DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 7:
WORD OF WISDOM
Worship is not a twenty minute period during a church service; it's a
lifestyle.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Live the Gospel
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that
whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs,
that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the
faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is
to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of
God."
Philippians 1:27-28
Charles Spurgeon said, "A man's life is always more forcible than his
speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his
words as pennies." There is no substitute for a Gospel witness that is
matched by a Gospel life. When we fail to live as we should, we forfeit what
is meant to be a mainstay of our witnessing.
Paul instructed the Philippian church to live in a way that was becoming to
the Gospel. Our very lifestyle should adorn the Gospel that we share with
others. For example, how ridiculous would it have been if, when the
shepherds came to visit Christ in the manger, Mary and Joseph were loudly
complaining about the raw deal they had been given-having to bring Jesus
into the world in a stable? There probably would not have been much worship
taking place that night!
Even so, everything about our lives-our speech, our demeanor, our habits,
our responses, our relationships-all of it, either gives credence to or
discredits our message. If our lives do not reflect that our faith is real
to those we meet, it is not likely that they will be interested in listening
to any message we give them.
The central message of Christmas is that Jesus came to save us from our
sins. And Christ has commissioned us, His people, to actively share this
message. Yet if our lives are not what they should be, we will not be
effective in winning people to the Lord.
Live in such a way that your conduct matches and strengthens your witness to
others.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Acts 20:1-3 & Romans 1-3
Acts 20:1-3 New King James Version
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself,
embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over
that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and
stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about
to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
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Romans 1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to
the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who [a]was born
of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of
God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from
the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience
to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the
called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is
spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve
[b]with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make
mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means,
now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I
long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you
may be established- 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you
by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to
come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among
you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks
and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I
am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel [c]of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to
faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who [d]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19
because what may be known of God is [e]manifest [f]in them, for God has
shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even His eternal power and [g]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the
glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like [h]corruptible
man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their
hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their
[i]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise
also the [j]men, leaving the natural use of the [k]woman, burned in their
lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and
receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29
being filled with all unrighteousness, [l]sexual immorality, wickedness,
[m]covetousness, [n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31
[o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of
those who practice them.
God's Righteous Judgment
2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in
whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice
the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to
truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O
man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that
you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of
God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your
[q]impenitent heart you are [r]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day
of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render
to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient
continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to
those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every
soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the [s]Greek; 10 but
glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first
and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and
as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the
hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law
will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature
do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to
themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts
accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the
secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
17 [t]Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest[u] on the law, and make your
boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are
excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you
yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of
knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you
not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you
steal? 22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You
who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law,
do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For "the name of God is
blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.
Circumcision of No Avail
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are
a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26
Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the
law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not
the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even
with your [v]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which
is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose
[w]praise is not from men but from God.
God's Judgment Defended
3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the [x]oracles of
God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the
faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be
[y]true but every man a liar. As it is written:
"That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged."
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what
shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6
Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am
I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that
good may come"?-as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we
say. Their [z]condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously
charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 "Their throat is an open [aa]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit";
"The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
[ab]guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be
justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God's Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [ac]and on all who believe. For there
is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified [ad]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a [ae]propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance
God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to
demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and
the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by
the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is [af]justified by
faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only?
Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since
there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the
uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith?
Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
