Those who are easily offended by others simply because they do thing differently.  Different is not wrong, it is just different.

The same can be true of believers that have spent a lifetime trusting God and walking by faith, yet when they see a new believer who hasn’t yet become strong in a certain area, they feel the need to harshly correct them instead of love unconditionally. 

There is a perfect example of this type of behavior in the life of Jesus.  In Matthew 23, Jesus has a “discussion” with the religious leaders of His day.  They were so focused on the rules that had been established like praying long and loud so everyone could notice them and cleaning dishes before they ate from them.  Jesus said in verse 23 that they neglected the important things like justice, mercy and faith.  It was all about how others obeyed their rules, not about their faith in God and mercy toward other.

Today’s key verse asks the question: Who are you to judge another’s servant?  All other believers belong to God and we do not have permission to judge them.  We can look back at chapter 13 of Romans and see that we do not own any man to correct them, only to love them. (see vs. 8)  God, our Heavenly Father, is the one who helps them to stand, not our correction.

Today I want to encourage you to love others unconditionally.  Pay attention to the intent of your heart when you see others miss it or are just doing things differently. Purpose to show them the love of God right where they are.  You do not have to fix people, that is the job of the Holy Spirit.  Instead, pray for them as they grow through life.  This should be a great load of care lifted and new freedom found.  Those people who rub you the wrong way because they are not doing things exactly perfect, you can just love them right where they are.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 14:1-4

High time

And do this (love), knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  Romans 13:11

Each day we get closer.  Closer to the day of our Lord’s return.  Closer to the day we are taken out of this world and brought safely to our home with Him in Heaven.  Personally, I am looking forward to the day.  That doesn’t mean that I am doing nothing while I wait for Him.  Each day I purpose to move forward not only in my walk and relationship with Him, but also in reaching others for Him.

Today’s reading gives us clear instruction on how we are to live in these last days.  You do not need to wonder what you should or should not be doing, and you do not need to question what God’s will is for you to be doing.  It is plainly listed in His word.  So let’s take a closer look at the activities we are and are not to be doing as the day of our salvation arrives.

First, we are to wake up!  This implies that we are to be alert to the leading of the Holy spirit and not oblivious or asleep to the purpose and direction for our lives.  We are to get rid of activities that are sinful and even distractions that take our heart away from loving His return.  The passage says to get rid of these like dirty clothes that are stained beyond repair.  Replace the dirty attire with the armor of living in a close relationship with your heavenly Father.  This scripture says we are a light and example for all to see the love of God.  We are the ones who show people that God loves them and we must do it on purpose.

Then there is a list of activities not to engage in.  These are:

1. Darkness of wild parties
2. Drunkenness
3. Sexual promiscuity
4. Immoral living
5. Quarreling
6. Jealousy

Lastly, it says to put on the Lord Jesus by clothing yourself with His presence.  It is like putting on Jesus’ coat and then loving all people the way He does, unconditionally and right where they were.  Now, never let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires again.  Put it all behind you and take next steps of faith in His direction.

Today I want to encourage you to wake up!  Wake up to the direction the Holy Spirit is leading you.  Don’t hit the snooze any longer to His call.  Decide today to turn all your habits and activities over to Him.  His way is greater than you can ever imagine and His path is brighter than you could ever accomplish on your own.  Put on the Lord Jesus today and walk in His presence until the end of this life.  It is the only thing that really matters.

Today’s scripture reading:  Romans 13:11-14

Blessed to be a blessing

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

The debt of love. What if you were indebted to everyone to pay them back in love, and not just on a monthly basis? What if you were in a life debt to love everyone, everywhere, all day long, every day? Seems like a pretty high price to pay, right? Well, according to this scripture, you are. I am too, and quite frankly, that is a little intimidating. I don’t know that I have that kind of love inside of me. The truth is, in myself, I don’t. However, when I accepting Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior, He gave me God’s love to love the whole world with (see Romans 5:5). Now thats a lot of love.

So why does God want me to love everyone? There are some very unlovable people out there, surly He doesn’t intend that I should love them? The verse today says that in loving others, we fulfill the law. The old covenant law was given to protect people from each other, but love was given to connect people to each other. In loving one another, we look out for each others needs and best interest above our own. When we love others with the love of God, people are then drawn to Him and His goodness and then to His great salvation.

The only question left is how. How do we love others and think about them before we think about our own needs? The truth is that when we receive salvation, we receive a new nature, God’s nature. That is what must be grown and cultivated in each one of us until it becomes part of us. The way to grow love is to prepare, plant and practice it.

First, you must prepare your heart by keeping it clean before the Lord. This means that each day, you come before your Heavenly Father for cleansing by praise, worshiping and giving thanks. Second, you plant the seed of love with the Word God has given on the subject of love. Such scriptures as: God so loved the world, the love of God has be poured out into our hearts and love one another because love is of God and you have been born again of Him. Then water that word seed with prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to grow and remind you of that love throughout your day. Lastly, practice love. Everywhere you go love others by giving them preference above yourself and humbly offering kindness in word and actions. This is the only way to get good at anything, practice it daily.

Today I want to encourage you to get rid of financial debt and pressure in your life. Instead, replace it with the debt of love. Take time to cultivate the love of God in your daily walk with Him. Press into His love each day to get a healthy dose to carry with you on your way. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to share it with others throughout the day. Practice it continually and soon you will enjoy the debt of love that you own to ALL people.

Today scripture reading: Romans 13:8-10

God’s minister? 

For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Romans 13:4

I love that God’s Word gives us wisdom for every area of life.  We don’t ever have to wonder what is the right thing to do.  We just go to His manual, and we have all instructions for how to live a godly and successful life.  In today’s passage, there is direction on the right attitude toward authority.

This scripture starts by saying every person is to submit (subject) themselves to governing authorities and that those in authority are appointed by God.  That in itself is simply amazing and should cause us to stop and think for a minute.  All those who we disagree with or agree with have been put in position by God.  Therefore, it is our duty to respect and pray for those in authority.  Likewise, it is they’re responsibility to seek God on how to lead.  If for some reason they are not doing their part, it does not make it right for us to criticize and condemn them.  We still must hold them up to God in prayer and respect their position. 

The second verse talks about what happens to those who resist or stand against authority.  Resistance brings God judgement.  It goes on to say rulers/leaders are not after those who do good, but they are in place to punish those who do evil.  So if you are following the laws of the land, you have no reason to be afraid.  The reason we sometimes get speeding or parking fines is because of breaking the laws.  This is one way criminals are found, by pursuing those who are breaking the laws, not to mention our safety and protection.

Now we come to today’s verse and my personal favorite in this passage that puts everything into perspective.  Presidents, politicians, armed forces, police and pastors are God’s ministers.  What?  I thought ministers were only found in church.  However, it says here that all leaders are avengers to execute wrath on those who do evil.  It is a ministry to lead people on any level.  Now we have come to the reason we are to respect and honor authorities.  They are God’s ministers.  They work for God.  Regardless of their relationship with Him personally, they have been put in place by God to protect law abiding people and punish law breakers.  This is a good thing and the reason we support these ministries.  If we didn’t have leaders, there would be absolute chaos and evil would overtake us all.

So today I want to encourage you to honor, respect and reverence those who are in authority.  Recognize that they are God’s ministers and authority is a good thing.  Most of all pray for all our leaders.  Pray for their protection, pray for their ability to uphold the law and pray for each one of them to have godly wisdom to rule.  They work for God, and just maybe they would do a better job if we started praying fervently for them instead of criticizing and complaining about them.

Today’s scripture reading:  Roman’s 13: 1-6

Overcome Evil   

“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21

So I used this reference yesterday, but I wanted to expound on it some today.  Overcoming evil with good! That’s easy, right?  Not so much.  Usually, the first response when evil is done is the desire to “return the favor”.  For instance, if you’ve been wronged in one way or another or even if someone is just rubbing you the wrong way, the natural response is giving them a “piece of your mind,” wait for the next opportunity to put them in their place or plan a way to “get even with them”.  In today’s world, most people have a sense of pride about them that says nobody is going to get the best of them.  However, this scripture says to overcome evil, doing good has to be involved.  Or you could say it like this: Overcome evil thoughts and feelings with good actions.  What does that even look like?

There is a perfect example of this in the life of Jesus.  In Matthew 14:12 John the Baptist’s (who was a friend and relative of Jesus) disciples brought Jesus the news that John had been beheaded.  Two verses later it says, “And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”  Talk about overcoming evil with good!  Then Jesus went on to feed all 5000 that were there and their families, too.  He could have said, “Guys, this really isn’t a good time for me.  My family is in crisis and I need to go be with them”. Or “I really need to be alone right now to process all this new information”.  But He almost immediately turned His focus to those who came to Him needing His compassion and love.

I do want to make note here that overcoming evil with good doesn’t necessarily mean doing good to the one who caused the evil.  Jesus just went ahead and did good right where He was for the people that came to Him.  He didn’t go and seek out the offender to do good to him.  He knew that the real enemy was Satan, so He was able to overcome all of the ill will, resentful and evil feelings by giving God’s goodness and love right where He was.

Today I want to encourage you to make a plan for the next time evil tries to overcome you.  Remember the best way to give God the victory is to overcome that evil with good.  Pray for the strength and ability to overcome your feelings and thoughts for evil.  The begin walking out God’s goodness and love right where you are by doing good and loving those who are with you right then! 

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 12

Who will pay them back?

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19

This passage is clear that we are not to repay anyone for an evil done.  Our part is not to pay back, our part is to forgive and to love.  God does the pay back and that is only after the one deserving to be repaid has had every opportunity to repent and ask for forgiveness.

God’s plan and desire is for His people to love and forgive other people to the point that they are open to hear the message of the gospel.  So why is this so difficult to do?  Why is it against our nature to let go of hurts and words that come against what we stand for in the Kingdom of heaven?   It doesn’t have to be hard if you make a plan ahead of time and then practice it.  Just like you practice growing your faith and increasing in love, you can practice forgiving others. 

The secret to forgiveness is in verse 21 of this chapter.  It says: Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.  Recognize that what has been done to you is evil but, you can overcome those evil feelings by doing good.  Be prepared ahead of time because you know it is going to happen.  No matter how hard you try to avoid the pain of others rejecting or hurtful words, we live in an imperfect world and offenses will always come.  Jesus told us in Luke 17 that offenses will always come, so be prepared for them.  Choose a scripture that you can turn to in the time when you want to fight back.  At the point that a wrong is done to you, say something like: Matthew 6:14 “I forgive others when they sin against me and my heavenly Father also forgives me.” or Luke 6:37  “I Forgive and I am forgiven.”

Of course, there are many other scriptures you can turn to but selecting a scripture ahead of time to go to when you know it is right to forgive will lead you in the direction of making forgiveness a habit.  Next, look for an opportunity to do something good to stomp out those evil feelings that come.  Lastly, pray for the person that has come against you.  Prayer will open the door to connect them to God.  In lifting that person up in prayer, you are draining your hurt feelings out and filling back up with God’s love at the same time.

I’ve seen it happen so many times, never really considering why.  When I was mistreated, reprimanded, humiliated or embarrassed by someone, I focused on forgiving and praying to rid myself of the hurt I felt.  Not long after, I would hear of failure or misfortune coming to them.  I didn’t will that, I didn’t even think it, my only concern was to keep my heart headed in the right direction and to pray God would reach that person.  Whether it was God, or just a result of their prideful attitude, the fall came to them none the less.

Today I want to encourage you to let God handle the payment for a wrong done.  Keep yourself and your heart clean from the bitterness and resentment that can result from offense.  Forgive and pray and if you find you can’t do this, ask God for help.  He will empower you.  God will avenge you and you don’t even have to have anything to do with it.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 12:18-21