Daily Bread 4-12-18

Romans 1:8

First, I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

ref. - Ph 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.

1 Th 1:8 - For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not speak anything.

Paul was not worried nor was he afraid of opposition, he was optimistic and strong. He was confident in that God would not lead him into a land where there were not people who would accept the gospel he was going to give them. He knew that these were good people, honest people, and very devout. So, with this full gospel that he had been given he was very confident that he could help them. Today, we go about doing what God called us to do with negative attitudes, no confidence, and no drive and expect great results. The main reason that we lack this enthusiasm is because we are lacking the Spirit that we need to give it to us. Courage doesn't come through one day saying we are courageous, it comes when the Spirit within us gives us the strength and determination to stand our ground. Devotion does not come by saying that we are devoted, it has to be put in us by the Spirit that programs and drives us to believe in something strong enough to stand up for it. Paul was confident in that once he brought this gospel to these Romans that lives would be changed and that , in that change, he would also gain the Lord's favor and be blessed. He had the proper Spirit guiding him and this is what made him as successful s he was in fulfilling what God had called him to do. He used a God given grace to let the people know he had confidence in them and that he knew that they could benefit from taking on this gospel. He had a positive attitude in the people that God was leading him to as well as the gospel that he had been given to deliver to them. He did not receive this from a self help talk or by simply changing his mind, he had the Holy Spirit dwelling within him. We, can also receive and retain this attitude and this confidence through the Holy Spirit. It is the only fountain of living water that will never dry that is available to allow us to march right through this world and on to eternity. This Spirit is available through faith and obedience to God through the same one Paul received it from, Jesus Christ!!! Have a great day!!!