We're in This Together

Daily Reading: Romans 1

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. (Romans 1.8)

Devotional Thought: When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church, he had never been to Rome.  He didn’t know the Christians there.  He had only heard about them, but what he had heard filled his heart with joy and gratitude!  What had he heard?  He had heard about their faith.  As a matter of fact, their faith was proclaimed in all the world!

Paul had to deal with some differing opinions in his letter to the Romans.  A group of Jewish-leaning believers were insisting that some Jewish religious observances must be included in Christian practice.  Another group responded to them by washing their hands from Jewish influence.  Apparently, another group in the church rebelled against any moral responsibility, saying that those who accepted Christ had a “get out of jail free card” when it came to sinful behavior.  Finally, there was a group teaching that Christians didn’t have to follow civil laws because they were governed by God’s law. 

But in all this, Paul’s first word to them – after introducing himself – was a word of thanksgiving: “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you!”  What a large heart Paul had!  He was not about to “de-Christianize” any of those believers in Rome just because he didn’t agree with them, or just because they couldn’t agree with one another.  Instead, he complimented them for their encouraging faith – a faith, he said, that was known all over the world.

What a wonderful lesson for us today.  Do we thank God for those Christians with whom we disagree?  Baptists and Lutherans, Presbyterians and Catholics, Methodists and Pentecostals, even Nazarenes!  We should, for we are all in this together!

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus - Lord of the Church - that you have built your Church in many ways, through many people, and in many places.  Expand my thinking so that I can give you thanks for your glorious Church!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18.31-34

31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? —

32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.

33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.

34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.