“And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11)

            When you pray for someone, you ARE helping them.  It isn’t theoretical, nor is it just lip-service.  A thoughtful, devout, and serious praying Christian can arouse the might of the Ancient of Days.  The Lord hears and is moved to action by such reverent appeals.  Notice the language of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians – he acknowledges that God will do the delivering, but it will be through the helpful prayers of many which were loosed towards heaven’s throne on Paul’s behalf.

            You can always pray… and in fact, we should always be praying.  It should be woven into the fabric of our daily lives.  There should be times we set aside for it, but we should also be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice to entreat God or send Him our thanks.  Prayers matter, and congregations full of prayerful people open doors which would otherwise remain shut.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.” (Romans 16:22)

            When was the last time you thought about Tertius? Likely, this is the FIRST time you’ve ever thought about Tertius!  Tertius was the man who Paul dictated the Roman letter to.  Paul’s words, but Tertius’ handwriting.

            None of us remember Tertius, but we are deeply impacted by the work he did by sitting with Paul, listening, writing carefully, and properly penning the words of the Holy Spirit.  Tertius was a tiny cog in a mechanism that turned the world upside down.

            The lesson? Every Christian matters, and all kingdom work is worth doing.  You never know what your Tertius moment will be.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” (Romans 15:2)

            What would the world look like if this rule was put into place?  If we each woke up in the morning and viewed the day as an opportunity to do good to others and improve their lives?  Edification means ‘to build up’ in the same way a structure is an edifice – so, too, each person’s life is constructed of the moments and interactions within it.

            Typically, a good day is filled with moments of positive connection with others, and a bad day is filled with negative ones.  Though stuff can upset us, it is more often than not the individuals we come in contact with who make the biggest impact on our day.

            Helpful hands, smiling faces, and listening ears are always appreciated.  That extra second to hold the door or say, “Thank you!” with good eye contact and clear tone? These things make the difference.  Are we improving the lives of those around us? Are we showing and sharing Jesus with them? Are we inquisitive and curious about what they might need?

            If so – that’s a day well spent!

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.” (Romans 14:22)

At some point, all of us must own our faith.  Your loyalty to God cannot be built upon the reading and interpretation of others; it must be forged by your own personal study, investigation, and commitment to God.  No number of sermons, network of Christians, or shared public prayers can replace your own personal labor, private prayer, and inquisitive mind.

Our collective service is a wonderful thing and a gift from God.  It is an honor to serve alongside others, lock arms and raise our blades in unison with others who love the Lord… but you must also bow to Him alone.  Your faith must become your own conviction.  There is no such thing as faith by proxy.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)

You cannot put on the new until you have washed off the old.  The armor of light that is described in detail in Ephesians chapter six is alluded to here in Romans.  The helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness… all of these must be worn by soldiers who have shed their old lives to be effective.  The sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, must be wielded by clean hands, or it will harm both him who swings the blade and innocent bystanders, too.

We cannot add God to our life without subtracting evil, too.  The armor of God is not an accessory, and our spirituality isn’t an embellishment on our life – it is a transformation and renewal.  New clothes for a new person.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Let love be without hypocrisy.” (Romans 12:9)

Falsehood, insincerity, and lies are rampant throughout society.  The winking eye, the lying tongue, and the deceptive sleight of hand unfortunately mark many relationships.  They are pretend friends and convey love as a guise for selfish gain.  They are conditional upon reciprocity and personal benefit.  When we love only as long as we get something out of it… that is not love; it is manipulation.

Love from a place of goodness… love without hypocrisy and pretending… love for the sake of imitation of Jesus; in this, we shine His light.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“In the same way then, there has come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.” (Romans 11:5)

The Bible is full of references to ‘a remnant’.  When Israel complained and worshipped the golden calf, there was a remnant that still held fast.  When Elijah felt all alone and without companion, there remained seven thousand other souls who held to the Lord just like him.  When idolatry diseased the hearts of the nation of Judah and God drove them into captivity, a remnant of faithful like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego purposed in their hearts to continue faithfully in a foreign land.

The pattern throughout history is that the darker things get, the more we see God highlighting His remnant that cannot be destroyed.  The faithful are always out there quietly and loyally holding to God’s unchanging hand.  They remain even when God sweeps away the legions of religious hypocrites and hedonistic masses.  There will always be a remnant until the end comes, and the remnant is exalted as victors.

Remain true and be the remnant.  There are others. You are not alone.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” (Romans 10:11)

Whenever we put our faith in someone, we are sticking our neck out.  Whether it be vouching for a friend, relying on others for a group project, or becoming emotionally vulnerable by confiding in another – we put ourselves at risk of loss and disappointment whenever we believe in others.

The fear of rejection and past pain in being let down by others can lead us to shrink back from future relationships.  We superimpose our past pain upon new connections and run the risk of walling ourselves up because we don’t wish to be disappointed again.

Remember, God will never disappoint you.  He is faithful, and your confession and loyalty in Him will not go unrequited.  He sees you sticking your neck out.  He sees you making sacrifices, and He hears your vulnerable prayers.  He will not forsake you.

Hold fast to the good confession.  Your faith is not in vain.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16)

This verse when wrestled from its context has let to all sorts of troublesome doctrines leading men to believe that our personal conduct has no bearing on our salvation and that God has simply chosen who He will and will not save without regard to their obedience or will.  There are numerous passages which clearly teach the opposite of this nefarious doctrine, and I need not cite them all here – suffice it to say, the very existence of the Bible as God’s instructions to mankind disproves the doctrine.  Why instruct if our choices don’t matter?

However, Romans 9 is the conclusion to an entirely different matter.  Paul is explaining that God’s plan for the salvation of mankind came about through the counsel of God’s will and not any human’s.  God chose Jacob to be the progenitor of the nation of Israel, not Esau, before either boy had done good or bad. God used wicked men like Pharaoh to further His plans even as Pharaoh hated God.

The promises and path to Jesus were created solely because God wanted to and without the help or guidance of any human mind.  Salvation in Jesus is God’s plan, not ours.  You may decide whether or not to follow Jesus, but Jesus is King because of the will of God, and God’s will stands.  The plan is for us, but it is from Him.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

The Greek word used here for ‘revealed’ is ‘apokalypto’ – it is where we get the term ‘apocalypse’.  Paul is reminding us that there is a day coming in which all God’s plans will be disclosed… where the actual purpose of our lives will be uncovered and the eternal destiny of all will be unveiled.

This day is actively drawing nearer.  The plans are in action now, and God is currently working in the world, leading all of human history toward the day in which all the suffering, toil, pain, and heartache will be revealed as nothing in light of the glory of His eternal plans.  Each day, each second draws us nearer to that ultimate moment.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites