King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Pass The Test With Honors
Date: Wednesday November 23, 2011
Chapters: Romans 14-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-23
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

“Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.” -Job 23:6-11.

It does not matter how strong your faith in God, you are going to be tested and tried, in fact, the stronger your faith, the more the tests. Why? One Satan and his constant meddling in your life, he loves to hatch up the past and try to get you doubting yourself and whether or not you are living right for God. We can be put to the test and let me tell you, when we are, it can feel like you are all alone and that God is no where to be found. However, He is around, He is watching, and He is observing how we handle the situation, and just when we can't take it anymore He shows Himself powerful and Almighty, giving us the power to pass the test with honors.

As Paul winds down his letter to the Romans he addresses an issue that many today still contemplate, clean and unclean food. In the law of Moses, God gave commands that the Jews were to avoid eating certain kinds of animal flesh, mainly due to the heathens who used these animals in ungodly ways. After Jesus died, was buried and resurrected, the law was abolished and replaced with Messianic law, which deemed everything clean if the person received Christ. So, while many of the Jews or those following the Jewish faith were converted to Christianity they still followed some of the same traditions, observed the feasts and still avoided the unclean foods. What this wrong? No, which is what Paul explains in his letter.

“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him...For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” - Romans 14:1-3,17-23.


The word disputation means debate, Paul is telling them not to debate over what they choose to observe, but rather make sure that they know the Gospel. I grew up Catholic so, I was taught not to eat meat on Friday's and during lent I had to give up something and could not eat meat on Friday's and Wednesday's until Easter. While I am no longer a Catholic I do not have to follow these observances any longer, but every year I still give up something for Jesus. The truth is, none of those observances would have mattered when I was not saved and now they to not matter because I am saved. I am no longer subject to following the season of lent, but I think of it as extra time to reflect on the year of the amazing things that God has done for me and the things I need to improve on this year. If we are not saved, nothing we do matters, God does not acknowledge anything we do for Him unless we are saved. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:22,23.

Sometimes God's laws or commands seem a bit unorthodox or cruel, but the truth is that God wants us to be the best we can be. He knows we are going to be faced with lots of trials in life, He does not want us to add to those trials by causing unnecessary suffering on our own part. God sees the repercussions of our decisions before we even make them, but He never stops us if we are determined to do these things. Regardless of whether or not we live in obedience to God's commands, if we are saved, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Paul explains this further.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” - Romans 15:13-19.

What Paul is saying is that the Gentiles are getting saved, not by what they observe or do, or even have read from the Bible, they are being saved because they believe in Christ. When we as Christians, minister the Gospel to those who do not know Him, it is the Holy Spirit that works through us and helps them understand it. We do not have to know a bit of Scripture to be saved or preach the Gospel, we just need to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and that He saved us the second we prayed and asked Him to save us. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9. It's that simple.

Paul warns us that we are observe all who say they are Christians and avoid any who believe the Gospel to be anything other than the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Remember, you are not saved by what you do for God, but by your faith in His Son. However, what you do for God after you are saved blesses you even more.

“Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” - Romans 16:16-20.

This confirms what we learned from the very first book of the Bible, that Satan will pay the price for deceiving Eve and causing all of mankind to be born into sin. Every time we, who are saved by grace, are obedient to God's commands, we bruise Satan, kick him in the head, yet, while he may be able to meddle in our lives and cause havoc, he can never have our souls. Praise God! We are going to face lots of trials in our lives as Christians, but as long as we stand by our faith, trust God, and hand it all over to Him, we will past those tests with honors. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, You proved that death could not keep its hold on our Lord Jesus Christ, when You raised Him from the dead. The resurrected power that You gave Jesus also dwells in us, the redeemed. He gives us the power to overcome the most impossible situations where Satan has influence over us. At times You miraculously intervene and other times You provide us with the strength to hold up when we experience trouble upon trouble. When we lose our way You lovingly, gently, and persistently nudge us to hand it all over to You. Thank You for making the impossible possible and for always being there for me even when I get so overwhelmed that I forget that You are here. I love You Lord and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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