Romans 12:2 – Be Transformed!

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

There is so much focus these days on transformation. I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t see some sort of physical transformation celebrated on social media–from weight loss to wrinkle reduction. We applaud those who must now be feeling more content with their appearance. But those are not the transformations Paul was talking about here.

Context (Romans 12:1-5): The book of Romans covers so much ground teaching us about living a Christian life. This short section alone deals with how we should devote ourselves to God and what that behavior looks like. Paul warns us to be careful not to focus on the wrong things in life, even when looking in the mirror. Who are we as Christ followers? Continue reading “Romans 12:2 – Be Transformed!”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – Gift of Grace

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Grace. What is it? God saved us “by” his grace when we believed. That’s a memory verse I’ve had in my brain from childhood. This grace that saved us is definitely a gift because of how much it changes us when we let it.

Context (Ephesians 2:1-10): Paul speaks of grace in these verses in a helpful way. Grace is something Jesus gives us that we don’t deserve. We might wonder how God could be so rich in his mercy toward us sinners. That’s love and God’s desire to be in a right relationship with us, his children. Such a great reminder that our salvation does not depend on us! Continue reading “Ephesians 2:8-9 – Gift of Grace”

Isaiah 40:31 – Trusting God

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I love the image of soaring high like an eagle, even though I’m afraid of heights. It speaks of the freedom we have when we trust in God. We don’t have to fear, we will be given new strength. That sounds marvelous, especially when we’re feeling weak.

Context (Isaiah 40:12-31): This section of Isaiah has been entitled “The LORD Has No Equal.” Just sit with that truth for a moment. Every verse in this section speaks of God’s magnificent power over his creation. If you need a reminder of how great God is, this is the section for you. It masterfully sets up our memory verse today, giving us countless reasons to trust in the LORD. Continue reading “Isaiah 40:31 – Trusting God”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – What a Gift!

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

I always use these verses when I’m teaching children about the beautiful gift we have in the Bible. It’s helpful for all believers to be reminded of the importance of God’s word. It’s not just a book that sits on the shelf. Don’t you love how the Bible points to itself to explain exactly what a treasure we have in our hands?

Context (2 Timothy 3): Paul’s warning to Timothy about the last days is critical to understanding how important the Bible is for our future. Paul knew that standing on the truth of Scripture was going to help Timothy and us stand strong when opposition comes. In the surrounding verses, Paul describes what those end times are going to look like. Arming ourselves with the word of God is not a new concept for Paul. He talked about the armor of God to the Ephesians, and the Bible was the sword of truth, a weapon. Continue reading “2 Timothy 3:16-17 – What a Gift!”

Romans 8:28 – For Our Own Good

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

For “those who love God,” this verse has a significant promise. For those far from God or indifferent to him, this assurance does not exist. How do we respond to God knowing he has our best interests in mind?

Context (Romans 8:26-30): This verse is nestled in Paul’s discussion about the Holy Spirit helping us in our weakness. It’s a beautiful image of how God takes over when we aren’t capable. Sometimes we’re in such a dark place we don’t even know what to pray. That is when the Holy Spirit can shine through us. Our memory verse emphasizes the protection and provision we have when we love God. God knew we would need a helper. Continue reading “Romans 8:28 – For Our Own Good”

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)