A HOLY KISS
Today’s Reading: Romans 16
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
Here is an interior view of the ancient Colosseum in Rome. A partial floor has been built at the far end. You can see in the middle the corridors and rooms that once were under the Colosseum floor. The floor in ancient times was covered in sand to absorb the blood. Also, animals and gladiators were held under the Colosseum floor, awaiting their turn to kill or fight to the death.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Our reading today should be a great encouragement to all of us who serve the Lord in any capacity, particularly to those who work behind the scenes and receive little attention. Be assured that God pays attention, and so do wise leaders like Paul. This letter to the believers in Rome was written from Corinth where Paul’s partners in ministry and in tentmaking were Aquila and Priscilla. Do you remember them from the book of Acts? They, along with Phoebe, probably carried Paul’s letter to Rome, and then served as missionaries to Rome. Phoebe’s work was key to soul winning in Rome. She had been entrusted with social service among needy people. Paul knew she would need the help of others to accomplish the call of God on her life. We all need help. The “holy kiss” speaks of genuine affection one for another. Only as all of us serve God and each other will the cause of Christ flourish. The book of Joshua, which we begin tomorrow, God willing, will continue to emphasize the need to work together.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Mary, who is mentioned in verse six. She laboured much for Paul and the team. This Mary is a VIP to You, Lord. Please help me to labour much to serve also. Please guide me to those You want me to serve. In Your Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The summer I turned 20, with the help of others, I initiated a series of tent meetings in the village of Chalk River, Ontario. That led to planting a Church in a local hall. I had not yet met my beloved Norma-Jean, and I was working on my theological studies by correspondence. My Dad gave me back-issues of the Nazarene “Preacher’s Magazine,” and from it I learned how to construct my sermons. I lived in one room built on the side of the house where the Leach family lived. I thank them for their kindness to me. I was eating my own cooking from Monday to Saturday, and the Stan Thomas family took me to their home every Sunday for dinner. That lasted until I went back to college in Peterborough a year later. Mrs. Thomas, Doreen, was what we called a “war bride.” She met and married Stan in England during WW2. What a great cook! These are two families I think of when I read Romans 16. Thank You to everyone who has helped me through the years. Syd, who gave the first $300.00 to start us on TV in 1962, and Sharon, the teenager who made the first pledge of $5.00 per month to support the TV outreach. God has recorded the names of all others who have served as Partners of the ministry. If I could, and if it was appropriate, I’d greet you all with a “holy kiss.” I’ll try to greet each one when we meet in Heaven, if not down here.
Yours with deep gratitude for your partnership in ministry,
David
In 1863, Jean-Leon Gerome painted this depiction of the ancient Roman Colosseum, entitled, “The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer”.
P.S. I don’t have a video attachment for today, but this painting is worth 1,000 words. Behind the hungry lion, a tiger is about to emerge from beneath the floor of the Colosseum. This scene speaks volumes to me about my commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
These dear saints are with Jesus. I can’t imagine what anyone would be excited and enjoying something like in this picture. How awful. Thanks for sharing. Praying for strength and health for you David. Thanks for your blog so filling, I look forward each morning to this blog, to start my day in the word of God. Thank you.
Amen to that!!!
Dear David,
Your devotion to spreading the Word of God is so inspirational to me. I’ve been reading and praying with you for over 3 years and it is always fresh like the manna from heaven. You are so gifted in sharing your testimony and your humility is remarkable. At a time in your life when most people would be resting after a long career, you are pursuing your ministry as strongly as ever. I pray that you and your family be abundantly blessed and Ithank God that He chose to bless me and my country with your awesome ministry. In Christ’s Love,
Yes, Amen we are truly blessed!!
The Holy Scriptures, especially James’ Prayer of Faith’ helps me to pray fervently for you, David! After all, we need our extraordinary gifted teacher to serve God’s teaching every day!
Although today’s image is horrific, I am comforted by 2 millennia of sustained faith which continues persuasively…As a matter of fact, I loved your proclamation, David, of God’s awesomeness: Ever-Present (Omnipresent); All Powerful (Omnipotent); and All Knowing (Omniscient) written on Jan 12th . Interestingly, I found on the web a chemical engineer with post-grad theology, Bryan Enderle, investigating how it is possible for God to act in miraculous ways and uses physics to explore God outside of space and time drawing from the qualities of omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. Such investigations are exciting and especially effective juxtaposed alongside traditional giants such as St. Thomas Aquinas and gifted contemporary Christian apologists such as Ravi Zacharias.
Amen Suzanne, we are blessed.
Amen David, it is an honor to be your partner in prayer and ministry. Was up earlier this morning to pray and I am remembering you saying that you found that more of the will of God takes place when you prayed early. Thank God for those saints who helped Paul in ministry as he appreciated their help like you David. What a contrast the photo is to the key verse. Those dear saints will receive a martyr’s crown like the ones presently being martyred. Interesting that I have a present friend and prayer partner called Doreen Thomas. God bless you David; I am keeping you in prayer.
Amen!
Thank you, David, for the wonderful ministry from God, and thank you to all those who work with you to bring God’s Word to us. I am eternally grateful to all you faithful ones – God sees, and hears every prayer. May God bless you all.
Dear David thank you so much for what you do everyday. You have heard from some of us how much you have Blessed us. I guess you will never really know how many lives you have touched over the years. The good thing is that God knows and He will will reward you one day, get well soon. Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Eleanor, remembering your request for prayer as you struggle with Vertigo. How are you doing with the dizziness & nausea? Good that we are able to lift each other up in prayer.
Samuel thank you so much for your prayers. I am not so dizzy now and I take Ginger Gravel for the nausea. I go on Friday for my 2nd therapy. The eye exercises have been heiping, now she will have something else for me to do. I hope you see this I know it is after 8pm. Eleanor M.
PTL Eleanor! Keep putting one foot in from of the other! You have many, many prayers for you! Be comforted, be healed in the Name of Jesus Christ!
I would ask that you please pray for me also, to be thankful for money that the Lord will be pouring out on me very soon! So many debts to clear and family/friends to help, so thankful to be able to help others,
Blessings to all
Thank you for your prayers Sah. I will also pray for your situation.
Rob, you requested prayer for your brother Neil to sell his house before the bank retrieved it. Many, I am sure, prayed for Neil’s situation. I was praying that he would get a buyer and or the bank would give him an extension. How did things go with this?
I really appreciate and love to read your meditations and comments, David. Thank you so much for contiuing to do them in spite of your health challenges and other challenges. Unfortunately I’m not receiving these in my email anymore, not sure why. God bless you for all you do.
What spectacular pictures!! In the painting: How vivid the drama about to unfold, and the horror about to take place, the faith of the saints as they ban together in prayer!! Also the intricate design of the Colosseum!!
Your personal stories and testimonies; always interesting and appreciated, Pastor David.
More can be accomplished when working together in harmony:)
Thank you so much for your wonderful ministry, for your blog that I follow faithfully every morning. I was on the prayer lines for a few years,
Blessings sally
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you ;he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22