God Is the Root That Supports You

Scripture: Romans 11: 12, 16, 18

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!(12) If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.(16) do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(18)

Scripture Commentary: God is the root of the tree

As sinners we are branches that have fallen off of the olive tree. When we repent and come to Christ, we are being grafted onto Jesus’ tree. We become a part of his family and we are supported by he who is the root.

As members of the tree, we have a responsibility to graft more branches onto our single body. We do not have a right to put others down. This is analogous to Paul’s vision for the church, where Jews and Gentiles would unite with God and Christ. God’s original plan was for the Jews to be a source of God’s blessings to the Gentiles.

There is great rejoicing when we come to Christ

We have been grafted onto a tree representative of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, we must work to unite Jews and Gentiles, and to become one with Christ.

When a Jew comes to Christ, there is a great rejoicing. Symbolically, a dead person has come back to life. When Christ is in you, a new you has been born. We are all absolutely dependent upon God. He is the root of the tree, the source of all things including ourselves. God deserves our praise.

Have you been grafted into the family, or are you a wild olive branch?

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Romans Chapter 11

Are You Believing In the Jesus Who Saves?

Scripture: Galatians 3:2-5

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain?So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Scripture Commentary: Whoever lives believing in Jesus will never die

Do you walk with Christ because you believe your deeds will save you from damnation? Or, does your life in Christ come from faith that Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead to save us all? If you believe your works will save you, you are wrong. Having faith and believing in Jesus are the keys to the kingdom of God.

Before faith, we did not have salvation. We were all prisoners to sin, and God recognized this. We were beaten down by past mistakes and choked by desires that we knew were wrong. God gave us a way out through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus, everyone is held in the clutches of sin. When you put your life in Jesus’ hands you are free. Alone, we are weak. The law of the flesh is weak and we should not work so hard to keep it. Trust Jesus.

We can only grow spiritually if we let God work in us by His Spirit. God remains constant and does not break his promises.

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Galatians Chapter 3

God Is Light, in Him Is No Darkness

Scripture: 1 John 1: 5,7

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.(5) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.(7)

Scripture Commentary: God is light that brings us out of darkness

Light represents what is good and pure. God is light because he is perfect, holy, and true. Darkness represents sin and evil. God alone can guide us through darkness and out of sin.

Truth is like light. Sometimes the truth is good, and sometimes it is bad. Similarly, light exposes both what is pretty and ugly. In the light, good and evil are easily distinguishable. The dark is deceiving because good and evil look alike.

The light exposes the darkness in our soul

Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, and sin cannot exist in the presence of God. If we want to have a relationship with God, we must put aside our sinful ways of living. If we claim to walk with Jesus, but then set out on our own paths, we are hypocrites. Christ will expose and judge such deceit.

Walk in God’s light … do not be blinded by darkness

The soul has your record. The soul is God’s gift to you. You cannot be a christian and still live in evil and immorality. We have a choice of living in sin or living in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for our sins. You can either walk in the light and recognize the truth, or be blind in the darkness.

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1 John Chapter 1

How Do You Use Your Worldly Goods?

Scripture: Luke 12: 19, 46

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.(19) The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.(46)

Scripture Commentary: We should work to make sure our worldly goods benefit more than ourselves

I have worked all my life to acquire worldly goods for myself and for my family. This is true for most of us. God gives us the ability to do many things, and we use his gifts to survive. But we cannot use the gifts he gives us solely for our own progression. We must use them for the glory of God.

When you accept Jesus Christ in your life, you become a servant to God. God tells us not to worry because he has provided for us and for our foul, cattle, and fields. We do not have to be anxious about tomorrow.

Our faith in Christ sets us free from the anxiety of our worldly life. Do not be the rich man, and die before you use your gifts for the work of God. Jesus challenges us to use our gifts, not for earthbound goals, but for God’s kingdom.

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Luke Chapter 12

Jesus Is the One and Only

Scripture: John 8: 19, 21, 24

Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me, or my father,” Jesus replied. “If you know me, you would know my Father also.”(19) Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(21) I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.(24)

Scripture Commentary: Jesus is the one true light

Jesus is “the one.” He is who he claimed to be. Rejecting him is rejecting our only salvation. Christ died for our sins and recognizing that, and living by that, is what saves us from our sins. People live by the values of this world and ignore the gift Christ gave us.

Where is your focus; on the values of this world or on the priceless gift of an eternal life with God? Jesus is the truth that sets us free, and rejecting him means lying to yourself. He is the standard for what is right and he is a model for how we should try to live.

The truth can free you from the consequence of your sin. He is the truth that will break down your self deception, and deception by Satan. You have a choice to know the truth or lie to yourself. Do not leave here without Jesus Christ in your life.

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John Chapter 8

One Day Is as a Thousand Years

Scripture: 2 Peter 3: 8-9

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness; but is longsuffering to toward you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Scripture Commentary: Live one day at a time doing your best for God

When we decide to put our struggles in God’s hands, there is often an expectation that he will help us in the near future. People often desire instant gratification, but what is one day to us, is as a thousand years to God.

Have you ever found yourself in a troubling situation and considered how you got there? Often, we (ourselves) are the cause of our own struggling. If God cleared up our obstacles immediately, then we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn something and grow stronger.

God seems slow, but he is not; God is on a different time table

Jesus is waiting for more sinners to repent and turn to him before he returns. We cannot sit around and wait for Jesus to return. We must live with the realization that our earthly time is short, and there is important work to be done for the Kingdom of God on earth.

Live in eager expectation of the coming of the Lord, and know that God has provided you with all that you need to survive.

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2 Peter Chapter 3

Value Others As You Do Yourself

Scripture: Philippians 2: 1-3

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Scripture Commentary: Humility involves having a true perspective about ourselves

Selfish ambition can ruin a person and a church but genuine humility can build both. Many people, even christians, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. Self ambition and/or vain conceit brings discord. We are to value others above ourselves.

Paul stressed spiritual unity, asking that everyone love one another and be of one spirit and purpose with Our Lord Jesus Christ. If we work together, caring for each other’s problems as if they were our own, then we are living by Jesus’ example of putting others first.

This doesn’t mean that we’re putting ourselves down. This just means that we work to move out of our selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy.

You can approach life expecting to be served or you can be a server for God

We are all sinners before God, saved by His grace. Because He saved us, we have great worth in His kingdom.

Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up His rights to obey God and serve us. We are to serve out of love, not guilt or fear.

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Philippians Chapter 2

Ask God and Believe He Will Answer You

Scripture: James 1: 5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Scripture Commentary: If any man lack wisdom, let him ask God

Do you ask God for guidance in your life or for things in your life? Everyone has needs, but what of other people’s needs?

Do you go out and seek to help others? If you follow Jesus, you know He will take care of you. By studying the Word, God will give you the wisdom. And wisdom is practical discernment that begins with respect for God which leads to living right. The result is an increased ability to discern right from wrong.

If your mind wavers between earthly things and God, then you’re on the wrong path. To stabilize your wavering or doubtful mind, commit yourself wholeheartedly to God. He will put you on solid ground.

True wealth lies in developing your spiritual life, not your financial assets. God is interested in what is lasting (your soul), not in what is temporary (money or possessions).

Strive to treat people as God treats you.

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James 1

Don’t Stew in Bitterness, Rage and Anger

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Scripture Commentary: Bitterness, rage and anger are the path that leads to Satan

God, in His grace and mercy, has forgiven us for our past and for our sins. He has given us new life. If we are His, then we can forgive others as He has forgiven us. If we can’t say anything good about a person, then we are to say nothing. We are to go to God and let the Holy Spirit that is in us work in us, then we will see and feel the bitterness, rage and anger peel away.

The Bible doesn’t tell us that we shouldn’t feel angry, but we shouldn’t hold onto that negative emotion. Anger will destroy and give Satan a hold on us. Paul tells us to deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships.

God forgave us! We shouldn’t let a day end without working to mend our relationships. We are to mirror God’s love to others.

God acted in love by sending His only son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. He was raised from the grave on the third day to give us a way to be with Him and His Father for eternity.

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Ephesians 4

Salvation Is a Gift of God That Cannot Be Earned

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Scripture Commentary: God, through Jesus Christ, has given us the gift of salvation

How do we respond to this gift? We should respond to the gift of salvation with gratitude, praise and joy.

We became christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part.

If we are grateful for this free gift, we will naturally seek to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness. We won’t work to merely please ourselves. No action or work we do can helps us obtain salvation. God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service.

We are not saved merely for our own benefit but in order to serve Christ and build up His church.

Go out and encourage others who are struggling. Show, through action, the love of Jesus Christ.

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Ephesians Chapter 2