I am back! Sorry for the troubles with my internet and then my blog over the last couple days. Pastor Jason who works on my team and manages a lot of things in updating my blog settings discovered a number of people had tried to break into my blog to hack it. So Jason reset everything in so doing I was a bit confused on how to get into the blog and then the blog was blocking me because of the new security settings, and so on and so on…But I am here and glad to be back!

Now to today’s reading, Romans chapters 15 & 16:

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” -Romans 15:1

If we lived by this text in our churches and in our world, but for now let us just consider our churches, how much conflict and distraction from petty things would be avoided. Think of all the fights over carpet colors or music style (not based on conviction but preference) or what about even when people get mad that someone sits in “their seat” at church. Yes, yes this really happens. If we lived by Romans 15:1 it never would.

This is not just good advice this is God’s call to us by more than just words, which are enough, but they are strengthened, if that is possible by verse 3a,

“For even Christ did not please Himself;” -Romans 15:3a

The next time we start to want our own way can we pause and remember Jesus even did not do things just as He wanted.

Another text that I was touched by is the reminder of the purpose of scripture,

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” -Romans 15:4

The way Paul writes points can get lost, but here is the point of that text,

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that…we might have hope.”

Scripture instructs us to give us hope. If we find ourselves walking away from the Bible discouraged, arrogant, proud, angry, etc…we are missing the point, we should walk away with HOPE!

Finally in Romans 16:7 a name is mentioned, “Junia” or “Junias” this name was a name of much contention over the last 5 years. Follow THIS LINK and read a nice article from The General Conference’s Ministerial Magazine addressing this text and the significance of it.

Have a great Sabbath!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 28-31