1 Corinthians 7:20-24 You Are Free, Yet A Slave

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Jesus said, "The last shall be first, and the first shall be last." This is the way it is in the kingdom of Heaven. You want to talk about a purpose driven life? God has called me and each and every one of you. He has called the rich and also the poor. It is his desire the the poor shall be freed from their poverty by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also his desire that the ones who have richly received God's favor be slaves for for the gospel. God loves an intelligent vigorous person who strives hard to bring his word to the people. He will use him greatly so that those who have not known Jesus may know him and love him. Daily Prayer: Father, I am so glad that we do not have to worry about being called, because all are called by you. You have many kinds of vessels for your use. Some common and some honorable. Whichever the case, let us be happy with our lot, because you so loved the world, that you gave your only son, so that whoever believes in him shall inherit eternal life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 Holiness In Marriage

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? The Bible teaches us that we should not be unequally yoked. That is a saint should not marry a person of the world. If they do, they are not apart of the Kingdom of God, but the kingdom of Satan. If a saint finds themselves married to a non-Christian, they should not conform to the world as the pagan does, but sanctify their partner in the Word of God and their Savior Jesus Christ so that the Holy Spirit may impart new life in this one so that they too become a Child of God and make their marriage Holy. This way too, the children have a good guide of what godliness looks like. Daily Prayer: Lord, give strength the those Christians who have a marriage partner who does not know you. By Your Spirit, impart new life in this one so that the marriage can mirror the kind of union you had in mind and may be made holy. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Concerning Married Life

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control I say this as a concession, not as a command I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. The text is clear that when a man and a woman come together, the two flesh become one. For this reason and man and a woman's body is not their own, but is used for sexual satisfaction of their partner. By living sexuality this way, it prevents Satan from temping anyone because the person is living a fulfilled life. Daily Prayer: Lord, husbands and wives come together as one, the way you intended. Let husbands satisfy their wives with their body and in turn the wife satisfy the man so that no we live our live according to your plan. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 Honor Your Body, Because Whatever You Do To It, You Do To Christ Jesus

You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. These passages remind us that Christians are one with Christ, so whatever we do unto the body, we do unto him. So we are to show prudence with our body, because it belongs to and affects the Living God. Daily Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom when it comes to the use of our body. Let us not resentment that it belongs to you, but instead have joy, knowing that you count us worthy to be with you. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:9-12 Believers in Christ Have Been Cleansed & Set Apart From the World

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. It is a matter of transformation when it comes to the sins of the world. Behavior that we once considered "instinct" is nothing more than the Old Man raising his ugly head. When you have been born of the Spirit of God, you must set aside the habits of the world and die to them. Then you will be raised from your death so that you can live life anew and live for Christ and God the Father. This is the sign of your redemption. This is the evidence of your salvation. Daily Prayer: Create in me a clean heart O God. And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Lawsuits Among Believers

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people. Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. This continues the conversation about Christian Discipline. In these verses, it seems that the Christian Community has regressed. There was a time when God would raise up judges (The Book of Judges) to handle disputes among God's people. Moses himself made judgment among the Jews, not the secular world. Jesus was tried not only by Rome, but also by the Jews (although wrongly tried). So Paul is saying, "Why do you go to the gentiles who reign over you to handle disputes?" Wisdom states that the wise among you should handle such matters and not to shame yourself by going outside the fellowship. Daily Prayer: Lord it is true that we are lax in judging one another within the Body of Christ. Let us gird up our loins and take corrective measures to judge ourselves by your word, and not the word of the world. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

1 Corinthians 5:2-13 Church Discipline

And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside. God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” This is the command for church discipline. Those who claim Christ as Savior and then act like the unregenerate should be expelled from fellowship. Have nothing to do with such a one. But to the sinners outside the church, evangelize to them so that their soul may be saved and so that they may pass judgment. Daily Prayer: Lord, let me not be everyone's judge, but to judge myself and my standing with you. Let me examine myself and call on you for power to walk by the Spirit so that I may overcome the flesh. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

1 Corinthians 4: 9-17 The Elect Mirror Christ, In Suffering, Persecution, and Death

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. The world is at war with the saints. Those who receive Christ will receive the same kind of treatment the world dealt him: ridicule, persecution, and death. Yet the world does not have the final answer. The final answer is the gospel which says Christ lived for God, he was persecuted and punished and died. But he arose from the dead and so shall we who are not ashamed of our Savior and take hold of his promises. By faith we are saved by grace, but not from our works. Salvation is a work of God and not of man, lest anyone should boast. Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:1-8 Do Not Judge & Don't Be Proud - All Abilities Belong To The Lord

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! One who is king is no more valued by Christ than a laborer. Did not Christ appoint the king and give you your lot? Do not worry about outward appearance, but be careful with the intentions of the heart. Therefore do not judge, because this was appointed to Christ. Instead protect your heart so that on that day, your passions may be found pure and your labor fair. Then Christ will reward you as a good steward of what has been given you. Daily Prayer: Lord, let me be satisfied with your grace. Let me not desire what is not mine, but to what you have given me, let me be faithful. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:12-23 In That Day, the Nature of our Work Will Be Evident

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. This text is talking about Christians as co-laborers with Christ. While the work of the Christian does not hinder their salvation, it most surely affects reward. There will be a reckoning day for Christians. They will be tested by fire. For those whose work cannot withstand testing, the Christian will be saved, but their heavenly reward forfeited. But to those whose work is diligent and passes the test, they will receive godly reward. For the one whose reward has been forfeited, their will be profound regret. Daily Prayer: Lord, let us live this day in light of the coming judgment. Let is give you our first and our bast so that on that Day, you will say "Well done, good and faithful servant. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:1-8 New Converts Are Infants in the Faith

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. All too often, converts to Christianity follow the one who led them to Christ instead of partaking in Christ personally. This is what is said to be an infant in Christ. At this point they really don't understand being crucified with Christ and dying to ones self. They have one foot in the world and one in the church when the Spirit and the world are at enmity with one another. Maturity in the faith understands that in order to live with Christ, you must die to yourself and set his priorities as your priorities knowing that Christ rewards to faithful. All credit for the transformation in your life belongs to God, because he is the one who gives new life. Daily Prayer: Father, help me to surrender to your will so that I may truly live. This does not come naturally, so by your Spirit, give me the power that I lack. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:1-8 God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Who knows the mind of God except the Spirit of God? And who knows the mind of man except the spirit of the man. In order for our faith to be on firm ground, it needs to be based on the revelation of God. So what better way than to connect the Spirit of God with the spirit of man so that man can know the will of God and base his faith unshakable on it. Daily Prayer: Lord God, come to me by your Spirit. By this I may know you and base my faith on the knowledge you impart to me. This faith will be unshakable and by my means of salvation and everlasting life. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 When You Boast, Boast In The Lord

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” It is God's way to demonstrate his power by working through the weak. Israel was chosen because they were a small and vulnerable country. David was chosen to slay Goliath without using a sword. Our salvation was given, even though we were born into sin. We have no merit of our own, but through the gospel we have a champion in Jesus Christ who abides in us and we in him so that because of who Jesus is we can boast in his gospel which is his forgiveness and everlasting life in him. Daily Prayer: Lord, let us boast, but not in ourselves but in our Savior who is able to deliver me from judgment and hell into life everlasting. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. These verses are the crux of the Christian life. It contrasts God's wisdom and his revelation in Jesus Christ with human reasoning. The problem with human reason is it acts in rebellion to the will of God. It places man in the center of life when God is the all in all. Human reasoning is frail and errant and God's wisdom saves us from our sin. Therefore our proper response is to submit to the will of God and surrender to his wisdom so that we do not perish, but have eternal life. Daily Prayer; Lord, you have said if we pray for wisdom, you will give it abundantly. Give us the power to know and obey you and walk away from our own ideas and our rebellion that leads do death. Amen and Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Love By God To Those In Christ

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. God gives gifts to those who have received the Son as Savior. First he gives them understanding of him and God's oracles. Second he sends the Holy Spirit to indwell believers who bestows upon the believer spiriual gifts to strenghen the Church of Jesus Christ. Finally God give faithful protection to them who were called into fellowship with his son and bestows upon them the grace of heaven, all the days of their lives. Daily Prayer: Lord is there are those who want to belive, help them in their unbelief. Give them the faith they need to enter the family of God and receive your everlasting blessings. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.

Romans 16:17-20 Those Who Are Against Jesus Are Anti-Christs

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Enemies of Christ are often times referred to as tempters. They are those who like Satan himself, twist the words of Jesus and say, Did he really say that? The Bible says we should not be unequally yoked. That is the spirit and the world are at emnity with one another and the body (who are the people) need to stand as one and not divided. Remember, anyone who does not give full credit to Christ is the anti-Christ and should to separated from those who cling to the truth.

Romans 15:14-26 Preach to the Unchurched & Give to the Poor

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gav to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit yo I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. The goal in evangelism is to reach those who have not heard. Those who are churched already have a shepherd. Jesus commanded us to go unto all the nations proclaimining the gospel of Jesus Christ and he promises to be with us, even to the end of the age. As more people come to Christ, they will see the world as Jesus did, full of want and need. This will compel people to action and compassion so that we will give to others according to their need. Daily Prayer: Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit so that our belief is coupled with action. Let us not be complacient Christians, hoarding your grace for ourselves, but instead let us love one another and give sacrificially. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Romans 15:1-13 We Are All Called To Be The People Of God

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Footnotes:Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49 Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43 Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1 Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint) Christ died on the Cross and raised from the dead for the benefit of all souls. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but inherit eternal life. It is true that the Jews are the only people who have a covenant with God and Jesus was born ethnically as a Jew. But God is the God of all people and offers salvation and forgiveness of sins to whoever receives his Son and his death as a substitute for their own. God created all people and all people depend on Him. Daily Prayer: Lord God, thank you for sending your Son to be my Savior. Not only the savior of the world, by my savior. By this I know my soul will never die and in my future, I will dwell with you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Romans 14:1-15 Do Not Judge the Weak in Faith

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. The moral of this message is this: Do not judge the weak or ignorent ones who may even be wrong in their beliefs. Remember that it is Chist that makes people either stand or fall. So if someone has superstititons about godly matters, do not judge this one, because their beliefs convince them of their sins and we don't want to lead people into their own self-perceived sin. Instead, enjoy the freedom Chist has given you and do not lead peeople into harm.

Romans 13: 8-14 Love One Another, Because the Hour is Near

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh is at emnity with the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer. Do not repay evil as the evil one does. Instead love your neighbor as yourself. This way you creat no sin. Because you are saved, live your life in him so that all will know you belong to him and will bring no charge against you because Christ will protect you. Daily Prayer: Forgive me Lord, for the times I fought back against evil. Give me a gracious love that is capable of loving my enemies, expecting nothing in return. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Romans 13:1-7 Submission to Governing Authorities

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, but render unto God, that which is God's. Here Jesus is reminding us that our governors are not against the Kingdom of Heaven, but support it by supressing evil. Nobody comes into political office apart from God's will. We are reminded that he who is not against Me is with Me. Therefore submit to the governement as they are God's agent for good. Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me do my share in civil obedience. Let me have a good conscience at the end of the day that I did not strive against Your agents for good. Amen.

Romans 12:17-21 Do Not Judge, Instead Imitate Christ

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. You may ask, Why shouldn't we judge. Its becase Jesus is judge and His judgment is right. You may ask, Why repay evil with good? To repay evil with evil is somethings even the pagans do. Your identification is with Christ and we should imitate Him, not his adversary. It costs no more to do well than to do evil and in doing well, it glorifies God. Daily Prayer: Create in me a clean heart my God and let me always remember to give thanks for my salvation. Because of you I will live forever, but more than that, I will dwell with you. Amen and Amen.

Romans 12:9-16 Love in Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Paul is repeating the teaching of Jesus. Not to esteem yourself, love your enemy, and rejoice in the hope you have been given. Practice faithfulness and diligence and to raise up those in a low posistion, because it is only by God's grace you have what was given to you. Amen and Amen.

Romans 12:3-8 Humble Service in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. When we are ill or become injured, the whole body serves the needs of the injured party. When it healts and another becomes ill, this part comes to the rescue in service to the ill. So it is in the body of Christ. There are no "bid I's" or "little You's" here. Instead each person has been bestowed with a spiritual gift, according to the grace of God to edify all others. There are various gifts, but the same body and many talents, but the same Lord. Whatever we have is not our own and belongs to God for His glory. Daily Prayer: Holy God, disclose to each of us the gift you have in store to all those who believe. Let us use this gift to your glory and not hide is but instead display it as the grace of God who loves me. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Romans 12:1-2 Our Bodies As Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Our bodies are not our own - They belong to the Lord as our sacrifice. Our bodies should not be found doing detestable things, because they were given to us for service. Our bodies should be holy just as Christ is holy, set aside for his purposes. Daily Prayer: Lord help us to understand that our bodies are your and not to use them as a vehicle for sin. Make this detestable in our minds so that we are prone to obey You. In your holy name I pray Amen.