Commendation Before Correction
Quarrels and divisions within the church are simply the outward expression of pride. The Corinthian church was blessed with faithful leaders and teachers, but they dishonored those servants and the Lord Himself with their self-centered attitudes.
Singing the Doxology to God
Paul fittingly closes his foundational epistle to the Romans with a doxology—praise to the God of all wisdom, truth, honor, and eternal blessing. May we join in praising Him with our lips and our lives.
Masterpieces of Grace
The gospel was given to real people who believed and served and loved and often suffered for the name of Jesus. The people we read of in this passage are people we will meet someday, and they remind us that no one is too insignificant to be part of God’s gallery of grace.
Severe Warnings of Danger
As Paul wraps up his letter to the Romans, he gives us two timely and urgent cautions. We are to watch out for false teachers in our midst who seek to lead us astray, and we are to seek wisdom in what is good and innocence with regard to the evil all around us.
The Roll Call of Heaven
Although the Bible is full of rich doctrine, it is not a theoretical or academic book. Jesus Christ came to save people, and many of them are named in His Word. We can learn many things from reading about these people, most especially that God knows us and treasures us in His Son.
Urgent Prayer Requests from Paul
Paul, the great apostle and missionary for Jesus Christ, keenly recognized his need of prayer and repeatedly implored God's people to pray for him. Today we look at the concerns he shared and the lessons we can take from them.
When Expectations Don't Take Place
The plans and hopes we have for our future may not turn out the way we desired. God is sovereign, and He does not owe us an explanation for what He does. But like the apostle Paul, we can trust Him and know that He will arrange things for His glory and our greatest joy.
Refusing a Place on the Pedestal
The Christian life is a journey. We start at "It's all about me" and head toward "It's all about Jesus." Today we learn from the apostle Paul three ways we can learn to be humble and grow in magnifying Christ in our lives.
Wearing Different Hats of Helpfulness
God gave Paul the work of encouraging, instructing, and preaching and ministering to people. He calls us also--each in various ways--to fulfill the same work among people all around us.
Never Hopeless and Never Helpless
In order to maintain the unity that God wants us to have, we must embrace three things: the Scriptures in their entirety, fellow believers without exception, and our Sovereign Savior, Jesus Christ. In Him we can stand strong together and triumph over our enemy, Satan.