Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #94

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 8) "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." (v. 10-11) "The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

My Thoughts

When Jesus died on the cross, those of us who believe in Him also died with Him. A part of us died with Him. That part is that which is of this world. Not completely physically, but the sinful nature of us died with Him. Our spirits are very much alive in Him, with Him, because He rose from the dead. The bodies we live in are only temporary and will one day die as well, but our spirit will live on for eternity with God.

Once you accept Jesus, you are no longer a slave to sin, but you are bound to righteousness. God has great plans for us, to use us for His glory and bring blessings to us. We have inherited eternal life with God and our temporary lives on Earth will be much more joy filled for it.

Once Jesus died on the cross, Satan was completely disarmed. He no longer has any power over us, he is no longer a threat to us. The only way he can be a threat is if we allow him to. If we rearm him, we are allowing him to be a threat to us again. Think if Satan had a weapon in his hand and he was forever threatening you with it. This was no ordinary gun though. You never know what could happen if he pulled the trigger. Even if he misses you directly, he can still affect things around you, thereby affecting you, indirectly.

Jesus came along and disarmed Satan, and without that weapon in his hand, Satan is completely powerless. He still tries to harm us with words or by showing us things or other ways, but without that weapon, he can't actually cause anything to happen. The only way he has any power or could possibly harm us again is if we pick up that weapon and give it back to him. You wouldn't do that if someone pointing a gun at you in real life was disarmed, would you? So why would you do it here?

The truth is, we all do sometimes. When we call on Jesus, he comes and disarms him again, and He'll continue to. It's up to us to once and for all walk away. You can't destroy the weapon, but you can keep it away Satan. Don't give it back to him. Don't allow him to hurt you or affect you in any way. Walk away from Satan and follow after Jesus.

Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!

Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #55

Judgement

Romans 2

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 1-3) "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things. Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgement?"

My Thoughts

Judgement, judging, judgemental and judge. These words, all forms of the word judge, are used quite often in our society aren't they? Well, I don't know if I am the only one who thinks this, but I think that they are over used. Sometimes they are said in joking, but most of the time, it is ever so serious. People used these terms when someone doesn't like what someone else does. That's not necessarily judging them, that's just saying that you don't agree with it. So What does it mean to judge someone anyway?

To judge someone means to say that something they do is not right and to state the consequences that they deserve. Sometimes it can get extreme, to the point where the one condemns the other. A person can also judge someone based on limited information. This isn't okay either because that would mean that you are trying to come up with a conclusion about that person with such little information. It is not judging when someone says that they don't agree with something.

Telling someone that something they did was wrong is not necessarily judging. There is a difference in how you handle the situation. If you are trying to help them realize what they did was wrong because they may not know, then you are not judging them. Reminding them of the consequences also is not wrong. Again, it depends on the demeanor with which you are telling them.

We all need to remember not to hate the person, but to hate what they do or have done. It is entirely different to hate a person than it is to hate something they did. For a small example, if I hate biking, just absolutely hate it, but I meet someone new who loves to go biking, why should I hate the person? That just doesn't make any sense. If we feel that way about that kind of situation, and biking can be replaced with anything else, then why do we all of a sudden turn around so often with more serious things, like when someone steals or even kills? Stealing and killing are wrong and we should hate those things, but the people should not be hated. That is not to say that they shouldn't be punished for their wrongs, but they should not receive any hatred.

There is only One who is allowed to pass judgement, and His judgement is righteous. God is perfect and holy and His judgement is the only judgement that truly matters. Remember not to be judgemental toward others, even in less serious or intense ways. Everyone is different, and that is a good thing. Also remember not to hate anyone for what they have done or what they are doing, but to hate only their actions. Love the people.

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Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!

Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #34

Brothers and Sisters and Others

Romans 1

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 9-12) "God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how I constantly remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."

My Thoughts

Just as it is important for us to have friends in Christ, whom we would call our brothers and sisters in Christ, it can also be important for us to have friends who do not follow God. The reason for this is that we witness to our friends. It's usually much easier to share personal things with people we know, and even more the closer we are, than it is with complete strangers.

We don't want our friends who don't share our faith to be a bad influence on us though. I have many friends who don't believe in God, who use bad language a lot, who don't always have a very good attitude towards others, who cheat or lie. No one is perfect, and even I have lied before and said words that I shouldn't, but I don't let my friends' attitudes become mine as well. I just be myself and have my own attitude, which I try to always keep positive.

I try to be a positive influence on my friends always. If your attitude is positive and you hold true to who you are, then no amount of negativity or bad attitude is going to change that in you. So just as you don't want anyone's bad influence to change you, you don't want to forcibly change anyone else's. I just be myself with my friends. I don't force my faith or beliefs or anything on them. I answer questions that they have honestly and sometimes in conversation I will share what I believe.

Sharing and brainwashing are totally different things. I am all for sharing what you think, what you feel, what you believe and so on. Sharing is caring! Don't get carried away with it or become aggressive or forceful. Especially as Christ followers, that is not how we should be because that would make us hypocrites. Be a good, true friend to all of your friends, and keep seeking out more. Don't force your opinions or beliefs on them, or on anyone, but don't be afraid to share them either. It may be through you that your friends become you brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!

Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #15

Ministry

Romans 15

(v. 15-16) "I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

My Thoughts

Paul tells us in Romans 15 to please our neighbors and not ourselves, to build him up. So, to build up our neighbor, we can encourage them, comfort them and support them. We are all neighbors to each other. Instead of the word neighbor, think of brothers and sisters and everyone else around us. Community is important. We can't support or love or encourage anyone if we keep to ourselves.

Those of us who follow Christ are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Those who are around us that don't follow Christ are our neighbors. We want to love and encourage each other, not only others who follow Christ, but those who don't as well. Each of us is there for the other for support, guided by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is in the love that we give to our enemies. Jesus tells us to love our enemies.

Loving, supporting, encouraging others. There are other things we can do as well. These are some of the ways we can minister to those who don't follow Christ. When I talk to people, I don't randomly say that I am a Christ follower, unless it comes up in conversation. People talk about different things and voice their opinions on things like evolution for example. If I'm around, I also voice my opinion. I do so in such a way that I am not saying that I am right, but that this is what I believe, and this is why. Other times, those who know I follow Christ have questions about certain things pertaining to the Bible, and I answer their questions. I don't preach to people. I leave that to the ministers and pastors at church.

It is our duty in Christ to share the gift He has given us. Share His life, His friendship and His love with your friends and family and those who God calls you to share with. This is why community is so important. You don't need to be some kind of leader or anything like that, you can just be a friend to those around you. That's how you start a good community. Be a friend to those around you and through your faith in Christ, God will use you to bring the others in your community closer to Him.

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Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do. Thanks for reading, Godbless!