Today’s Reading: Lam 3:1–66, Rom 15:22–33, Prov 31:1–9

Today’s Theme: Strive in Prayer

Today there is a general theme of prayer.

We learn that prayer is not automatic as if God had no personality or choice in either hearing our prayers or in the way He answers. Other religions see God as a force to be tapped into with no power of choice or essence of person to refuse our requests, which is not the biblical picture of God.

We also learn about God graciously taking up our case and the call for us to strive in prayer with our leaders.

We should always pray that God’s will be done regardless of our own requests or plans.

The final lesson is that the temporary escape from problems through drink, is of no benefit, and in keeping with our theme, we should bring our cares to God in prayer.

Lamentations 3:1–66

The steadfast love of the Lord

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.(Lamentations 3:22–23, ESV)

This is where that wonderful hymn ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…’ is taken from.

We should consider this truth and rejoice in it, that God’s steadfast love never ends and He shows us new mercy every morning, which should fill our hearts with joy and assurance in His love.

Prayers are not automatic

you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.(Lamentations 3:44, ESV)

We must not presume on God hearing anyone’s prayers, God actively chooses to ignore some prayers if they are said in hypocrisy, for example. God is personally active and voluntarily involved in the hearing and answering of each individual prayer made to Him.

God has taken up our case

“You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.(Lamentations 3:58, ESV)

Lord, thank you for taking up our case, fighting for us and paying the price to redeem us.

Romans 15:22–33

Strive in prayer

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,(Romans 15:30, ESV)

There must be striving and purpose in our prayers for our leaders, that God would hear and answer our prayers and take up our case.

By God’s will

so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.(Romans 15:32, ESV)

We should always say by God’s will, we make our plans and set about to work, praying the Lord’s will be done. This is an important element of our general prayers that Jesus taught us and we must not forget it.

Proverbs 31:1–9

Escaping does not help

let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.(Proverbs 31:7, ESV)

The purpose of wine and strong drink… no thanks, escaping is not the answer!

Earlier in this passage we read that a King should not drink wine and strong drink so that they can always use good judgement.

Instead of escaping with drink, bring your requests to God in prayer.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 15

Today’s Reading: Lam 1:1–2:22, Rom 15:8–21, Prov 30:1–33

Today’s Theme: Christ our Hope

Jesus is the great hope of Israel and the nations of the world, He is the one who was promised and has come to confirm God’s word and make good on God’s promises. We can have true hope in Jesus, He is the only way to salvation, joy and peace.

Lamentations 1:1–2:22

Consider the future

Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. “O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!”(Lamentations 1:9, ESV)

Lord, help us to always consider our future in everything we do. What we do today has an effect on what happens tomorrow. You cannot sin and win.

The yoke of sin

“My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.(Lamentations 1:14, ESV)

Our own transgressions become a yoke around our neck and go on to be our conqueror and slave master. This is why we thank God for the freedom from sin found in the cross.

Don’t rebel against God’s word

“The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity.(Lamentations 1:18, ESV)

The Lord is right to Judge those who stand against His word. The lesson is clear, don’t resist but accept and uphold God’s word.

The word restores

Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.(Lamentations 2:14, ESV)

When we expose ourselves to the Word of God, we can be restored.

Romans 15:8–21

Actual promise confirmed

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,(Romans 15:8, ESV)

The promises made to the Hebrew Patriarchs was not some mystical, allegorical promise, these were actual promises given by God and fulfilled in Jesus.

God confirms His word

and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”(Romans 15:9, ESV)

When we as Gentiles see that God fulfilled His word to the Jews, we are comforted that He will confirm His word for us too, and glorify Him for His mercy.

The hope of the nations

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”(Romans 15:12, ESV)

This and the previous three promises show where God’s plan and heart has always been concerning the nations of the world. Jesus is the hope of the nations as well as the hope of Israel.

Abound in hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.(Romans 15:13, ESV)

In order for us to abound in hope we must be filled with Joy and Peace in our faith, how can we have hope if we are miserable?… Rejoice.

The Holy Spirit at work

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;(Romans 15:18–19, ESV)

Paul had a full ministry that went beyond words, it was marked by deeds and the power of the Holy Spirit at work.

A holy ambition

and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,(Romans 15:20, ESV)

This is a holy ambition, to reach the unreached with the gospel of God.

Proverbs 30:1–33

God our shield

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.(Proverbs 30:5, ESV)

He is not a shield to everyone, just to those who take refuge in Him.

Don’t add to the bible

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.(Proverbs 30:6, ESV)

This applies to what God is saying in the bible too, there are traditions and translations that add the apocryphal books to the bible, which is adding to God’s word, which is a sin.

We see those who try to change and reinterpret the word of God today, in the so called liberal movement. They have done away with miracles, do not believe that Jesus is the son of God or that salvation is needed, they believe the bible is just the words of men and not the divinely inspired and inerrant word of God.

We stand against these lies and attacks of the enemy and affirm that God has divinely inspired and preserved His holy word. We cover this in The Gospel video made by WWMF Media, where we demonstrate that no other ancient book has anywhere near as many close to original manuscripts to rely on as the bible does.

Give and give

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:(Proverbs 30:15, ESV)

This seems to be the spirit of the age we are in now, it is the insatiable greed of capitalism and materialism. We are instead called to lives of contentment and generosity.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 15

Today’s Reading: Jer 52:1–34, Rom 14:13–15:7, Prov 29:1–27

Today’s Theme: The Example of Christ

We are called to imitate Christ and live lives of grace, showing love, patience and understanding with each other, so that our harmony can bring glory to God. We are called to live in the freedom that God provides, by the righteousness He gives, the peace He has won and the joy to be found in Him. The bondage of religion and the mind of man has no hold on us anymore.

Jeremiah 52:1–34

The great hope

And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.(Jeremiah 52:31, ESV)

As we come to the end of the book of Jeremiah there is a small tinge of hope in the release of king Jehoiachin. This points to the true hope offered by the book, found in its revelation of God as the Lord of history, guiding world events to execute His judgement, show His mercy and most importantly, God’s intention to create a new covenant (Remember 31:31–34) through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:13–15:7

Judge yourself

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.(Romans 14:13, ESV)

Like Jesus said, we should judge ourselves, we need to do this in order to avoid being a stumbling block.

What you think is important

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.(Romans 14:14, ESV)

The mind and conscience are very powerful. If in your mind it is a sin to eat ice cream then it will truly be sinful for you, but not for anyone else. This is why we must embrace the freedom we have in Christ or we can end up putting ourselves in unnecessary bondage.

At the same time, God will influence your mind by His Spirit so that some things which seem ok to other Christians, will not be ok for you. In those cases, as we said yesterday, never push against your own conscience.

Righteousness, peace and joy

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.(Romans 14:17, ESV)

Paul encourages us that God’s kingdom is not about what we eat, drink, wear or observe, but is about the righteousness that God so abundantly supplies and that we live in light of. It’s about the peace that Jesus has given us so that we are no longer hung up by man centred religion. It is about the Joy centred relationship we have with God, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

So we should not let the trivial, non essential things of religion steal our peace. We should trust in the righteousness that God has given us and live in the joy of the Lord, which will strengthen us to live for God every day.

Pursue peace

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.(Romans 14:19, ESV)

We should not pursue the external cultural differences that divide us, but pursue peace and building each other up.

Eat in faith

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.(Romans 14:23, ESV)

We must be true and follow our God given convictions. If you eat pork or halal meat you need to eat it in faith, if you eat it thinking of it as a sin, then it will be a sin to you.

Our faith is in God who is over all, so we can bless our food in Jesus’ name and eat it, in faith and peace.

Don’t be a bully

Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.(Romans 15:2, ESV)

We must not be bullies with the truth, we need to maintain a humble serving attitude, no matter how much we know or how strong or mature our faith. We should seek to see our brothers grow and walk consistently before the Lord.

The book of hope

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.(Romans 15:4, ESV)

The purpose of all that is recoded in the scriptures is that we might have hope in God, as we follow the instructions and examples recorded. The most important biblical record for us today is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the greatest example to us all.

God of endurance and encouragement

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,(Romans 15:5, ESV)

God causes us to endure and encourages us in the way, so that we can live in harmony with each other in Christ, to the glory of His name.

Live in grace

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.(Romans 15:7, ESV)

Christ welcomed us in grace and we should emulate the same attitude of grace to others, so that we can live in harmony as the body of Christ, to the glory of God and the joy of all peoples.

Proverbs 29:1–27

The danger of pride

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.(Proverbs 29:1, ESV)

This is a frightening prospect, to be broken beyond repair because of our own pride.

Free to praise

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.(Proverbs 29:6, ESV)

When we are walking in righteousness, we have the freedom to praise God.

Remember the poor

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.(Proverbs 29:7, ESV)

God upholds the most righteous political position on the human rights of the poor.

Don’t give full vent

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.(Proverbs 29:11, ESV)

Lord, help us to hold back from venting and to quietly hold back.

The people need leadership

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.(Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

The people need a goal and strong spiritual leadership or they will cast off restraint.

Trapped by fear

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.(Proverbs 29:25, ESV)

Our own fears create a trap for our feet, so live in freedom by trusting the Lord.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 14

 

Today’s Reading: Jer 51:1–64, Rom 13:8–14:12, Prov 28:1–28

Today’s Theme: Fulfilling Love

Today we learn about the essence of the law, which is love, and that by loving others we actually fulfil the law by default. So the call is for us to live lives governed by the love of and for God.

Jeremiah 51:1–64

God plans and then does what He wills

“Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the Lord has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.(Jeremiah 51:12, ESV)

The Lord brings His Sovereign will to pass, He both speaks it and does it.

Romans 13:8–14:12

Fulfil the law through love

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.(Romans 13:8, ESV)

One thing we owe each other is to love each other. The word ‘owe’ means we have a debt, obligation and duty, but it should be a delightful duty and a light burden.

We fulfil the law by truly loving others because the spirit of the law is all about love, for both God and our fellow man. This is why Jesus said the summary of the law was to love God with everything and to love others in the same way we love ourselves.

Paul and others elaborate on this later in the NT, by stating that no one in their right mind hates his own body but nourishes and cherishes it. So husbands should love their wives like their own body and the principle follows for all human relationships.

Consider the laws like ‘don’t steal’, it is not loving to take by force that which does not belong to us and would not like to suffer that injustice ourselves. ‘Don’t commit adultery’, it flies in the face of the commitment and devotion demanded by love and we would hate if someone was unfaithful to us. We can look at each of God’s good laws in this way and see that love is at the root.

So fulfil the law today by following the example of Jesus, by loving others.

Love does no intentional wrong to others.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.(Romans 13:10, ESV)

A great explanation of why love is the fulfilment of the moral law. Love will not do what is wrong to a fellow human being and so by default it fulfils the law.

Wake up

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.(Romans 13:11, ESV)

This is pointing to the second coming and Paul wrote this 2000 years ago, so how much closer are we now, 2000 years later? We cannot afford to be asleep, we need to be alert, aware and awake.

Also for each individual Christian, even if Christ does not return in our lifetime, every day we come closer to our death and it is through death and resurrection that our salvation is fully realised, because it is those who enter in that are saved.

Put on the Lord Jesus

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.(Romans 13:14, ESV)

We should not make opportunities for the flesh because when we do, the flesh will seek to gratify its lust. Instead, in a deliberate and conscious way, we need to put on Jesus, adopting His way of living and behaving. This is our call to sanctification.

I want to emphasise the point that this is like putting on clothes, which means it is not natural, it takes a conscious effort and decision for each believer as an individual to deliberately put on Jesus, like a jacket, to protect us from the cold harsh winds of sin.

Don’t quarrel over opinions

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.(Romans 14:1, ESV)

We must not waste our time quarrelling about opinions. Man’s opinions have caused all kinds of division and confusion, so when someone is weak, we should not entertain the desire of their flesh or ours, to prove point over point. Instead we should show love.

There are many things that we can have different opinions about and still be one in Christ, we do not need to force each other to think or behave in our way, because many of our preferences are dictated by our background, culture and presuppositions.

However there are areas we can never compromise on and another opinion just will not do, these are core to the Christian faith, like the deity of Christ etc.

You are not God

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.(Romans 14:4, ESV)

The reason we judge each other in the body, on non essentials (like style of worship etc), is that we have a god complex where we feel the need to control everything. We need to trust that God is in control and if a fellow believer does things in a different way to us, we need to realise that God is their Master and will uphold them and make them stand.

If you are frustrated that others don’t do things in the way you do, just let it go, you are not a god, you are a member of a diverse body with people from various times, nations, tribes and languages, all with their own style, preferences, cultures and nuances.

We trust God as the Master over us all, who will uphold each of us and make us stand so that we can stand before Him on that day.

Be fully convinced

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.(Romans 14:5, ESV)

We must not sin against our own conscience, we must be fully convinced and live lives of conviction, by following those convictions. The convictions we follow must be our own, not those imposed by someone else, or we will just end up in the bondage of religion again.

A day of reckoning

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.(Romans 14:12, ESV)

A day of reckoning is coming for Christians, so live with this in mind.

Proverbs 28:1–28

Pray for our leaders

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.(Proverbs 28:2, ESV)

We pray our leaders will be men of understanding and experience.

Be generous

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.(Proverbs 28:8, ESV)

Our lives should be driven by generosity, not selfish gain and profit.

Work with what you have

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.(Proverbs 28:19, ESV)

Lord, help us to work hard with what we have.

Don’t be stingy

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.(Proverbs 28:22, ESV)

Don’t be stingy, it is to your profit to be generous.

Trust the Lord

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.(Proverbs 28:26, ESV)

Our minds are so fragile and finite, we cannot rely on them. We must trust in the Lord by His Holy Spirit.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 13

Today’s Reading: Jer 50:1–46, Rom 12:9–13:7, Prov 27:1–27

Today’s Theme: Marks of a Christian

Today we have a very practical lesson form Paul where he lists the marks of the true Christian and calls us to live out our faith by living in the way God intends. This is almost the practical outworking of all the theological and spiritual truth established concerning the Gospel and our salvation earlier in the letter.

So read Paul’s bullet point list of virtues and seek to live out the miracle of regeneration today. You are a new creation now live like one, work out (for all to see) what God has “worked in” by His Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel of God.

Today is Boxing Day in the UK, a day in our household at least where the children practically play with the gifts they received on Christmas day, so it seems quite significant to today’s lesson. We received the gift of salvation, now we need to use it for everyday life.

Jeremiah 50:1–46

God’s pardon

In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. (Jeremiah 50:20, ESV)

Although The Lord appointed these nations to judge His, they themselves still qualify for judgement. God knows how this all balances in His wisdom and purposes.

God has mercy and so pardons the elect remnant… or none would be saved, this will also be true in the final days.

God is great

“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? (Jeremiah 50:44, ESV)

This is a repeated self revelation of God (we saw it yesterday). God states that no one can summon Him. Some teach that we can call and command God but this is simply not true. God is the sovereign king, He appoints whom He will and is not summoned as though He were any man’s servant.

God is the king, not a genie in a bottle.

Romans 12:9–13:7

Love genuinely

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Our love must not be a saccharin veneer, it should be genuine love poured out from our hearts in truth.

It is significant that Paul mentions the need for truth and discernment alongside the call to be genuine in love. This is because we cannot love apart from the truth and the abhoring of evil.

Love like family

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10, ESV)

As Christians we are called to love each other with the same affection we show for our families. For this to retain its context we must love our families in the way God intended in the first place.

Loving like family will include making sacrifices for each other, bearing with each other and being kind to each other.

We can’t get away with detached love as a duty, either it is family like love or it is not the kind of love God intends between His children.

Paul’s language is great we should outdo each other in showing honour to each other, this way everyone is honoured, and loved.

Be passionate

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11, ESV)

A timely word after a long Christmas Day. We are called as Christians to be zealous and fervent, full of passion and fire and hunger and desire and delight as we serve our glorious King… Hallelujah!

Be steady

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12, ESV)

This is a call to steadiness in the Christian life. We are made steady by our hope found in the Gospel which causes us to rejoice even in difficult and trying times. Patience steadies and matures the soul to remain faithful under trial while the constant faithful position and power of prayer sustains the spiritual vitality and life of the believer.

So be steady, be constant, hopeful and patient to the glory of God.

Be Empathetic

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15, ESV)

Empathy should be part of our make up as saints. We should not be cold, indifferent or aloof from the pain, suffering, hurt or even the jubilation of others. We are called to live our lives on mission just like Jesus, living alongside the people being touched by their infirmities as it were.

We are God’s royal priests in the earth, so do the work of a priest by empathising with those around you. You are their connection to God so show them that God cares.

Be teachable

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:16, ESV)

Have a teachable spirit, this is how we live in harmony with each other. We should associate with those who are humble as the proud will only make us prideful as well.

Retaliation forbidden

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (Romans 12:17, ESV)

Retaliation is forbidden for us as Christian individuals if we seek to live out the example God has shown us in Christ.

Do your part

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:18, ESV)

You can not live in peace for other people you can only do your part… but you must do your part.

Love your enemy

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20, ESV)

Quoting Old Testament wisdom and the teaching of Jesus, Paul reminds us that we should love those who have made themselves our enemy.

Be good

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21, ESV)

The secret weapon against evil is good not counter evil. Our mandate is to be good, to be so good that our goodness overcomes evil. This is not man made goodness but is dependent on the righteousness God credits to our account and the work and fruit of the Holy Spirit (one of which is goodness).

The Christian and the Government

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1, ESV)

This is because God is the sovereign Lord of the universe, so all authority is under His authority. This gives us context for how we should conduct ourselves with governing authorities and dispels the notion that Jesus was a rebel leader for the rebels.

We submit to the authorities as good citizens as long as they do not demand that we deny our faith. In those cases they have perverted their delegated authority and we are to obey God. This is true in much of the suffering church where the authorities are corrupt.

God’s purpose in punishment

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:4, ESV)

Capital, punitive and remedial judgement is here defended. God uses institutions like the police to exact His judgement on those who break the law. If God had not set up and empowered society with officers in this way we would have anarchy.

One of God’s great purposes in the world is human flourishing but where there is anarchy there can be no flourishing.

Pay your taxes

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. (Romans 13:6, ESV)

This is why we pay tax. In Old Testament Israel this was even tied up in the tithes for the Levites etc. We should pay our taxes in honesty.

Pay the bills

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:7, ESV)

Taxes and all the other dues mentioned are the building blocks for any good civil society. If no one pays the electric bills there will be no electricity so let’s all pay what we owe to the glory of God.

Proverbs 27:1–27

Don’t be presumptuous

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1, ESV)

Jesus picks up on this in the New Testament.

Be hungry

One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7, ESV)

This is true, I’ve had some of the best eating experiences when I’ve been really hungry. This is also true in the spiritual world, this is why Jesus said we must hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Are you hungry today?

Avoid unnecessary danger

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Proverbs 27:12, ESV)

Avoiding danger is a good principle, courage not withstanding.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 12