SEPTEMBER 28 - THE CHRISTIAN’S INSTRUCTION
READ Romans 13
The Christian is to obey the government and love others.
INSIGHT
Love is the central characteristic of the Christian. In Matthew 22:37-40, a lawyer asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. Jesus says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then the Lord gives the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that love is the greatest characteristic–even greater than faith or hope. Now in Romans this theme is picked up again. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the Law. God is love. If we are to be like Him, we also must love.
PRAYER
Thank the Lord that He loves you, and praise Him that through Him you can love others:
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful ones;
He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
Light dawns, for the righteous,
Gladness for the upright in heart.
Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to his holy name
(Psalm 97:10-12).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
He was despised and rejected by men,
A man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;
He was despised, and we didn’t value him.
We all went astray like sheep;
We all have turned to our own way;
And the Lord has punished him
For the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3, 6).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
The Christian is to obey the government and love others.
INSIGHT
Love is the central characteristic of the Christian. In Matthew 22:37-40, a lawyer asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. Jesus says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then the Lord gives the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that love is the greatest characteristic–even greater than faith or hope. Now in Romans this theme is picked up again. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the Law. God is love. If we are to be like Him, we also must love.
PRAYER
Thank the Lord that He loves you, and praise Him that through Him you can love others:
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful ones;
He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
Light dawns, for the righteous,
Gladness for the upright in heart.
Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to his holy name
(Psalm 97:10-12).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
He was despised and rejected by men,
A man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;
He was despised, and we didn’t value him.
We all went astray like sheep;
We all have turned to our own way;
And the Lord has punished him
For the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3, 6).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Greater sensitivity to sin
- Your role in the ministry of your church
- Your activities for the day
- Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
A Dogwood Church Discipleship Ministry Resource. © Walk Thru the Bible 2025.