They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

Romans 1

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. v25

As I begin my study of Romans, it helps for me to better understand some of the background and structure of this letter by Paul.  The linked resource (overviewbible.com) breaks down Romans into the following sections:

- How our sin makes us enemies of God (Ro 1:18–3:20)
- How Jesus reconciled us with God (Ro 3:21–5:21)
- How the Spirit changes us from sinners to sons of God (Ro 6–8)
- How God glorifies Himself in salvation (Ro 9–11)

One key aspect of sin highlighted in v25 is how we focus on the created vs the Creator. We are all guilty of this sin and in the U.S. this is particularly true; David Platt is known well for addressing this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You love me and You created me - You also saved me and adopted me as Your family and as a child of God.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin - I am selfish...among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. v24

Paul is leaving Ephesus and saying farewell to the elders there.  He knows that difficulty, hardships, persecution, etc. awaits him (v22-23) yet he is led by the Spirit to focus on God's calling for his life.  We are ALL called to share our testimony and the Good News of Jesus Christ - to our family, and others.  This morning I think of how I must snatch others from the fire.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You have snatched me from the fire - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful - yet I am undeserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and Spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

Acts 19

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out among those craftsmen who benefited from trade in idols (v23-28).  The essence of the beef with Paul and the Way (v1) is that we lose when we follow Jesus.  All of us, in some form or fashion resist submission to Jesus because of this concern.  Yet we must recognize that all of what we have comes from God - He is the source of everything - all of our life and sustenance.  We must also recognize that, although we lose our life as we know it when we follow Jesus, we gain far more than what we lose. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with life and everything that I experience - thank You God!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  Thank You - yet I must acknowledge that I am undeserving.  I sin daily and often - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Acts 19

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. v17

As Paul continues his mission in Ephesus, he baptized believers in the name of Jesus (vs John), placed hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (v1-4).  Perhaps envious of how God was using Paul (v11-12), some sought glory for themselves but this backfired (v13-17).  This is a powerful example of how we must seek God's glory first, and respect His name vs using it for worldly gain. John Piper also instructs us how fear and respect for God should be used as a preservative for our faith - that we not run away from God as His power may be used for our destruction. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always with me...watching over me and protecting me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love and protection. I sin...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. v26

God wants us to STUDY scriptures and to understand what He wants to say to us from both a head (more absolute) and a heart perspective (His personal message to us). This applies of course to what we understand and the understanding of others.  This is the sharpening process that God intends for us. We are intended to be in fellowship with other believers for this and many other believers.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves and who has given me both scriptures and others in my life and resources to better help me understand Your messages for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin daily - please help me Lord.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Acts 17

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ v24-28

There is much to unpack here as Paul helps the Athenians understand the One True God (vs all of their idols).

First we must understand that God has no limits in any way - not physically or via any limits to His capabilities.  He also does not need us but created us so that we may seek Him and glorify Him and bring others to Him...so that we may be saved (see also John 3).  God is not far from us and we are His offspring.  God loves us and He cares for us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You love and care for me - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving of Your love.  I have briefly drifted from You and I need Your forgiveness for many things. Please forgive me and help me overcome from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. v11

Luke remarks that "the Berean Jews were of more noble character" in part because of their "great eagerness" with which they received Paul's messages and the extent to which they examined Scriptures to validate Paul's words against Scripture.  God wants us to "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6) and He promises that those who do will be "filled".   We should trust Luke's assessment of the Berean Jews' noble character (for more on Luke go here).  We should also trust what else the Bible has to say about going to Scripture daily.

While we don't want to seek human approval, we should focus on pleasing and glorifying God, and growing closer to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are an awesome God and You have definitely filled me and given me more of a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings and the many more You pour out for me daily!  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I worry and I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.