All Southern Gospel Online Radio Devotional Study Guide

Daily Devotional Thoughts

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This Week’s Study: Romans 1:1-18 Monday - Introduction to the book of Romans To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you (Romans 1:7-10) Today we begin our devotional study of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Notice how he addresses the Christians at Rome: “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. . . .” Doesn’t that warm, your heart? “Beloved of God, called to be saints.” Listen to God speaking directly to you through His word today. Know that you are “beloved of God” and “called to to be saints.” Paul continues, “Grace to you.” Grace, the abundance of God’s love toward us. We don’t deserve God’s love, or His favor, but we receive it. That is Grace, unmerited favor bestowed on us. God providing us with a wonderful future, our sins forgiven, life eternal with everlasting joy. That is Grace! And it is all made possible through God’s wonderful plan of salvation and redemption. Today, know you are “beloved of God, called to be saints.” May you today experience “Grace. . . and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Tuesday - I make mention of you always in my prayers. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you (Romans 1:7-10) Paul writes “For God is my witness, . . . that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. . . .” “Without ceasing” “This . . . means constantly, always, without intermission. It was not only once, but repeatedly. It had been the burden of his prayers. The same thing he also mentions in regard to other churches, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessa- lonians 2:13” (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Romans 1:9). Not only was Paul a brave evangelist, church planter and church nurturer but he was a great prayer warrior. I believe prayer was not an add on. Prayer was not just something he did when he had time. I believe his prayer life, along with his surrender to God’s will, is what made him successful. “Without ceasing,” he wrote. “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. . . .” Two questions: Are you praying without ceasing? Are you part of a Christian fellowship where someone is praying “without ceasing,” making “mention of you always” in prayer? If not, today is a good day to begin! Wednesday - I am not ashamed of the gospel. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16). Are we ashamed of the gospel of Christ? I have a day job working in a secular industry. Some of my colleagues profess Christianity, some don’t. Likewise with our customers. I also operate a business which is actively involved in helping Internet radio broadcasters. Most of these broadcasters are pagan with no expressed interest in Christianity. Am I ashamed of the gospel of Christ as I interact with those God brings in my path each day? I’m not talking about being obnoxious. I’m talking about speaking a word in due season. I’m talking about being intentional about sharing God’s love. Am I allowing God’s Holy Spirit to possess me and prompt me and enable me to say what needs saying? Am I ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Am I intentional about sharing the Good News? Do I ask God to use me, today, to reach others for eternity? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation. . . .” Won’t you join me in sharing God’s Good News with those God brings in your path today? Where you are today, and those in your path is your mission field. Get busy! Thursday - The just shall live by faith. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:16-17). Romans 1:17 gives us the vital essence of the gospel. “The just shall live by faith.” Salvation comes by faith. In context, faith means belief. Taking God fully at His word. Having absolute confidence that what God says, He indeed performs. “The just shall live by faith.” Do you believe Jesus died in your place? Have you accepted his death in place of yours? That is how salvation comes. By believing God does what He says. When you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let’s embrace this wonderful gift, and let’s share it with each on God puts in our path today! For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:16-17). Friday/Weekend - God’s wrath revealed. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). This verse builds on the previous verses and contrasts the results of those who believe God’s truth vs. those who choose to suppress God’s truth. So what is the contrast? Eternal life and eternal joy contrasted with eternal death. We read in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Notice what sinners earn: death. Total, complete isolation from life and all the good things God has promised the saved. “The wages of sin is death. . . .” What are you earning today? The fact is we all deserve death. Thank God that is NOT the end of the story. Our verse continues: “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No question about it, God will not suffer ungodliness and unrighteousness to continue ages without end. He will put a stop to all this sad and tragic nonsense in the fires of hell. But God wants you among the redeemed. Among those who rejoice throughout eternity, eternity lived with God in heaven. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23. My plea to each radio friend today is to choose the gift of life God holds out to you, choose life, and choose it now!

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