Teach Yourselves!

For Saturday, July 22, 2023:

Romans 2:21a NLT: “Well then, if you Jews teach others, why don’t you teach yourselves?”

God sent his Law through the Jews. Although they knew the Law, many were not obeying it. Possessing the Law and obeying it are two different things. Paul, somewhat sarcastically, called them on their behavior. Some converted Gentiles had become better at obeying God’s Laws than those who were raised in the tradition.

James later writes that faith without action is dead. The point is that we not only need to know God’s principles, we need to personally practice them as a way of life. Jesus solved our sin-problem if we get something wrong. But the goal isn’t to count up how many Laws we obeyed. Jesus’ goal for us is to be nice, to be helpful, to do the next right thing. Life should be pleasant and full of love. Jesus said to love God and love our neighbors.

If you’re happy and you know it tell your face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

New Covenant!

For Friday, July 21, 2023:

Romans 2:14-15 NLT: “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”

This is the heart of the New Covenant. The Jews had been trying to remember and obey the 613 things God said to do, whereas after Jesus the laws are written on our hearts. We already know right from wrong instinctively. We have a conscience. A preacher doesn’t have to tell us to not murder our neighbor. Even if it wasn’t the law of the land, we already know that taking someone’s life would be a bad idea, a sin.

At the last supper, Jesus said, “This is my blood of the New Covenant, shed for you and for many.” His blood would take away the sins of the world, so we could stop counting laws and use our conscience to focus on being a good person. Jesus gave us the simplified version: “Love God and love your neighbor.”

Trust your God-given conscience!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Faith Requires Action!

For Thursday, July 20, 2023:

Romans 2:13 NLT: “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.”

Many heard Jesus speak just as many attend our churches nowadays. They hear the words of Jesus, so they know truth. But the words are wasted on people unless they choose to act, choose to do what those words teach.

Herod Antipas was the perfect example of someone who heard truth straight from the mouth of Jesus, yet didn’t become a believer. He chose to maintain his power in Galilee, not wanting to admit that God could be more powerful and more right. Responsible for the execution of John-the-Baptist, Herod also declined to intervene on Jesus’ behalf, sending him back to Pilate. Many times he had heard the truth, but chose to not act on it.

While we are no longer under the Law of Moses, our New Covenant rules come from our Lord Jesus. His summary of the Law tells us to love God and love our fellows. Be nice, be helpful, be kind. Figure out what you could do that would make the situation better. Do the next right thing!

When in doubt, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship