75th Week Romans Intro- Chapter 4 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction
Monday, Romans Introduction
Romans
Introduction
Alan Ruden

THOUGHT
AWAKEN all ye Salt Shakers. 
Live from Wichita, Kansas. Yours truly, Al!

I called Jeanie this evening and asked her if I could lead Salt Shakers for the week. She graciously allowed me to do so.  AWAKENING (insert ringing alarm clock here) was our theme for Promise Keepers this weekend. We really had a great weekend. It was great to spend time and fellowship with Tom and Rory on a closer level. Have you ever seen ten thousand men go on a one hour lunch break; or have you ever seen an auditorium full (yes completely full) of men singing for Jesus?  

As I read through this introduction, I'm thinking wow; I mean "WOW"!!! This relates to this weekend and Promise Keepers. The book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul. He had never been to Rome, but was on his way to fulfill his calling. This letter was written as a prelude to his arrival to introduce himself and to make a clear declaration of faith. Paul presents the Good News - Salvation does not discriminate. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. In the introduction it talks about freedom - freedom from being saved, freedom from the power of sin (6:1-23), freedom from the dominate law (7:1-25), freedom to become like Christ and discover God's limitless love (8:1-39). Paul shared his concern for the Romans and how they fit exactly into God's plan, Jews and Gentiles united in the body of Christ. 

One of our talks this weekend was about discovering your unique design. Each and every one of us was created with a purpose in mind. We were not created by accident. Each of us has a specific purpose in God's plan.

PRAYER
I pray, Lord, that we, in our uniqueness, are able to let God's plan work through us - that each of us may be able to reexamine our commitment to Christ and reaffirm our relationship with other believers in Christ's Body. I thank You for our safe travel this past weekend. For all prayer requests in the hearts of the Salt Shakers, I lift them up. Open our hearts and our minds to Your message, Your Plan. AMEN



Tuesday, Romans Chapter 1
Romans 1
Verse 7
Alan Ruden

Verse 7:  “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

THOUGHT
Sinfulness of Mankind - Paul calls out to all in Rome in Romans 1:7.  
I find it interesting that in a chapter titled Sinfulness of Mankind and later in the same chapter subtitled God's Wrath Against Mankind, there can be this all so pleasant and peaceful greeting in a troubled world. God's grace is there for the taking, and His grace extends to us all.  May we accept this rich gift and find our peace. It does not cost; it is free. It reminds me of the following phase: “How great and glorious is our God. He is slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” 

PRAYER
Lord, may we walk with You through our trials today. May we have the patience which You bestow on us. May we be led by Your example to extend peace and grace to all those we encounter. AMEN 



Wednesday, Chapter 2
Romans 2 
Verses 6-7
Alan Ruden

Verses 6-7:  “God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”

THOUGHT
God’s Righteous Judgment
We are not to judge others. In doing so, we tend to be hypercritical. God will be the one to place judgment on a glorious day yet to come. Think of the goal of eternal life. When we think of eternal life, we try to imagine what it will be like. But we are probably wrong. I'm sure that in God's plan, eternal life is 10 or maybe 100 times better or more glorious than you or I can ever imagine. 

PRAYER
Lord, may we live our life one day at a time in such a way that some day we may share in Your plan of eternal life. Help us along the way, because we know that we cannot do it alone. Only by walking with You, or sometimes You carrying us, can we hope to reach Your gift of eternal life. AMEN 



Thursday, Chapter 3
Romans 3 
Verse 22
Alan Ruden

Verse 22:  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 

THOUGHT
Here I find a statement on trust. Trusting means putting our confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the way He taught us. God's solution is available to all regardless of our background or past behavior. Trust is sometimes tough. Here on earth we have all been hurt in some way, unfortunately many times the ties of trust somehow have been broken. 

Trust takes more than one party. It is a two way relationship with a friend, a spouse, a family member, a stranger, and with God. When we trust in God, there is only one part of that relationship which breaks the ties of trust. That is our part. We must take ownership of our part of this relationship. We must let God lead, and we must trust in Him. 

PRAYER
Lord, God of all creation, let us trust in You today and for always. May we be open to Your Word today so that we can live the way You taught us. Thanks for the rains last night as Your beauty shines, flowers bloom, grass is green, crops grow. AMEN 



Friday, Chapter 4
 Romans 4 
Verses 7-8
Alan Ruden

Verses 7-8:  Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord will never count against him.

THOUGHT
We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive every sin. He paid the price for our sins on the cross. He could have called on a thousand angels to avoid dying on the cross, but knew He had to carry out God’s plan. He had faith in God's plan. God forgives sins which are confessed. Blessed, yes, blessed is He who comes before the Lord. This week has centered on faith and trust in God's plan in God's righteousness. 

PRAYER
Lord, may we listen to Your call. May we be ever mindful of Your will, trusting of Your plan that You have for us. Thanks for Your patience. Though we wander, may we always come back to You. Thank You for dying for our sins. It was only through something so tragic and painful that You were able to show us the glory of the resurrection. As we go through our ups and downs, sometimes we must endure the downs to appreciate the ups. God bless us all.  AMEN






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