Gems from Devotions-Sept

In my devotion today, came across one of my favourite passage: 1Cor13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record the wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Lover never fails" 

Hebrews12:4 "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as a discipline; God is treating you as sons.... God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however,it produces a harvest or righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 

Romans 8:28, 31 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called to his purpose...If God is for us, who can be against us? " Many people claim to "fight for God", but more important is for us to know whether God is on our side? This verse was quoted by Abraham Lincoln. 

Romans 8:37-39: " No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.....neither death or life,neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers.....will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Love of Christ removes all fear. 

Romans 10:9,10,13 " That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved..for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" 

Romans 12:1: "Therefor I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Worship is not just singing bu serving with our lives. 

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." v14:"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. v16: Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. v17: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. v21 "Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". Difficult but Christlike! 

Romans 14:17-19 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification." This will set our priorities right. 

Romans 15:1-3, 7 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbour for his own good, to build himself up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.' Accepted one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."