Daily Devotion

These principles of our faith appear in some form in every genuine Christian church and are included in creeds such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Additionally, the Lord's Prayer is considered part of the rule of faith, serving as a model for prayer and understanding our relationship with God.

Christians strongly adhere to biblical truths, defending them passionately and living with firm convictions. Many believers have clear opinions about politics, believing all Christians should support a specific political party. Christians can also hold social beliefs. For example, regarding drinking, Scripture clearly states that getting drunk is a sin. Beyond that, there is often a division between those who drink responsibly and those who choose to abstain.

Weekend Recharge!

Weekend Recharge!

Two well-known Protestant reformers, Martin Luther and John Calvin, shared their views about Paul’s letter to the Romans. Luther called the book “the clearest gospel of all.” Calvin said, “If a man understands [Romans], he has a sure road opened for him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.”[1] I hope that as we continue studying Romans, you will agree with these two statements about its significance in your own understanding of the gospel and the Bible.

How should a Christian respond to the government? Is it necessary to obey all laws, pay taxes, and show respect to governing officials? Are we to submit to authorities when there is blatant corruption?

In today’s passage, Paul becomes very specific. I count more than twenty concise, direct exhortations in Romans 12:9-21. Rather than analyzing each verse one by one, I’ll organize Paul’s instructions into five main points. Let’s look at these qualities of a true follower of Jesus.

All theology is practical. Everything we learn about God should be applied in real life, including our daily activities and challenges—such as dealing with sickness, the busyness of toddlers and teenagers, marriage struggles, financial hardships and successes, job stress, and more. There are moments of laughter and tears, but God always meets us exactly where we are. 

I want us to revisit “the kindness and the severity of God” (Rom. 11:22a). We discussed this verse in our last teaching time. As J. I. Packer insightfully notes, the important word here is “and.” The Christians in Rome were not to focus only on God’s kindness or only on his severity—both are crucial for understanding who God is.