Our Faith in Jesus is More of a Determiner of Our Salvation...


For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the Law: but if thou be a breaker of the Law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  Romans, Chapter 2, verses 25-26. 
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.  Romans, Chapter 2, verse 29.

There was a time when people thought that if they were Jewish and followed some basic laws like circumcision, they could do whatever they wanted and were saved because Jews were the chosen people.  This passage clarifies that just being Jewish or following rules like circumcision won’t get us Salvation.
I guess what this all boils down to is, God knows what is in our hearts and whether we live as examples of how Jesus works in our lives or not.  This is going to be more of a determiner of our Salvation than any outward signs like being circumcised or being of a particular ethnic or cultural group.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Laughing at Jokes that Put Down People Who Are Different...

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?  thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  Romans, Chapter 2, verse 21.

Actually, there is more that goes with this passage.  I just took out the part that relates to me.  When I was in high school, I was visiting a church one time with my mother.  The sermon was especially interesting.  It talked about a parent who was called to the Police Station because their child had gotten arrested for stealing some pens from a local store.  The thing the parent said to the child was, “Why would you steal pens when I can get all the pens you want from my work?”
We, as Christians, may have double standards just like this parent did.  Sometimes we are examples of negative things without really realizing what we’re doing.  When we are being examples of how God works in our lives, we need to make sure all our actions and words glorify Him.  We have to realize that we are giving others a message whether it’s taking things from work or laughing at jokes that put down people who are different than we are.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

God Doesn't Give Us the Right to Judge Others...

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the Truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them.  For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the Truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  Romans, Chapter 1, verses 17-32.

            Throughout the Bible, God gives us direction for our lives.  He lets us know through the passages which things will lead us in the direction that He wants and which things have the potential to lead us down the wrong paths.  This passage is noteworthy because it mentions a variety of lifestyle and behavior choices that displease God.  Although we are to pay attention to these to make our choices accordingly, God doesn’t give us the right to judge others.
            Who are we to cast the first stone?  I think it’s important to remember: Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 1-2, Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 
            So, although God gives us guidance, we are not to be rude or hateful to others, regardless of whether their lifestyle, sexual preferences or religious beliefs are different than ours. 

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 



Be Not Afraid...

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  Acts, Chapter 18, verses 9-10.

I don’t know the exact title, but this must be where they got the idea for the song that includes: Be not afraid, for I am with thee always…This song is very comforting to my daughter who remembers this when she is feeling stressed.


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

They Chose to Believe Some Far-Fetched Story and Worship idols

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  Acts, Chapter 17, verses 22-29.

This reminds me of when my mother told me about intercourse and how babies are conceived when I was really young.  I have to admit it’s a pretty strange connection to make with this passage.  
I was very young when my mother explained about babies being conceived.  In fact, I don’t really remember her telling me.  The thing is, she did tell me the truth and not some story, just like Paul told them the truth about God and not some story.
Years later, I heard some really far-fetched explanations from fellow students that didn't make sense to me. Fortunately, I asked my mother to explain?  This really confused her because she had already told me the truth and I had chosen to believe a far-fetched story instead.  Well, it seems very similar here.  Paul told them the truth about God, but they chose to believe some far-fetched story and worship idols made by man’s hands instead.  How sad!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Hard to Imagine Anyone Not Wanting God in Their Corner...

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of Salvation.  And this did she many days.  But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour.  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers.  Acts, Chapter 16, verses 16-19.
I’m going to skip some verses to get to the part where Paul is imprisoned.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.  Acts, Chapter 16, verses 23-36.

There’s more to the story. Paul wouldn’t leave the prison because they had been publicly chastised and the magistrates were trying to secretly let them out.  Paul wanted to be publicly cleared of all the charges, which eventually happened.
This passage makes me think of how perfectly God looks after the people that spread His Word.  I was thinking of Daniel in the lion’s den and how he wasn’t harmed.  It brings to mind lots of others, as well.  Noah and his family were saved from the flood by God letting him know he was to build an ark.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were not burned in the fiery furnace.  Peter was let out of jail by the angel.  The list of miracles, where God distinctly protects those that are doing His will, goes on and on.  It’s hard for me to imagine that anyone wouldn’t want God in their corner.  I sure do!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

People Who Think They Use the "god power" Within Them...

And there they preached the Gospel.  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed.  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet.  And he leaped and walked.  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done, sacrifice with the people.  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?  We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.  Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.  Acts, Chapter 14, verses 7-20.

In some bizarre way, I think I now understand why the Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in the mythical gods for so long.  They must have seen the disciples doing miracles and thought they were gods.  They got so caught up in these mythological gods that they never paid attention to what the disciples were telling them about Jesus and Salvation.
It’s funny how over time man has created elaborate explanations for the things that God has done rather than acknowledge God.  There is a religious group that professes to be Christian but can’t acknowledge God.  They have to have some logical explanation for miracles and other things rather than just believing in Him.  Some groups feel that utilizing the “god power within them,” brings about the desired things in their life.  Others use the “power of positive thinking” and some “visualize” themselves getting the job they desire.  They don’t truly realize that they aren’t giving God the credit when they think that they got the job through the “god power within them.”
When I go for a job interview, I ask God to take care of the things I say and whether I get the job or not, whichever way is His will.  I feel positive that God knows what is best for me and my family, so I am happy whether I get the job or not.  That doesn’t mean I might not be somewhat disappointed if I didn’t get the job, but I only want the job that God thinks is best for my particular situation.
Although God says in the Bible that He dwells within each of us; I don’t think it’s this same “god power” that I hear this group speaking of.  Everything I have read in the Bible, and I have read it from cover to cover 16 plus times, tells us that God wants us to turn to Him in everything, not to the “god power that lies within us” or “to visualize things the way we want them to be.” 
I really have a personal concern, because I worry that some well-meaning people may be led astray.  They may believe what seems convenient or more understandable to them rather than believe in God like the people in this passage who couldn’t believe that the disciples were doing these miracles on God’s behalf.  That defied all logical explanation, so they chose to believe that the disciples were gods instead.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Don't Have to be Rich or on the Society Page...

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for Salvation unto the ends of the earth.  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.  Acts, Chapter 13, verse 46-48.

There was a time when I was confused because the Bible would talk about the Jews being the promised people.  I wondered how I was going to get to heaven since I’m not Jewish.  But this says Salvation is for all people to the ends of the world, which includes me.  A person just has to believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all in order to go to heaven.  I’m so thankful!  What a simple request.  I don’t have to be born to royalty.  I don’t have to be rich or on the society page.  I don’t have to look or dress a certain way.  I just have to believe in Jesus.  How much simpler could it get?
If God conveyed this to Peter, do you think He wants us treating different races in an undignified manner?  I don’t think it makes Him happy to know how we have race and social class divisions.  We can personally make a change in how we interact with others and serve as role models at the same time.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections.