My Daily Pause

Think about this for a minute: In Romans 1:18-23, Paul is saying that everyone should have a clue about God. He is specifically talking about the pre-Christian era Gentiles that had full access to the knowledge of God, but chose to ignore it in favor of the “ungodly and unrighteous.”

Wait a minute …

Even though the Jews were the chosen people, the Gentiles supposedly knew about God? Here are fifteen reasons why the answer is yes:

Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek — by Dieric Bouts the Elder, 1464–67

1. Adam was alive when Noah’s father Lamech was born. – Firsthand knowledge of God was available through to the flood!
2. Beginning post flood, 100% of the world once again knew and feared God.
3. Between Noah and Abram, God was worshipped and taught through the ministry of priests like Melchizedek
4. Through Hagar and Ishmael, the entire Arab nation knew of the one true God
5. Abraham taught Sodom and the eleven kings about God
6. Through Lot’s family the Moabites and Ammonites knew God.
7. Sodom and Gomorrah (and Lot’s wife) were punishments from God for wickedness
8. Abimelech heard directly from God in a dream because of Sarah
9. Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, knew God
10. Through Joseph, the Egyptians knew God
11. Moses reminded the Egyptians of God’s power through miracles attacking their popular gods.
12. Israel’s captors (the Persians and the Medes) were introduced to the power of God (Think Daniel, Esther, Ezra …)
13. The inhabitants of the promised land knew to be afraid when the ark was present
14. Jonah saved Nineveh
15. Gideon destroyed baal

So, back to Paul’s point, there is no excuse for not knowing God. I stopped at 15 key ways God made Himself known, but the list could go on. Even Plato and Cicero had an idea about the spirituality only known through God!

Therefore, it is man’s own fault when God is not known or ignored though his foolish heart. (Romans 1:22)

Daily Bible reading for October 5

Psalm 65
1 Kings 1:1-27
Ezekiel 26
Romans 1:18-32

The difficulties in bringing the Gospel to others in today’s climate is nothing new. The boldness that seems to have suddenly grown among notable scientists and other “educated” people to rule against the Bible as a factual document might seem edgy and groundbreaking, but Paul was dealing with the same thing in his day.

The Apostle Paul – Bartolomeo Montagna (1450–1523)

A number of scientific theories and ideas have taken hold and are discussed as facts. These are even ideas that conflict with established scientific laws and definitions. Even though it takes more faith to believe in these theories due to the inherent problems with them than it does to believe in the Bible, the world is choosing poorly. Other than the miracles which operated outside of scientific explanation, (they were miracles after all) the Bible has never been discredited by science, archeology or mathematics.

The prospect of going into Rome might have been a daunting prospect for Paul, but he reassures his brothers there (and us today) that he is not afraid to share the Gospel. (Romans 1:16-17) Why? Because it contains salvation! The Gospel is the sum total of:

• Facts we need to believe
• Commandments we need to be obey
• Promises we need to accept

The Bible has been placed under more examination, duress, attack, study, commentary than any other document in history and it still stands. A guide for life, love, and security.

Perhaps we should be try harder to be bold like Paul.

Daily Bible reading for October 4

Psalm 64
2 Samuel 24
Ezekiel 25
Romans 1:1-17

As Jesus was tried and his life taken, (Luke 23) we know the world became a different place. Changes were coming to the Lord’s kingdom, but what did not change was the basic groundwork that Christ laid while he was here.

As he went through being tried seven time for false charges, he demonstrated great strength and faced his enemies just as he taught us. The first words he spoke on the cross were even for their benefit. (Luke 23:34)

It is a difficult thing to do, but treating our enemies a certain way is part of being the image of God. From the beginning Jesus taught us to give our enemies:

• the other cheek (Matthew 5:39)
• our cloak (Matthew 5:40)
• an extra mile (Matthew 5:41)
• what he asks for (Matthew 5:42)
• what he borrows (Matthew 5:42)

Not only is it Christ-like to treat our enemies this way, it is our responsibility to try to get the Gospel to them. What better way to prove we are not like the world than to treat them in an unexpected way?

Daily Bible reading for October 2

Psalm 62
2 Samuel 22:1-23:7
Ezekiel 23
Luke 23:26-56

Did you ever notice that when Jesus put the guy’s ear back on, no one seemed to notice? (Well ok, I’m sure the servant noticed.) (Luke 22:50-51)

The Jewish leaders were so intent on finding “proof” of his blasphemy, that they ignored the proof that Jesus was the Messiah.

Seems like there is a lot of that still going on.

Daily Bible reading for October 1

Psalm 61
2 Samuel 21
Ezekiel 22
Luke 22:47-23:25

As we look in on the last prayer that Jesus offered before being taken prisoner, (Luke 22:39-46) we can see that the priorities he taught still held up:

• He made sure his disciples were taken care of, (Luke 22:40)
• He asked for God’s will to be done
• Only then did he ask for relief from what was before him.

To offer prayers in a Christ-like manner is to be continually prayerful and to put ourselves last. Most often it is more appropriate to pray for the strength to face what is going to happen than to pray for it not to happen.

As a challenge to yourself, try spending the day in a prayerful manner but not asking for anything for yourself. A great place to start is to pray for the benefit of others and for the Lord’s kingdom.

Daily Bible reading for September 30

Psalm 60
2 Samuel 20
Ezekiel 21
Luke 22:1-46