The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Romans 13-16
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: Romans 13-16
Human systems of thought try to hang human morality and purpose in thin air. Why should the atheist make good moral choices? Why should the unbeliever live with purpose? In the end, everyone dies and the day will come when the vast, impersonal universe swallows up our little blue planet leaving all of human history as just a meaningless cosmic blip. If this is the future, what possible meaning could there be in my present? Why wouldn’t I just do whatever I want to do? Why would I make hard choices, who cares one way or another? God’s word always gives us the foundational “why” for our lives. We are never told to live a certain way, to make good and hard choices, without first being told the larger purposes for our lives. “Therefore”, Paul writes, in view of all these amazing things that God has done, let me tell you how his new people should live their lives. We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, we are to submit to governing authorities, we are to pay all debts except for one, the debt of love we owe to one another. We are to accept those who are younger in the faith and sacrifice our own freedoms to make sure we don’t cause them to stumble. All these things that Paul gives are not new laws, they are what new freedom in Christ looks like. Since God’s purposes in history are clear, his purpose for your life in him have also been made known. The gospel is the foundation, and it cannot be shaken or taken. Now go build lives of meaning and impact on that great foundation. In one passage Paul masterfully lays out the foundation of our Scriptural hope and the very intimate and practical application of that hope in our relationships with one another. We are to live lives of unity for our own good, and for the ultimate glory of God.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Romans 15:4-7
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray that Uyghurs would be curious about who Jesus is. Ask for understanding and faith to believe that He is the Son of God and the Savior.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.