The Daily Dose

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

Embrace what is good

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Romans 12:9

This is a pretty simple message, but not so easy to live by.  To hate what is evil, and cling to or embrace what is good.  If you are not sure what that looks like or even how to do it, Paul lays it out in the following verses.  Verses 10-17 of this chapter is a list of ways to shun evil and do good.  It is a straightforward list and when you read through it, I’m sure you will agree that it makes sense.  However, read it again and think about each directive on the list and you will come to realize that help will be needed to accomplish all that is written here.  Thank goodness for the Holy Spirit who empowers, enables and even equips us to live this kind of life that honors God. 

Read over the list several times and then ask the Holy Spirit to help and empower you today to not only remember these things, but also to do them.

1. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love
2.  Honor others by giving preference to them – put others first
3. Do not neglect to be diligent
4. Be fervent/passionate in spirit
5. serving the Lord (By loving others)
6. rejoicing in hope (be joyful)
7. patient in tribulation
8. constant in prayer
9. distributing to the needs of the saints
10. given to hospitality
11. Bless those who persecute you
12. bless and do not curse (with your words and thoughts)
13. Rejoice with those who rejoice
14. weep with those who weep
15. Be of the same mind toward one another – in agreement
16. Do not set your mind on high/self promoting things, but associate with the humble
17. Do not be wise in your own opinion
18. Repay no one evil for evil – pay back
19. Have regard/think about good things in the sight of all people

Today I want to encourage you to turn away from what is evil and embrace what is good by doing what is good.  Submit and surrender all of your heart and attitudes over to your Heavenly Father.  Ask the Holy Spirit to make His heart real in your life and let it show up in the way you love others and the words of encouragement you speak.  Put away the cursing and complaining you used to do and begin to speak life and joy into others.  Look for the good in those people around you and help draw that out of them.  See their potential and inspire them to live up to it.  Anyone can surrender to the evil ways of the world and most do, but that is not for God’s people.  We are different, and that should be recognized by the way we love like Jesus loved.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 12:9-17

What is your gift

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: Romans 12:6

You have gifts.  We all do!  Talents and abilities that we use in life, hopefully for God’s glory and His kingdom’s progress here in the world.  We talked about gifting’s in chapter 11 of Romans and how God gives gifts to us that never go away.  Even if you don’t use them, they are still buried somewhere inside of you.

Today’s reading is about using our gifts in proportion to our faith.   What does that even mean?  Well, your gifts will never pass up where you are spiritually.  If your relationship with God is in its infancy, your gift will only be developed at that level.  As you grow in your relationship and walk closer to Him through the Holy Spirit each day, your gifts will become more developed and more utilized.  More opportunities will come for you to use them and you will operate in those abilities more comfortably.  You will have a knowing that this is what you were born to do and it will make life worth living.

A good scriptural example of this is the life of Joseph, Jacob’s son.   As a young man, he had been gifted with dreams and interpretations, but he didn’t know what to do with it.  He ended up in a place he did not want to be.  As he was faithful in his service and kept his heart toward God, his gifting began to grow and develop until it was the very thing that opened the door for him to step into his purpose for living.  He saved his family and his nation.

That’s all fine and good, but how does that apply to us today?  As we begin to humble ourselves and come together with other members of the body of believers, each of us grow and develop in our gifts and calling.  As we serve one another and grow, doors and opportunities will open up for us to step into the purpose we have been given life.

Today I want to encourage you to discover your gifts.  If you already know what they are, begin to use them to bless and serve others.  This is the true reason we have been gifted, to work with others to grow God’s kingdom, not for personal gain.  As you serve faithfully, like Joseph did, opportunities will come your way that will put you right in the place you were created to be.  If you do not know what your gifts are, begin to pray about them.  Be faithful to serve where you are.  Even in your secular job, be helpful and go the extra mile to grow in your faithfulness.  Your gift will begin to show up in what you excel in.  Always be on the look out for who you can bless and who you can serve and you will soon find you are on the road to all you were created to be.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 12:3-8

Renewed mind

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.”  Romans 12:1-2

Today I want to talk about renewing your mind.  What does is the meaning of renew?  The best description I have come up with is rebuild.  Renewing your mind is like tearing down your old way of thinking and building or replacing it with a new thought process that lines up with God and His Word. It’s like doing a “thought life” renovation.  However, it doesn’t stop there, it is continuous.  Renewing your mind is something that needs to be done daily to purge out the world view you are continuously exposed to.  You could say “flushing” out the wrong thoughts you had yesterday and filling back up with God thoughts from God’s Word today.  Renewing your mind is a process that can only be accomplished by taking in the Word of God.  By lining your thinking up with God’s Word and God’s ways, you are lining your thoughts up with God Himself.

In today’s scripture Paul starts out by pleading with His readers (body of believers) by God’s mercy or God’s goodness in place of our deserved punishment.  He wants his readers to honor God by giving their body/lives as a “living” sacrifice not a dead one.  A living sacrifice is different than the sacrifice of blood that was required under the old covenant.  In becoming a living sacrifice/offering we submit our life to God by being willing and obedient in all things.  This is seemingly not an easy position to stay in.  Most of us are “living sacrifices” that keep getting up off the altar because we are off doing our own thing again.  However, Paul says this is our reasonable service or, in other words, the very least we should be doing because of what He has done for us.  We can maintain our offering by purposefully submitting to God and His Word every day and trusting Him to lead our steps and attitude.

Next, he goes on to talk about renewing your mind, rebuilding to be transformed.  The reality is that renewal of the mind is the only way to become the “living sacrifice”.  It is not something you can do in your own efforts.  To be a truly living sacrifice, there must be a daily submission to God’s plan and Word and then a willing heart to obey the direction He gives.  He ends this thought by saying this is the only way to demonstrate the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. These are three different progressions.  1. turning from doing evil to doing good 2. becoming accepted or pleasing by serving others 3. walking out the perfect will/plan of God to completion!

Today, I want to encourage you to examine your life as a living sacrifice.  Ask yourself if you are laying down your life/will daily to pick up the plan God has for you by renewing/lining up your thoughts with His Word.  Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and make His path plain and His voice loud and clear so you can willingly obey every direction He gives.  Then remember to thank Him for empowering you to offer up your life and lead your life in the way you should go.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 12

Gifts and calling

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  Romans 11:29

If you are anything like me, you have probably messed up a lot in life.  However, as much as I missed it, the gifts and abilities that God gave me always showed up.  I used them at my jobs and in my homes, though I only was doing what I needed to do to survive.  The talents and skills still needed to be developed and grown.  I didn’t realize that I was being successful many times because of God’s blessing and because of the abilities God equipped me with.  All that God had put in me from the beginning, had never changed and never will.  I just didn’t use them for the right purpose.  It was all about me, mine and surviving.

You can quite easily see this in the world today.  It is really how most people live.  Some may look very successful because they have a lot of things and money, but they are empty inside because they are using what God gave them to use for His kingdom progress for their own glory.

In today’s reading, Paul is talking again about the people of Israel rejecting their Messiah, Jesus.  He says that because they did not receive their Savior, they have been cut off from the from the root, or the source of salvation.  We as people outside of the Jewish nation have been grafted/implanted to the root.  He also says that the Hebrew people can be grafted back in because that was God’s original plan to begin with.  He has not shut them off completely.  No, His desire is to have them come back and be reattached to the root.  His calling to them and His gifts are irrevocable and have not and will not ever change.

Today I want to encourage you to take a look at the gifts and calling on your life.  Consider if you are using them for God’s glory and Kingdom purposes.  If you conclude that you are using them solely for your own survival or success, turn them over to your Father today.  If you are not sure what He has gifted you or called you to, spend some time talking to Him about it.  Ask Him to reveal to you the strengths He has placed within you.  One technique I have discovered is to do a little extreme dreaming.  What I am talking about is think about what you would like to do if you didn’t have to think about survival.  If time and money were not an issue, what is in your heart to do.  The dream may not look doable, but it will reveal the desire of your heart.  You will finally understand what you were created for because it is what you have been gifted and called to do.  Those gifts and that call will never go away, so you might as well surrender it to Him today and fulfill all that is inside you to do.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 11