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TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE

Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.

(183) 2 July : Proverbs 14v32 / Romans 1v1-3v20 / Psalm 42v1-5

BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."

Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. 

Wisdom to chew on

Understanding to grow in
What is the most important thing in life for you? Surely it must be the gospel. Today we begin Romans, a letter from the apostle Paul to the church in Rome, written around 56-57AD. We immediately see that the gospel is his concern, as he has been especially commission to preach it to Gentiles (non-Jews) so they would not just believe, but obey in response (1v5). We learn it is all about Jesus as God's promised Messiah who rose from the dead proving he is the Son of God (1v1-6). But it is also about "the righteousness of God" - that's God's own standard of doing right displayed both in his justice and his perfection. And the wonder is that this is received by those of faith (1v16-17). We'll see that means that God's justice towards their sin is satisfied and they are counted as having perfectly obeyed him, even though they haven't. Paul therefore begins his letter convincing us why we so need this to be by faith. The reason is that without true repentance, God's righteousness can only mean wrath towards us because of sin (2v5). As you read note how Paul convinces us of this.

Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.

Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.