And Another Thing…
Opening Prayer
Lord, make my heart one with Yours today. May I love what You love and may I bring You glory with my life today.
Read Romans 16:17–27
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24]
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If you had to sum up what is most important for a Christian to do or remember, what would you say?I love how Paul so often gets to the very end of his letters then remembers one last thing he wants to say. I can imagine Tertius, Paul’s scribe (22),
writing smaller and smaller as he tries to fit everything onto the page without having to start a new sheet, and trying to encourage Paul to close, while Paul says, “But this is important…”
What matters so much that Paul just couldn’t end his letter without saying it? He calls his readers to pursue unity (17), wisdom (19) and hope (20), then reminds them that it’s all about the glory of God (27).
Which of those do you connect with most deeply at this point? Is there an area of your life where you need to pursue unity, or one where you need hope? Do you need God’s wisdom for an issue, or simply to remember that our purpose is to bring him glory?
Apply
In every choice you make today, ask yourself, “Will this bring glory to God?” You may be surprised by your experience.
Closing prayer
Reflect on whichever area God is speaking to you about, and ask for his guidance and strength to do whatever he is asking of you.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.