Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 7
Saturday

READ:
Romans 9:1-5
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I could wish that
I myself were
accursed from Christ
for my brethren,
my countrymen
according to the
flesh. __Romans 9:3
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Recently I was in a crowded shopping area when I saw a woman plowing her way through the crowd. What intrigued me was the message on her T-shirt, which read in bold capital letters, IT'S ALL ABOUT ME. Her actions reinforced the words on her shirt.

I'm afraid she's not alone. That message is declared by so many men and women today that it could be the motto of our modern world. For followers of Christ, however, that statement simply is not true. It is not all about us--it's all about Jesus Christ and others.

The apostle Paul certainly felt the weight of this reality. He was so concerned that his fellow Israelites would know Christ that he said, "I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:3). That is a remarkable statement! Far from thinking it was all about himself, Paul affirmed that he would willingly exchange his eternity for theirs.

Paul's teaching is a refreshing reminder of self-sacrifice in a challenging world that is destructively self-centered. The question we must ask is: Is it all about me? Or is our life about Jesus Christ and the people He came to reach?

Think about it. What's it all about? __Bill Crowder
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`````````````````````Others, Lord, yes others,```````````````````
``````````````````````May this my motto be.`````````````````````
````````````````````Help me to live for others````````````````````
`````````````````That I may live for Thee. __Meigs````````````````
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Our lives should be marked by love for Christ and
others--not obsession with self.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 9:1-5**************

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I
am not lying, my
conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Spirit,

2 that I have great sorrow
and continual grief in my
heart. 3 for I could wish
that I myself were accursed
from Christ for my
brethren, my countrymen
according to the flesh,

4 who are Israelites, to
whom pertain the adoption,
the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the law, the
service of God, and the
promises; 5 of whom are the
fathers and from whom,
according to the flesh,
Christ came, who is over
all, the eternally blessed
God. Amen.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In verse 1, Paul tells us that his conscience is clear as he makes his
appeal to the lost people of Israel. The theme of conscience is a
familiar one with Paul. In Acts 24:16, he speaks of responsibility,
saying, "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience
without offense toward God and men." In 1 Corinthians 10:29, he
speaks of liberty as he writes, "Conscience,' I say, not your own,
but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's
conscience?" In 1 Timothy 1:5, it is ministry that is in view as he
writes, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."

__BILL CROWDER