Sunday 20 October, 2013

Today's passage is Paul’s last greeting and reminders and blessings to the church in Rome.

Paul has been longing for many years to see them. He wanted to give them some spiritual gifts, so that they may be made strong (1:11) and stand firm in Jesus Christ.

Beside the greetings, Paul patiently taught them how to defend the temptation of anti-Christ : Not just being obedient, but to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. To watch out for those who cause division and put obstacles in our way.

The anti-Christ (false teachers) deceive the minds of naive people by smooth talk and flattery, they are not serving the Lord Christ, but their own appetites.

The challenge to me is: I like to be an obedient person, but, it’s not good/strong enough in this world. I have to be wise and able to tell what’s good and what is evil behind the flattery and smooth talk. I think that’s why the Bible said: … be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matt10).

Oh Lord, help me “to be wise about what’s good and innocent about what is evil”, but not “to be INNOCENT about what’s good and WISE about what is evil. Amen.

Written by Allen Leu