DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 11:
WORD OF WISDOM
There's nothing that God wants to do more than prove His power by keeping
His promises.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Fellowship
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued
stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers."
Acts 2:41-42
Many enjoy baking during the Christmas season, but they especially delight
in the opportunity it provides for fellowship as loved ones gather together
to enjoy the delicious fruit of their labor. One of the precious, although
sometimes overlooked, gifts we have through Christ is Christian fellowship.
It is impossible to overstate the importance and benefit of Christian
fellowship to our walk with God.
One of the keys to the power of the early church was the fact that they
spent so much time together. It is a hallmark of genuine believers that they
long to be together. Praying and learning the Word of God together
strengthens the bonds of unity in the church, but it also strengthens each
individual who takes part. The challenges and struggles we face as part of
daily life in a fallen world require more strength than any of us has on our
own. While we receive strength from God to face these battles ("the inward
man is renewed day by day," 2 Corinthians 4:16), He has also ordained that
we encourage and minister strength to each other during difficult times.
Christianity is not meant to be lived in isolation but in groups. Regular
fellowship with other believers--both as part of church services or
activities and on a personal basis-is meant to be a source of strength and
encouragement as we face the challenges and struggles of life. Thank God for
the fellowship you have with His people and together enjoy the celebration
of His birth.
Build and strengthen your relationships with God's people. True Christian
friendship is a gift from Him.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Romans 14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Law of Liberty
14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful
things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats
only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and
let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4
Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or
falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.
Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day,
observes it to the Lord; [a]and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord
he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God
thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God
thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For
if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.
Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end
Christ died [b]and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the
dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you
show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment
seat of [c]Christ. 11 For it is written:
"As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God."
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let
us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a
stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
The Law of Love
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean
of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is
unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no
longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom
Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for
the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [e]these things
is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by
which one may [f]edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the
sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who
eats with [g]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor
do anything by which your brother stumbles [h]or is offended or is made
weak. 22 [i]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he
who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is
condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is
not from faith is [j]sin.
Bearing Others' Burdens
15 We then who are strong ought to bear with the [k]scruples of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his
good, leading to [l]edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself;
but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on
Me." 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our
learning, that we through the [m]patience and comfort of the Scriptures
might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be
like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may
with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Glorify God Together
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received [n]us, to the
glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a [o]servant to the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the
fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is
written:
"For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name."
10 And again he says:
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"
11 And again:
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!"
12 And again, Isaiah says:
"There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
From Jerusalem to Illyricum
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are
full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [p]one
another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on
some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16
that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the
gospel of God, that the offering [q]of the Gentiles might be acceptable,
sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ
Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of
any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word
and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient- 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by
the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to
Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made
it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should
build on another man's foundation, 21 but as it is written:
"To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand."
Plan to Visit Rome
22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But
now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these
many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, [r]I shall come
to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way
there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am
going to Jerusalem to [s]minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those
from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among
the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are
their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual
things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28
Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I
shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I
shall come in the fullness of the blessing [t]of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the
love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for
me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who [u]do not believe,
and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I
may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together
with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Sister Phoebe Commended
16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in
Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the
saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed
she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Greeting Roman Saints
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who
risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also
all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in
their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of [v]Achaia to Christ. 6
Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my
countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who
also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker
in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.
Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my
[w]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in
the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the
beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the
Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas,
Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus
and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are
with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. [x]The churches of Christ greet you.
Avoid Divisive Persons
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses,
contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who
are such do not serve our Lord [y]Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by
smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For
your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf;
but I want you to be wise in what is good, and [z]simple concerning evil. 20
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Greetings from Paul's Friends
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my
countrymen, greet you.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the
treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The[aa] grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Benediction
25 [ab]Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery
kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the
prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment
of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith- 27 to God, alone wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
