one step: Romans 9.1

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

What could bring Paul such sorrow? Why would Paul feel as though he needed to defend himself in his words, “I am not lying?”

Up until this point in his ministry, Paul visited many Jewish communities as well as Gentile communities.* When going into a town, Paul would intentionally bring the Gospel to the Jews first in the town. After sharing the Gospel, he would then continue to the Gentiles.* Over the course of this time, Paul saw a much greater reception to the Gospel by the Gentiles than the Jews.* Because of this, and his attention on the Gentiles, many Jews began to question Paul’s allegiance to his own people, thus calling him a traitor (Paul was Jewish).*

In Roman’s 9, Paul attempts to address any suspicions that his arguments in chapters 1-8 of Romans mean he is any way against the Jewish people.* In the verse above and those that follow it, Paul is sharing how much love he has for the Jewish people... so much love that he experiences anguish and would give up himself for them (he shares this in the verses that follow the one above).

We, like the Jews of the time of Paul, may misunderstand his actions and words when taken in part. When taken out of context, chapter 9 of Romans may seem to communicate some things, but we have to view chapters 9-11 together to understand Paul’s position regarding the role of the law, Christ, and the Jewish people. In fact, Paul works in chapters 9-11 to counteract the tendency of the Gentiles in Rome to look down on Jewish believers and on Jews.* To Paul, and to God, Jews and Gentiles are both sinners in need of grace through Christ.*

Furthermore, chapter 9 taken out of context from chapters 10 and 11 may seem to present a strong case for predestination, but chapter 11 speaks of the choice that the Jewish people have to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah.*

Chapter 9 taken out of context may make room for some to decide that Israel has been replaced by Gentiles who believe in Christ.* This too is refuted from Paul’s own lips in chapter 11 by explicitly stating that God has not rejected His people.*

The work Paul does in chapters 9-11 of Romans seeks to provide a connection between the Old and New Testaments, explaining the purpose of Christ in each.* Paul seeks to point out to the Jews that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament.* He seeks to point out to Jewish Christians that they need not give up their Jewish roots.* He desires to share with Gentile believers the connection between the Old and New Testaments in the plan of salvation.*

As Paul points out in chapter 9, God is in charge of it all.

What is my point? Chapters 9-11 of Romans serve as a powerful reminder to avoid taking Scripture out of context. Taking some of these verses out of context has caused unnecessary generational divisions between Christians and between Christians and Jews.

How often do we read something in the Bible and create an entire belief system around it, only to have that incomplete belief system fall apart at the appearance of truth? When we take Scripture out of context, we may come to believe falsehoods such as “life should never be hard,” that “good guys always win,” and that “pain and suffering are only reserved for those who do not believe enough.” When we take Scripture out of context, we may find division within the family of God.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that He is sovereign over the story of humanity and your life too. Perhaps God wants you to look back at some of the divisions that you have experienced in relationships to see what His Word says about it… in context. Maybe God wants you to explore some verses that you know to be sure that you have heard what He wants to say to you. Perhaps God wants to remind you of those that you anguish for out of love and desire for their salvation.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 366–367). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 232–235). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 343–345). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 290–294). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Romans 8.5

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s interesting that the very things that Paul cites as having no ability to separate us from the love of Christ are the very things that seem to threaten our ability to receive or experience His love. Think about all of the situations of life that you have experienced that caused you to question your faith; they caused you to question the character, nature, and person of God. When life was hard, when people we loved died, or when when we felt far from God, we begin to wonder if God’s love is for us at all.

Paul experienced all of these threats to the love of God in his life. In fact, at the time of Paul’s writing, he experienced all of the things he listed but death.* Death came to him eventually, however.

Maybe you haven’t experienced persecution, famine, danger, or violence directed toward you for your faith. Maybe you know someone who has. Maybe you know someone who has endured the difficulties of this life, and it didn’t end so well for them. In these moments, we wonder if the love of Christ is as permanent and eternal as we were told. Paul says that it is that permanent.

Though the difficulties of life are guaranteed, so is the love of God for those who believe.* We must be honest about both. We cannot deny the difficulties of life, but we cannot deny the truths of God’s Word.

There comes a point in the life of every believer where they must look at the things that they see in one hand, and they must look at the things that God says in the other. When those things do not align, humility calls us to lay down our limited perspective for the perspective of God.

Nothing can separate you from the love of God. No matter how hard life is or how hard life feels, His love remains. It’s true.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize the difficulties of life. Perhaps God wants you to look honestly at those experiences and to hold tight to the truths of His Word. Maybe today God wants you to recognizes that His love never left you. Perhaps today God wants you to experience His love afresh right where you are at.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 363–365). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 228–232). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 338–342). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 283–289). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:31-33

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:16-20

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you:

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The promise of the angel to Mary that we see in Luke 1 was clear: Jesus would be King. He would not just be any king, however, He would be the King whose Kingdom does not end.

Imagine being a parent-to-be and receiving a promise of that size from God! WOW! The excitement and expectation of knowing that the miracle child (born of Spirit, not man) inside of her would be King forever, saving Israel from oppression, must have been almost more than she could imagine! The expectation set by the angel was great, and if Mary was like anyone else born human, I imagine that her imagination must have run wild to think of how that promise might play out in their lives.

Fast-forward a few months, I also cannot imagine what Mary and Joseph must have been thinking when their great baby-King was born in obscurity, hidden amongst animals in a small town. How invisible they must have felt! Scripture does not tell us how they felt, but if I were them, I would be wondering a little bit about the plan and promise of God at this point.

Then, while they sat in the barn, shepherds come with a wild story of angels appearing to them to notify them of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah! Once again ignited with the hope of the promise and plan of God, Scripture says that Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. This was contrast to the wonder and astonishment of others. While they were amazed, Mary just tucked the experience away.

While Mary and Joseph must have found comfort in the fact that God had not forgotten the destiny of Jesus, they still sat in a barn. Though God had not forgotten His promises, they must have still felt a long way off.

Scholars believe that the arrival of the Magi from the east detailed in Matthew 2 could have come as many as two years after this visit from the shepherds!* The Magi came and worshiped and presented gifts suitable for a king.* They acted in ways consistent with the birth of a born King.* But, again, this was as many as two years later! Furthermore, Jesus and Joseph and Mary were not found in a palace, but in a home.* What a long time to treasure the promises of God.

Even in the moment of the affirmation of man to the promise of God, it did not look like what one would think the arrival of a king would look like, much less the arrival of the King.

When did God last speak a promise to you? How long has it been? Did it look like what you thought it would? Was there disappointment as the reality of what is does not match your picture of what could have been?

The life of Jesus all the way to the cross and beyond into our present day continues to look different than many think it should. The eternal King continues to break the picture we paint in our minds of how we think He “should be.”

Despite His unconventional arrival, and despite His uncommon life, the work of God was fulfilled in Him, bringing a salvation to the world that Mary and Joseph could not even imagine.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that His ways are not your ways. Perhaps God wants you to trust that His promises are true no matter how long it’s been or what it looks like. Maybe God wants you to look at your life from an eternal perspective. Maybe He wants you to hold onto what you have treasured in your heart.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Keener, C. S. (1997). Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 2:1–17). InterVarsity Press.
Wilkins, M. J. (2004). Matthew (pp. 93–102). Zondervan Publishing House.
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (pp. 33–42). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Turner, D. L. (2008). Matthew (pp. 78–87). Baker Academic.
Carson, D. A. (2010). Matthew. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition) (Vol. 9, pp. 107–117). Zondervan.
Osborne, G. R. (2010). Matthew (Vol. 1, pp. 86–91). Zondervan.

one step: water break

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you:

It can be easy in our current context to lose sight of the marvel of the birth of Christ. Things that are fun and even once brought attention to the gift of Jesus (like Saint Nicolas and his desire to give gifts) now create noise that distract from the true meaning of Christmas. Unfortunately, our lack of knowledge of the context of the lives of Joseph and Mary also contribute to our disconnect from the miracle of Christmas.

This water break attempts to connect us to the context of the birth of Jesus in a way that restores some of the wonder that we have lost.

As we see in these verses, a census brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. A census such as this was not just to tally who could pay taxes, but it was conducted to communicate to the people under the rule of Rome that Rome was fully in charge.* Like a bully commanding a weaker person to do unnecessary things, the Romans wanted the Jewish people to know the place of Rome in their lives.

Shockingly, the fact that Mary and Joseph went to the town of Joseph’s ancestral home is not a Roman practice but a Jewish one.* This important fact clues us that the Jewish powers at the time were privy to and a party to this census.* This would have created an unstable environment for the people of Israel: fully ruled by pagan Romans and betrayed by spiritual leadership.

Scholars speculate why Mary came as Scripture does not make it clear. Some speculate that Mary might have gone with Joseph as she might have been of the house of David as well.* Others speculate that Mary came because Joseph did not wish to miss the birth of the child.* Others speculate that their marriage may have become official prior to this trip, making her accompaniment logical.* Another scholar suggests that Joseph may have brought Mary with him to help her escape from the gossip surrounding the miraculous conception of Jesus.* Whatever the case, the oppressive government at the time and the traveling mother of Jesus played unknowing parts in fulfilling Messianic prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.*

Know this: the will of God will move forward. No matter how oppressive the government, no matter how untrustworthy our leaders may seem, no matter how hard the circumstances, and no matter how unaware we are of all that is going on, the purpose of God will prevail.

Interestingly, the birth of Jesus came as a stark contrast of the leadership of the time. In the ancient world, everyone considered the most important person of the time to be Caesar.* Yet, angels show up to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the most humble of circumstances.* The ambitions of Caesar Augustus set him as a world leader, dominating tyrant, and cosmic hero.* Yet, God chose to penetrate the world by sending His son as a humble baby into humble circumstances to the marginalized of society (shepherds).*

Augustus, the emperor at the time of the birth of Jesus, was the first emperor to encourage a cult to deify his name and reign.* According to legend, Augustus was miraculously conceived by a serpent.* According to an ancient document, during his rule, Augustus was hailed as a god whose birthday signaled the beginning of good news for the world.* Other ancient inscriptions (currently kept in the British Museum) refer to Augustus as God, Son of God, and savior.* They also associate him with peace, hope, and good news.* Yet, in reality, only Jesus embodied these things. Only Jesus was God, Son of God, savior, Prince of Peace, hope to the world, and Good News to all men. You can imagine the explosive force with which the truth of Jesus tore through the spiritual fabric of that time. The arrival of Jesus onto the scene during the rule of Augustus was a purposeful destruction of the lies of the time.

Furthermore, Octavian, the governor at the time, was known for his peaceful character and brought peace to the area through his reign.* Again, in contrast to this, only Jesus proves to be the true Prince of Peace.*

These facts and contrasts show us that there is more to the story of Jesus than we know. In a few verses, Luke sets up the radical rule that Jesus comes to set up in the most unlikely of ways. There is more to the miracle of the birth of Jesus than we appreciate in our current celebrations of Christmas. This Christmas, as you remember the birth of Jesus, remember that God was completely disrupting the understanding of the time. He upended what it meant to be important and born for greatness.* He redefined peace and showed what true salvation looks like. God used the great and the powerful and the most humble to bring His purposes to fruition. God hasn’t changed, and Jesus still does these things today.

Wherever you are today, God is at work for His purposes and will to be done. Consistent with the entrance of Jesus into this world, God is doing things on purpose and for your good even when you cannot see it.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember who the true Prince of Peace is. Perhaps God wants you to turn your focus back on Him. Maybe today God wants you to remember that while life is difficult, He is at work in your life. Perhaps God wants you to remember what Christmas is all about.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke (Lk 2:1–7). InterVarsity Press.

Brown, D., Fausset, A. R., & Jamieson, R. (n.d.). A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Matthew–John: Vol. V (p. 225). William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited.

Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (p. 83). Zondervan Publishing House.

Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 66–71). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.

Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke: 1:1–9:50 (Vol. 1, pp. 202–203). Baker Academic.

Liefeld, W. L., & Pao, D. W. (2007). Luke. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, p. 76). Zondervan.

Garland, D. E. (2012). Luke (pp. 118–119). Zondervan.

one step: Romans 8.4

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

What then can you say to the Gospel message? When you reflect on the absolute miracle of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, what can you say in response? How can anyone respond to the work of Jesus to fulfill the law and free us from slavery to it and to sin?

Paul rhetorically answers this profound question with more questions. Effectively, he says, God is for us, no one can possibly be against us.* Look at what God did! In light of that, He will graciously give us all things!

What “all things” is Paul referring to? He is referring to the blessings of salvation and the inheritance promised to believers.*

The excitement of this message includes the promises of the future, but it also includes the present posture of our God toward us. Paul presents the truth that Christ died on our behalf and the Spirit intercedes on our behalf: God literally works on our behalf!* Amazing!

Paul’s words who can be against us does not suggest that Christians have no enemies (you don’t have to live as a believer long to know this).* Scripture and life experience give plenty of examples of opposition.

As one scholar sum it up:

When Paul goes on to ask, who can be against us? he does not mean that the Christian has no opponents. His entire correspondence is eloquent of the foes the Christian encounters constantly. He means that with God “for us” it makes not the slightest particle of difference who is against us. No foe can prevail against people who are supported by a God like that. The Christian’s confidence is in God, not in anything he himself does, and for all eternity he can rely on God’s gift*

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that God is for you. Perhaps God wants you to see your enemies as He does: not standing a chance. Maybe today God wants you to walk in the authority that He has worked to give you.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 351–352). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 209–218). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 318-328). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 266). Zondervan Publishing House.