Romans 2:17-3:2
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Ian Longtin
Hope Center Covenant Church – Pleasant Hill
Observation: Verse 24 is convicting to me. I do not want God’s name blasphemed by anyone, either inside or outside of the family of God, because of my hypocrisy.
Action: I am going to pursue honesty, accountability, and vulnerability in my practice of the Christian faith. I am going to look for ways to actively and consistently represent God’s name in all areas of my life!
Observation: I’m with Ian-“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Action: Today I will take inventory of my life and ask God to show me anything in my life, my heart, my actions, that could make others turn from Him. I will ask His forgiveness and repent.
Observation: I tell others how to live for Christ, then I live the opposite so many times.
Action: I will ask the Lord to show me where I can change how I live to bring glory to his name.
Am I blaspheming His name out there, amongst them? How would I know unless I ask them? Frankly, that frightens me! I will ask for courage.
Observation: What gets my attention is this Spirit, “Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”
Action: I do love praise. Qualified and deserved of course. 🙂 Today I will seek Your praise in my actions. I seek Your praise today. Hear my prayers for those I love and breakthrough today please.
Observation: As a Christian “minister” I know people expect a certain lifestyle, and rightly so. It is a terrible, and a wonderful, responsibility.
Action: Today I will try to live each moment in a manner that is pleasing to God. Lord, help me!
Observation: It’s easy to give God a bad name. Most people can do that without even trying, and it’s a danger for each of us.
Action: Today I will search my life for an area where I need to repent of sin and take appropriate steps to move forward in righteousness.
Observation: I was struck by the same verse as Ian. Christians are the Jews these days, and because of our hypocrisy, self-righteousness, pride, etc., people outside the faith scoff and sneer at the name of God and doubt, not just his supremacy, but his very existence.
Action: Today I can avoid hypocrisy and live in honesty. In the long run I will do my part to get the message out that I am inadequate but the real and true God is merciful and perfect and not like me. I am striving to be like Him.
Observation: You’ve brought to my attention, twice today, about where I should be looking for my praise. Verse 29 says to look to you for my praise.
Action: My attitude at work needs to change. Just getting myself to work has been with the wrong attitude. Help me Father to remember I am working for you and the praise I seek is yours.