Romans 15 - 1.16.26
Scripture: Romans 15:4-7
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice 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.
Observation
These verses are telling us how important all scriptures are. Both the Old Testament and New Testament is about Jesus Christ. It shares stories with us that we are sinners, imperfect and need a redeemer. The New Testament references the Old Testament many times and here are a couple of verses:
1 John 1-4: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.”
Jesus pointed to the Old Testament in Matthew 5:17-18: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Application:
At DSC our Bible reading plan uses an Old Testament and New Testament reading along with a Psalm or Proverb. There are many other plans, but if you attend DSC, I suggest this plan since we as a church body should be united. If you belong to another body and they have a plan, be in unity with that body by participating in their Bible plan. If they do not have a plan, we welcome anyone at Desert Streams.
Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
We need to love each other as Christ loves us. We are servants of Christ so when we look at our neighbors and wonder why they might do something, we to think of ways to encourage rather than be judgmental or discouraging. Romans 15:2 shows how we should be with our neighbors, people we meet or others in our community: “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
Prayer:
Jesus, your word is a lamp unto my feet. May I dwell and meditate on your Word. Forgive me when I am distracted from you, Lord, and my priorities do not line up with what you have best for me Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for those who have encouraged and blessed me over the years.
Jesus may our church body accept those who come in to the church just as you, Jesus, accept us. Let us love one another just as you love us. May we open our hearts and encourage those in need. Thank you, Jesus, for showing us in your Word how to be an example of your mercy and grace. Jesus may we always glorify your name. In Jesus name Amen
- Robert Oberg
Romans 14 - 1.15.26
SCRIPTURE: Romans 14:1 - 18
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Summary of Romans 14: Don’t judge each other in doubtful things.
(1-2) Receiving the weaker brother.
(3-4) Judging our brother is inappropriate because we are not their masters.
(5-6) Judging our brother is inappropriate because these are matters of conscience.
(7-9) We live and die to the Lord.
(10-12) Judging our brother is inappropriate because we will all face judgment before Jesus.
(13) Don’t stumble each other over doubtful things. Meaning: don’t make it an issue of judging, but don’t use your liberty to stumble another brother.
(14-15) Destroying a brother makes a privilege wrong.
(16-18) Pursuing the higher call of the Kingdom of God.
OBSERVATION
The Author: It was this glorious encounter with Jesus himself that changed Saul’s life. After his conversion, God appointed him to be an apostle, not to the Jews but to the Gentiles. It was this same Paul who once persecuted and destroyed the church, and who wrote Romans for the benefit of the Jewish and Gentile believers living in Rome. He would eventually write 13, possibly 14 of the books in the New Testament. Though he was a great apostle, he suffered greatly for the kingdom of God and the cause of Christ,
God likes it when we think of others.
Receive the one who is weak in the faith: These are words to take seriously. Paul warns us to not make spiritual maturity a requirement for fellowship. There are many reasons why a Christian might be weak.
· They may be a babe in Christ (babies are weak).
· They may be sick or diseased (by legalism).
o What is legalism? Christian legalism, in common usage, refers to a focus on strict adherence to rules and laws as the basis of righteousness or acceptance before God. This emphasis can overshadow or even replace dependence on grace through faith.
· They may be malnourished (by lack of good teaching).
· They may lack exercise (needing exhortation).
o What is exhortation? To exhort is to develop relationships with other believers for the purpose of encouraging them in their spiritual growth.
(19-21) Use your liberty to build each other up, not to tear each other down.
(22-23) The concluding principle of faith.
o What is the principle of faith? Faith, as a living principle, is a foundational concept in Christian theology, representing a dynamic and active trust in God and His promises.
APPLICATION
This is a wonderful check on our tendency to justify ourselves in the things we permit. If we are troubled by something, it likely isn’t of faith and likely is sin (transgression of the law/commandments) for us. And to be cautious in NEVER TEARING DOWN ONE ANOTHER which is one of the principles of our Faith in Jesus Christ. There are “numerous” scriptures on the impact of the words of our mouth: https://www.openbible.info/topics/the_tongue. It’s our words not thought out before speaking that cause us trouble if they are misunderstood. We are to guard our words.
PRAYER
Lord, my goal for 2026 is for you to show me how to live a righteous life…and in my pitiful natural state I can find fault with myself and others…and I am asking for red flags to let me know when my mind is finding fault AND if I have self-doubt. And what I love so much Jesus is the “family” you’ve placed me in—they do not “bad mouth” one another. Each one is so precious. Jesus, I want to be a woman after your own heart who builds others up not tearing anyone down. My precious family! If there is trouble, they are the first ones up to defend one another…and Jesus, I am so blessed that my church family builds up one another! I have never once in the years I’ve been at DSC (2012) heard gossip, or “bad mouthing” (each one has a heart for others). I cherish who you are Jesus, and I gotz tears…and this precious Paul, who knew the glory of the “mouth” in telling others of who YOU ARE, the Messiah. And he and many of the apostles/disciples died proclaiming you. TO KNOW YOU JESUS gives us strength to “watch our tongues” and live a life that reflects who you are; Jesus I truly have tears thank you for calling me out of the darkness to walk with you; and I PRAY that ALL My family KNOWS YOU. And let me acknowledge the “red flags” to watch my words, and speak your truth. AMEN
AND this is who I want to be.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
- Charleen Zakarian
Romans 13 - 1.14.26
Scripture
Romans 13:8-10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Observation
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In Romans, Paul reiterates Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew. But he also reminds us of the debt we owe to God.
Colossians 2:13-14
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are not slaves to sin, but slaves to God.
Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Application
God gave the Ten Commandments, and as Jesus points out, we wouldn’t have to worry about the last eight if we would put all our focus on loving God and loving others.
God wants to make it simple, but somehow we think we know better. Did you know that instead of just the Ten Commandments, the Jews made over 600 laws in the Old Testament? It is easy to fall into the trap of checking off items on a list instead of surrendering to God and sitting at his feet. It is easy to feel like we are better than others because we are “obeying” the laws instead of loving others and putting them above ourselves.
God says, serve me with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Will we become true slaves to the most high God?
Prayer
Lord, may I become a slave to righteousness, a slave to serving you. And out of that, help me to see others with the same love that you have for them. Help me to put others before myself. Thank you for cancelling my debt due to my sin. Help me to fulfill my debt to you, to walk in obedience - not by my own might, not to earn my salvation, not to check things off a list - but simply because of my great love for you.
- Debbie Dunn