Bible League: Living His Word For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.— Romans 1:11-12 NKJV Before his journey to Rome, the Apostle Paul was already in touch with the Christian congregation there. In his letter to the Romans, he expresses his strong desire to visit them in person. According to verse 8, the faith of the Romans is “spoken of throughout the whole world.” What a powerful testimony! No wonder Paul expects in verse 11 that he will be encouraged by the planned visit. In my role at Bible League, I have the tremendous privilege of visiting the ministry field and witnessing the Lord’s work. When I travel, today’s verses never fail to come true. Coming from the Netherlands and belonging to a denomination that has been around for multiple centuries, it is refreshing to visit young churches that so often resemble the New Testament’s congregations in zeal, commitment, and fire. Indeed, being part of the international Body of Christ is a bottomless source of amazement and gratitude. Gaps in culture, wealth, language, and forms of worship can be wide, but the mutual faith Paul refers to bridges them all. Whenever you meet over an open Bible, differences disappear. Local believers in remote places of underdeveloped countries often tell me how much they appreciate that someone from Western Europe takes the trouble to visit them. It helps them feel connected to the global Body of Christ. I always respond that the feeling of encouragement is mutual. In fact, I often think I can learn more from them than they can from me. Their hospitality, generosity, frankness, and sheer passion for Christ are so humbling. Here in Holland, churches are rapidly declining in number. The secular worldview gains more and more ground. Maybe, where you are, there are also reasons to be deeply concerned about the state of the Church. It can be persecution or the seemingly unbreakable strongholds of false religion. If that is the case, I encourage you to hold on to the reassuring knowledge of belonging to the global Body of Christ and that Jesus is the Lord of His Church. Look at what the Lord is doing around the world and feel the encouragement of our mutual faith. The good Lord has given us spiritual gifts to establish one another. Who can you encourage today by sharing the love of Christ? By Anton de Vreugd, Bible League International staff, the Netherlands Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingExodus 34, 35, 36 Exodus 34 -- Tablets Replaced; Covenant Renewed; Radiant Face of Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 35 -- Sabbath Rules; Workmen and Gifts for the Tabernacle NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 36 -- Bezalel and Oholiab; Gifts; Tabernacle Construction NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 23:1-22 Matthew 23 -- Woes Pronounced on Pharisees; Lament over Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I will thank the LORD because he is just;I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Insight During a time of great evil and injustice, David was grateful that God is righteous. When we wonder if anyone is honest or fair, we can be assured that God will continue to bring justice and fairness when we involve him in our activities. Challenge If you ever feel that you are being treated unfairly, ask the one who is always fair and just to be with you. Then thank him for his presence. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hosea 3:1 The love of the Lord.Believer, look back through all thine experience, and think of the way whereby the Lord thy God has led thee in the wilderness, and how he hath fed and clothed thee every day--how he hath borne with thine ill manners--how he hath put up with all thy murmurings, and all thy longings after the flesh-pots of Egypt--how he has opened the rock to supply thee, and fed thee with manna that came down from heaven. Think of how his grace has been sufficient for thee in all thy troubles--how his blood has been a pardon to thee in all thy sins--how his rod and his staff have comforted thee. When thou hast thus looked back upon the love of the Lord, then let faith survey his love in the future, for remember that Christ's covenant and blood have something more in them than the past. He who has loved thee and pardoned thee, shall never cease to love and pardon. He is Alpha, and he shall be Omega also: he is first, and he shall be last. Therefore, bethink thee, when thou shalt pass through the valley of the shadow of death, thou needest fear no evil, for he is with thee. When thou shalt stand in the cold floods of Jordan, thou needest not fear, for death cannot separate thee from his love; and when thou shalt come into the mysteries of eternity thou needest not tremble, "For I am persuaded, that neither death; nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Now, soul, is not thy love refreshed? Does not this make thee love Jesus? Doth not a flight through illimitable plains of the ether of love inflame thy heart and compel thee to delight thyself in the Lord thy God? Surely as we meditate on "the love of the Lord," our hearts burn within us, and we long to love him more. Daily Light on the Daily Path Deuteronomy 17:16 "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.'Hebrews 11:15,16,25,26 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. • But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. • choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, • considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 10:38,39 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. • But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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