2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21, Romans 15:1-22 , Psalms 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:13-15
Today is the 1st day of August. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. And it is a pleasure to be here with you today as we open the door and step into a brand new month. This is the eighth month of the year, friends. So we are well on our way to our goal of getting through the entire Bible this year. And off we go back into the adventure, picking up where we left off yesterday. 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21. We’re reading from the New English Translation this week.
Commentary:
Okay. So when we were reading in Romans yesterday, the Apostle Paul discussed unity and the postures that we’re gonna have to have for each other as brothers and sisters in the faith. And he’s continuing with this thought and theme further today. And it reveals some of the struggles that the early church was grappling with. And really why Paul was in the center of probably the most controversial thing in the church early on. And that was the inclusion of Gentiles. In Paul’s time, there weren’t an assortment of Christian denominations and worship styles, right? The church had just begun to form. But there was plenty of discussion about exactly who could be allowed in and exactly how they would be initiated. Throughout the entire letter to the Romans, Paul built an argument of inclusion for anyone who believed. Even non-Jewish people or Gentiles. The thing is, not everybody was on the same page with this idea. So there was plenty of debate and disagreement about it. Among the earliest Jewish believers, many saw Jesus as the savior of the Jews and as a continuation of the Hebrew story, which is true. But for them, a person who wanted to follow Jesus first needed to convert to Judaism because Jesus was Jewish and his ministry was largely fulfilled in a Jewish context. So as a trained Pharisee, Paul… He totally got it. He understood that argument. But Paul didn’t see Jesus as only the savior of the Jews, but the savior of the world. And so, when he said, Remember, Christ came to serve the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. And Paul quoted from Psalm 15. (This supports) that God was indeed fulfilling his promises to the Jewish people through Jesus, but that this fulfillment was to include Gentiles as well. So it’s hard for us to understand how big of a deal this was in the early formation of the church. Because now we don’t wrestle with this specific issue much. Most of us are Gentiles. But we’re still wrestling with the underlying issue about who gets to be included, right? It boils down to this core question: Can a person who believes in Jesus but then sees things theologically different from me or does things that I consider wrong or incorrect, can they still be a Christian? Of course, when there’s many different camps represented, each one believes that it’s got the truth and it’s holding on and protecting it. Paul largely considers that to be a waste of energy because only God will be the final judge of such things. And he gave counsel as we continue to wrestle with these issues. And that counsel is, May the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus so that together you may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So if we can remember Paul’s guidance, it’ll help us when we need to be patient and have grace in our understandings.
Prayer:
Father, we invite You into that. We invite You to give us the kindness and patience and longsuffering that You have of those that we may disagree with, but who are also brothers and sisters. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is Alfi calling from Delaware. I just wanted to share some encouragement today with everyone. Life is truly a journey but sometimes while on this trip we are faced with turns, stops, forks in the road where we desperately need God’s divine guidance. In the middle of some indecisive moments in our lives we must do our part in seeking God’s will. The word of God is designed specifically for the believer to utilize in the __, meditation regarding any situation. God additionally provides His children with the Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth and revelation concerning our life __, plan, and assignment. Now, frustration often comes when we choose our own paths apart from God’s word and promptings from the Holy Spirit. Similarly, __ attempts to creep in when we follow God’s word and heed to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and change in our situations does not happen instantly. It is during this waiting period I encourage you to wait some more. Trust, pray, praise the Lord because additional guidance and the revelation is on the way. Without faith it’s impossible to please God. And sometimes He doesn’t provide the entire picture of our lives…of your life’s plan just in one pixel at a time. So, when you feel like you don’t know where to turn, remember God’s word is the light that guides you and illuminates your path. God continues to reveal, speak, and guide His children. So, he encouraged today to make sure that you are in alignment with His will and word and way and you will begin to notice God’s divine guiding power in your life. Love you Daily Audio Bible family. This is Alfi from Delaware.
Hello DAB family. Hello __ Indonesia. My name is Dodi. Today is the 30th July and I’m calling today for my father who will soon have an MRI scan, check, with his brain tumor is benign __. So, I would like to offer a prayer, not just for my father but to all DAB family who also in need of healing. So, let us pray. Father, in heaven we pray to You humbly for You are the living God whom all things are from. We as Your humble creation would like to ask You for your blessing of healing and now we pray to You Father even though we are sinful. Hear us Lord for we cry in prayer begging that You may heal us and our loved ones. Hear us Father. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hey family. This is Violas from Maryland. I hope you’re all doing well. Brian and Jill, God bless you, God bless your ministry. Hey, Ezekiel, happy birthday. I remember, I joined Daily Audio Bible right around the time Jill was pregnant. And yes, I remember that story Brian. And we just give God praise for his deliverance and for His miracles in Ezekiel’s life. I pray that God will continue to help him, he will continue to grow in God’s will. China, young woman, you are anointed, you know that? I was privileged to listen to your podcast two days in a row and I was like, oh, wow, China is anointed. You know, and I pray that God will continue to nurture you and help you to grow in Him in the name of Jesus. My sister, I’m praying, that called in for __ husband that has the neck injury, that broke his neck while he went to __. I pray for your son __. I know that the suffering is over and I’m praying for complete healing in the name of Jesus. I pray, I speak the word of God even though to him the word of God says that Jesus Christ died. He has been healed. And, so, I pray that the Lord will arise in him __ in the name of Jesus. Father Lord, I pray that You will touch him God Lord, that the suffering that has already been done. Father, Lord, I pray Lord that there will be no complications and everything will be successful Lord. He will be able to move his legs. He will be mobile again in the name of Jesus. Father Lord of heaven I come against any kind of __ to the disability. Have mercy upon Your son oh God in Jesus name. And Keith, brother, I heard your prayer request. Slave of Jesus gave you very good advice. And, so, I’m just praying for deliverance from pornography for you, that God would touch Your heart, He would take that appetite away in the name of Jesus. That He will strengthen you and you will no longer have any desire. It was to go that way and I pray that God will heal your wife from depression. Sarah, my sister, new Christian, welcome to the family of God. I pray that God will strengthen you. You have discovered the secret that some new Christians don’t even know, the word of God…
Hi. Good morning family. First I want to say happy birthday to Ezekiel. Happy belated birthday. I can’t believe it has been six years. That’s amazing. I remember hearing all about it when Brian and Jill were going through it on the DAB. It was amazing but I don’t remember ever hearing the details Brian, that you told, you told just a few days ago. That’s a great story and a reminder…he is just…I’ve always loved hearing him on the DAB. __ little squeaks. And now he’s actually talking. Anyway, happy birthday Ezekiel. Anyway, I’m calling today for two people in particular, James, the teacher in LA. James, I remember when you and your wife were going to have a baby and I remember praying for you for that and now I am praying for you and your wife and hopefully the recovery of your wife after your children. I know that I can be tough. So, I am praying for you and I pray that you have a blessed marriage. The other person that is in my prayers, primarily, is Asia from Munich. Asia, I’ve been hearing your voice ever since I can remember. You’d always been so cheerful and happy. I remember everything you’ve gone through, from looking for a husband to finding a husband having a baby. Anyway, we all have our ups and downs and I’m glad I just heard your other prayer today that you are remembering that God, you are exactly what God wants you to be and that you’re still thanking God. We all must remember that. We must thank him every day no matter what happens in our lives. He is blessing us no matter what. Even if it’s a tribulation He’s blessing us. So remember that. Asia, you are in my prayers. God bless you and your family. God bless you all, Brian, Jill, all the DAB family. I love you. This is Kim from California. Have a blessed day.