Bible Journal 111008-Matt 15, Rom 1,2

Matt 15:9 "in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of man". What are the commandments of man that we have to be wary about holding higher than God's commandments? Outside the church: science, popular opinion, the status quo, the norm, philosophy, law, "what's fair " Inside the church: culture, tradition, protocol, procedure, leaders' sayings. We expect that everything in church should be flowing from God' Word and Spirit, but where it doesn't, we must be ready to change it or discard it in submission to God. That's our responsibility as Christian leaders, if we don't, we worship in vain.

Matt 15:18-19 I don't want my heart to be the source of evil and defilement! No matter how hard I try to control my heart on my own strength, somewhere in there, is a seed of selfishness, of disobedience, of sin. I need Jesus' help to change my heart, to wash it clean, to come in and chase all the shadows away, to put to death old things and make all things new, to make my heart a source of life, and goodness by the power of the Holy Spirit. That's the miracle of true resurrection!

Matt 15:27 the gentile woman's recognition of Jesus' desirability, His lordship, and her humble and persistent pursuit, contrasts with rejection of others & my lukewarm relationship with Him. If I believe that He is Lord, and that He loves me, why do I fear to ask Him for miracles? And why do I fear what people would think if I do certain things for Him? Like saying grace out loud with unbelievers, sharing my testimony with them, praying for healing with them and inviting them to cell group and church? I shouldn't, simple as that. God, help me focus in You and demolish all the excuses I have.

Matt 15:31 "the maimed made whole" wow! We are talking limbs regrowing here! How visually spectacular is that!

Matt 15:32-38 The feeding of the 4000 There's a principle here I think God is trying to teach us. He has compassion for the people, and even though he can make manna rain down from heaven, he wants to involve us. He asks us to give Him what little we have, all of it, and He performs the miracle and gives it back to us to give to the needy. And the blessings multiply beyond all the needs till overflowing. As Christian, we need to 1) know Him as our ever-present help and limitless provider 2) give Him all we have 3) what He gives back, give to the needy We are the administrators of His blessing to the people in our circle of influence. Are we doing the best we can to ask for God's blessings, present all we have and to distribute what He gives back to the people?

Rom 1:20-21 "His invisible attributes are clearly seen" one might argue that that doesn't make sense, but on 2nd thought, that makes a lot of sense. We only needs to observe creation to realize what an amazing God we have. Intricate, intimate, crazily creative, humorous, logical, strategic, mysterious, beautiful, poetic, dangerous, powerful, gentle, good. And that's before we get to the bible!

He deserves all the glory, our thanks, our love. And if we deny Him that do we have to not only rebel against God, but also rebel against the true nature of our minds and hearts for which He created them for?

The conclusion? Rom 1:28-32 We become bad, evil, and we encourage others to do the same. Despite knowing the eternal consequence of rebelling aginst God. Exactly like Lucifer and his fallen angels. They know the fate that awaits them if they rebel, yet they did so anyway. It all may start with simply "not liking to retain God in our knowledge"

God my Father, you are my creator, my Lord, be the center of my being, the reason for my worship, my love, all my passion! May I never live for anything else besides You! Amen!

Rom 2:29 Circumcision of the heart, what does that mean? it means that I dedicate my heart to God, removing excess skin that I may be truly intimate with Him, removing all pretense, all obstacles in our relationship. Also it it's a commitment, a covenant between me and God. He has full access to it and only Him, He has full Lordship in it and only Him. Just as I can't use a circumcised penis against Him, I even more so cannot use a circumcised heart for anything but loving Him.

Rom 2:4 The goodness of God leads to repentance, not guilt, punishment or condemnation.

Rom 2:15 Rather I have the law written in my hearts and do right, than to just have the law written into my mind and do wrong. if we as Christians do wrong though we know what is right,we become hypocrites, blaspheming God to the yet unsaved, Rom 2:23-24

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