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LEARN & GROW
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Week of March 29, 2009
KEY VERSE
"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words ‘it was counted to him' were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4: 20-25)
CENTRAL TRUTH
Just as early believers were inspired by the teaching of Apostle Paul, so can we take encouragement and hope from his Spirit-led words.
DEVOTION
What a wealth of encouragement we have in this week's Journey, from finding out in Chapter 4 that, as we share his faith, we are children of Abraham, to discovering all the wonderful truths, found in the following chapters. Have you prayed at times for God to increase your faith? In our Key Verses, we see that we can grow strong in our faith as we offer praise to God. I could never thank God enough for the possibility, through faith, of receiving His justification. In your reading this week, look for the following: how you can have peace through faith in God, how you can be dead to sin and alive in God, how you can be released from the bondage of the law, how you can be free from any condemnation as you can live in the Spirit, and how you can be heirs with Christ.What a blueprint for Christian living we have in these chapters. Last spring, my husband and I had the privilege of traveling to Greece on a trip to follow in the Apostle Paul's footsteps. More than ever, I appreciate how God called Paul to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and how he heeded the call. In the Apostle Paul's Footsteps I walked on streets of marble where
Apostle Paul had been
And saw, while in the land of Greece,
The vistas that he'd seen.
The beautiful Aegean Sea,
The fig and olive trees,
Along with poppies, brightest red,
That swayed with every breeze.
From harbors resting quietly
To cities that were walled,
I saw so many wondrous sights,
My senses were enthralled.
I visited the ancient ruins,
Now under excavation,
And thought how Paul had been here once
To reach a Gentile nation. I visualized his presence in
The ancient marketplace
On stone steps and at synagogue,
Each step that I'd retrace. So when I read the letters now
From Paul's inspired pen,
My heart recalls my journey, and
I'm back in Greece again. I'm thankful for the words God gave
His servant to impart
And how His Spirit uses them
To speak peace to my heart.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- In what areas of your Christian life do you need strengthening?
- How has your faith been increased?
- How does it make you feel to know that God included you in the opportunity to hear the Gospel?
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