Devotional
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Daily Readings: Romans 13 and Psalm 109 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 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…
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Daily Readings: Romans 12 and Psalm 108 Romans 11 invited us to marvel at the mercy of God, and now chapter 12 begins with the instruction: “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…
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Daily Readings: Romans 11 and Psalm 107 Personally, I find it more edifying to consider Romans 11 from a birds-eye point of view than to place it under a magnifying glass. Paul’s arguments might feel very convoluted to us, but his two over-riding concerns in this chapter are to encourage Jewish Christians in Rome not…
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Daily Readings: Romans 10 and Psalm 106 In Romans 10, Paul makes a very straightforward point: Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, there is only one way to be made right with God. No one will ever be able to do so by obeying the Law, because no one can ever perfectly obey…
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Daily Readings: Romans 9 and Psalm 105 In Romans 9, the thoroughly Jewish Paul wrestles with a tragic reality. In every city he visited (remember Acts) he had gone first to the synagogues to share the Gospel with the Jews, yet by and large the Gospel was rejected there, and only a small number received…
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Daily Readings: Romans 8 and Psalm 104 What astounding news! Romans 7 painted the bleak picture of us trying desperately to please God and to be right with Him by obeying His law, but being so caught up in sin’s power that we simply could not. Our situation was absolutely desperate and our only hope…
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Daily Readings: Romans 7 and Psalm 103 Romans 7 is a very complicated chapter. In v.1-6, Paul’s argument continues along the same vein as Romans 6 and argues, metaphorically, that by one’s baptism one shares in the death of Christ. Then he adds the metaphor of marriage, and argues that before faith in Christ one…
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Daily Readings: Romans 6 and Psalm 102 In Romans 6 Paul addresses questions that might be raised about the place of sin in a believer’s life. Using two main images, Paul makes his point: Sin should never be willingly entertained or warmly welcomed in the life of a believer; it should be strongly rejected and…
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Daily Readings: Romans 5 and Psalm 101 Each chapter of Romans builds on the one before and unfolds more and more truth about the saving work of God through Jesus Christ. But there are times when Paul’s explanations feel quite challenging to follow. If you find that to be the case today, you’ll probably benefit…
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Daily Readings: Romans 4 and Psalm 100 What shall we say, then, of Abraham, the father of our race? What was his experience? If he was put right with God by the things he did, he would have something to boast about—but not in God’s sight. The scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith…
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