When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Romans 1:12 (NLT)
When Paul wrote this letter to the Believers in Rome there was a lot of murder, mayhem and debauchery going on around the world, just as there is today. Believers in Christ were being tortured and killed. We don’t see that here in the USA, but it still happens in other countries. Paul had been imprisoned many times. He had been whipped, beaten, tortured, keel hauled, ship wrecked and other things we can’t even imagine. The believers in Rome were living a life that began to depart from the word of God. The things of the world intruded on Christian living. Paul wanted to come to Rome, to not only share his faith writing letters, but also to show them what it was like to live as a Christ follower.
Just as Christians of olden times, there are things that draw our attention away from the word of God. There are also things we pay attention to that oppose the word of God. Have you read the news? Watched T.V. and Movies, Listened to the lyrics of songs? Do you realize it is legal to kill the not yet born in this country? These days women’s legs getting out of a car, is what sells cars. T.V. shows and movies have people hopping in and out of bed with all kinds of people, people other than their spouse. There is a country song with the lyrics: “Hey baby shake it for me”. Have I become a prude? Am I not politically correct? Have I become a hater?
These are but a few examples of the things in the world we are bombard with and divert us from the word of God. No wonder, Paul couldn’t wait to get to Rome. Imagine what he had to go through. Look at what we have to go through. The world is telling us what is important, right and how to think about it. We need each other. That is one of the reasons we come together, to worship and fellowship. We need encouragement to follow God’s word and to be a Christ follower. We need to encourage one another.
In order to stay strong in the word of God we must first read it. We must also understand and meditate on it. We must also live it. We must come together to encourage one another in it. We must come together in prayer and fellowship to encourage and strengthen one another. If we stay away from the Body of Christ we are cheating ourselves and cheating each other. Without the encouragement of one another, we can go down the wrong path. Today let’s make it a point to encourage one another. When you need encouragement let us know.
God Bless
Ken Jones
THS
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