O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected]
twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 9:34 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Saturday November 21 > Day 325 > > Romans 13 > To Be a Responsible Citizen > 1-3Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is > peace and order, it's > God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're irresponsible to > the state, then you're > irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly > constituted authorities are only a > threat if you're trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should > have nothing to fear. > 3-5Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible > citizen and you'll get on > just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you're > breaking the rules right and > left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their > uniforms. God also has an > interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That's why you must > live responsibly-not just > to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live. > > 6-7That's also why you pay taxes-so that an orderly way of life can be > maintained. Fulfill your > obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your > leaders. > > 8-10Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each > other. When you love others, > you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code-don't > sleep with another person's > spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't > always be wanting what you > don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of-finally adds up to > this: Love other people as > well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you > add up everything in the > law code, the sum total is love. > > 11-14But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking > care of all your > day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, > oblivious to God. The night is > about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! > God is putting the > finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. > We can't afford to waste a > minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and > indulgence, in sleeping > around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get > out of bed and get > dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. > Dress yourselves in Christ, > and be up and about! > > Romans 14 > Cultivating Good Relationships > 1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you > do. And don't jump all > over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with-even > when it seems that they are > strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have > their own history to deal > with. Treat them gently. > 2-4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be > convinced that he can eat > anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might > assume he should only be a > vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's > table, wouldn't it be terribly > rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, > after all, invited them both > to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list > or interfering with God's > welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God > can handle that without > your help. > > 5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and > another thinks that each > day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, > each person is free to > follow the convictions of conscience. > > 6-9What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it > for God's sake; if you eat > meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a > vegetarian, eat vegetables > to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted > to insist on our own way in > these matters. It's God we are answerable to-all the way from life to > death and everything in > between-not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived > again: so that he could be > our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the > petty tyrannies of each > other. > > 10-12So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where > does that leave you when > you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly-or > worse. Eventually, we're > all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing > God. Your critical and > condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. > Read it for yourself in > Scripture: > > "As I live and breathe," God says, > "every knee will bow before me; > Every tongue will tell the honest truth > that I and only I am God." > So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of > your own life before God. > > 13-14Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you > need to be concerned about: > that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult > than it already is. I'm > convinced-Jesus convinced me!-that everything as it is in itself is holy. > We, of course, by the way > we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it. > > 15-16If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or > don't eat, you're no longer > a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for > whom Christ died. Would you > risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don't you dare let a > piece of God-blessed food > become an occasion of soul-poisoning! > > 17-18God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for > goodness' sake. It's what > God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and > completes it with joy. Your task > is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with > one stone: pleasing the > God above you and proving your worth to the people around you. > > 19-21So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each > other. Help others with > encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly > not going to permit an > argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work > among you, are you? I said > it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if > you use it badly, if you > use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a > meal, your primary concern > should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be > sensitive and courteous to > the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might > interfere with the free exchange > of love. > > 22-23Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on > others. You're fortunate if > your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you > notice that you are > acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe-some days trying to > impose your opinions on > others, other days just trying to please them-then you know that you're > out of line. If the way you > live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong. > > Romans 15 > 1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and > lend a hand to those who > falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for > service, not status. Each > one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking > ourselves, "How can I help?" > 3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by > avoiding people's troubles, > but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the > troubled," is the way Scripture > puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure > it's written for us. God > wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal > counsel in Scripture to > come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. > May our dependably steady > and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with > each other as well as > Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir-not our voices only, > but our very lives singing > in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! > > 7-13So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now > you do it! Jesus, > staying true to God's purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish > insiders so that the old > ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish > outsiders have been able to > experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the > Scriptures that will come > true in what we do! For instance: > > Then I'll join outsiders in a hymn-sing; > I'll sing to your name! > And this one: > Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together! > And again: > People of all nations, celebrate God! > All colors and races, give hearty praise! > And Isaiah's word: > There's the root of our ancestor Jesse, > breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, > Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope! > Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with > peace, so that your believing > lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim > over with hope! > > 14-16Personally, I've been completely satisfied with who you are and what > you are doing. You seem > to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding > and advising one another. > So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as > criticism. It's not criticism. > I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this > highly focused assignment > God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs > of the non-Jewish > outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made > whole and holy by God's > Holy Spirit. > > 17-21Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have > observed, I must say I am most > pleased-in the context of Jesus, I'd even say proud, but only in that > context. I have no interest in > giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful > and transformingly > present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing > response among the outsiders. In > such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the > way from Jerusalem far into > northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message > only into those places > where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been, > > Those who were never told of him- > they'll see him! > Those who've never heard of him- > they'll get the message! > > 22-24And that's why it has taken me so long to finally get around to > coming to you. But now that > there is no more pioneering work to be done in these parts, and since I > have looked forward to > seeing you for many years, I'm planning my visit. I'm headed for Spain, > and expect to stop off on > the way to enjoy a good visit with you, and eventually have you send me > off with God's blessing. > > 25-29First, though, I'm going to Jerusalem to deliver a relief offering to > the followers of Jesus > there. The Greeks-all the way from the Macedonians in the north to the > Achaians in the south-decided > they wanted to take up a collection for the poor among the believers in > Jerusalem. They were happy > to do this, but it was also their duty. Seeing that they got in on all the > spiritual gifts that > flowed out of the Jerusalem community so generously, it is only right that > they do what they can to > relieve their poverty. As soon as I have done this-personally handed over > this "fruit basket"-I'm > off to Spain, with a stopover with you in Rome. My hope is that my visit > with you is going to be one > of Christ's more extravagant blessings. > > 30-33I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with > and for me-to God the > Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the > Spirit-that I will be > delivered from the lions' den of unbelievers in Judea. Pray also that my > relief offering to the > Jerusalem believers will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given. > Then, God willing, I'll be > on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being > refreshed by your company. > God's peace be with all of you. Oh, yes! > > Romans 16 > 1-2Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all > the generous hospitality > we Christians are famous for. I heartily endorse both her and her work. > She's a key representative > of the church at Cenchrea. Help her out in whatever she asks. She deserves > anything you can do for > her. She's helped many a person, including me. > 3-5Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me > in serving Jesus. They > once put their lives on the line for me. And I'm not the only one grateful > to them. All the > non-Jewish gatherings of believers also owe them plenty, to say nothing of > the church that meets in > their house. > > Hello to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first follower of > Jesus in the province of > Asia. > > 6Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be! > > 7Hello to my cousins Andronicus and Junias. We once shared a jail cell. > They were believers in > Christ before I was. Both of them are outstanding leaders. > > 8Hello to Ampliatus, my good friend in the family of God. > > 9Hello to Urbanus, our companion in Christ's work, and my good friend > Stachys. > > 10Hello to Apelles, a tried-and-true veteran in following Christ. > > Hello to the family of Aristobulus. > > 11Hello to my cousin Herodion. > > Hello to those who belong to the Lord from the family of Narcissus. > > 12Hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa-such diligent women in serving the > Master. > > Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ. > > 13Hello to Rufus-a good choice by the Master!-and his mother. She has also > been a dear mother to > me. > > 14Hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and also to all > of their families. > > 15Hello to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas- and all > the followers of Jesus > who live with them. > > 16Holy embraces all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest > greetings! > > 17-18One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those > who take bits and pieces of > the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give > these people a wide berth. > They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in > this for what they can get > out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting > innocents. > > 19-20And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in > these matters-I couldn't > be more proud of you!-I want you also to be smart, making sure every > "good" thing is the real thing. > Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, > and before you know it the > God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the > dirt. Enjoy the best of > Jesus! > > 21And here are some more greetings from our end. Timothy, my partner in > this work, Lucius, and my > cousins Jason and Sosipater all said to tell you hello. > > 22I, Tertius, who wrote this letter at Paul's dictation, send you my > personal greetings. > > 23Gaius, who is host here to both me and the whole church, wants to be > remembered to you. > > Erastus, the city treasurer, and our good friend Quartus send their > greetings. > > 25-26All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you > strong, exactly as > preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret > for so long but now an > open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world > can now know the truth and > be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got > all this started, down to > the very last letter. > > 27All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! > Yes! > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=.
