Romans 1:1-7 Bound and Free

Romans 1:7 NIV
We have finished reading the book of the Acts of the Apostles and have heard much about Paul. Paul is the accepted author of this Epistle to the Romans. We have to back track a bit from where we were yesterday to being Romans. The letter was written before his bondage by the Romans. Paul begins the letter by stating that he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God. It is through Christ that this Roman Jew has received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name, among whom we are also the called of Jesus the Christ.


Paul is a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He has been call apart from the world to proclaim the name of Jesus to the world. So have we. So have all who believe. By the grace of God we are bondservants to Christ; bound by faith to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. We are bound to Christ. Even while we are free in this world; we are bound to the Word of God. Thanks be to God!


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!


God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 21:37-40 God Chooses Whom He Will Choose

Acts 21:37-40 NIV
God chooses whom He will choose. He calls whom He will call. If you hear Him call; answer Him. No matter what you think; He doesn't make mistakes.

Paul is a prime example of this. He was one of the greatest persecutors of the Christians; yet, God called him to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ to all people no matter who they were or what their heritage was. He was both a Roman citizen and a Jew so he was able to be all things to all people. When others would have been crucified without a second though; Paul was able to call on his citizenship; his heritage, to save him; to prolong his life so that he could continue to serve as God had called and sent him to serve.

If God is calling you; answer. God doesn't make mistakes.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mattew 22:15-22 - In Whom Do You Trust?

The Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by getting him to either deny the law of the land (Caesar) or the temple law. "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" they asked. Upon inspection of the coin that would be used for this tax, they found Caesar's image and inscription on. At the time there were two (at least) types of currency being used. One was Roman and the other Jewish. The reason for the moneychangers to have been in the court yard, from Matthew 21:12-17, was so the people could exchange their Roman money for Jewish currency as they could not use Roman currency to purchase the animals they needed to make their required offerings at the temple.

So when his would be accusers are asked to show him a coin; they empty their pockets (bags?) and come up with, not a Jewish coin, but a Roman one. So then, who is the author of this coin? To whom does it belong? Who is it that they put their trust in (a bit of a stretch, but I'm going there, anyway); God or Caesar? So here's a little food for thought... Empty out your purse, or wallet, or maybe that drawer or closet. What have you got hidden where no one can see it? Does it belong to God or man? Where is your allegiance? Whom or what have you put your faith in? In whom do you trust?

God's Peace - Pr. J