Romans 1 - 2.6.23

Scripture:

Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Observation:

In this passage, Paul is writing the church in Rome. He is telling them how their faith in Jesus is being talked about all over the world, and that makes him really proud of them. Paul writes how he prays for them and he looks forward to seeing them soon. He yearns to be with his brothers and sisters in Christ, so they can help encourage and build each other’s faith, as they serve side by side in ministry together.

Understanding:

No man is an island.

This is a saying that comes from a sermon by the seventeenth-century English author John Donne. It means that no one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others. Sure, in our Christian faith, we all rely on God alone to supply us with the strength, and our daily needs to live. But we also need one another to spur each other on, encourage one another, and love one another. If God intended man to be alone, he wouldn’t have created and gave him Eve.

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”” Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭

God wired us for relationships. A relationship with Him, and relationships with one another. He created us all different too. We all have different gifts and talents. And we are called as Christians to come together, and use these gifts and talents to not only help build each other’s faith, but we are to also use them to help those who don’t know God, come into a meaningful relationship with Him by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. So what are you waiting for?! Find a church family you can connect with; a church that teaches straight from the Word of God (The Bible); a church that is about knowing God, and having Him known; a church where you can be part of a family that strives in building our relationships with God, each other, and our community. Welcome to Desert Streams. ❤️😊

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” ‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭‬‬

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‬‬

Life Application

Make going to church and meeting with God’s people a priority.

Let’s continue to build on this momentum we gained from our 28 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We heard some great testimonies yesterday. We heard just how God can move in people’s lives when we put Him first in everything we do. So let’s do that! Make meeting on Sunday mornings a priority. Don’t just make church an afterthought because our other plans fell through. Make going to church and meeting with God’s people a priority in your life. Get involved in something bigger than ourselves. Sign up in ministry. Be part of a small group or a 1 on 1 discipleship. Build relationships. Be open to it and see how God can move in your life when you love God and love one another.

-Moses Gaddi