Romans 2:19 (KJV) Confident, But Not Careless

Romans 2:19 (KJV)

And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 

The context here is directed toward the Jews, but we must remember that Paul has already stated that his ministry in Rome is toward the Gentiles.

Romans 1:13 (KJV)
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (but was let hitherto), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

It’s reasonable to view this text as an object lesson. Paul was using what was known of the Jews to teach Gentile believers some serious truth—namely, the danger of prideful confidence in your faith.

It is totally appropriate to be confident and sure in your faith. How could we be otherwise? If we thought we were in error, wouldn’t we set about to correct it? Paul would later admonish us to be fully persuaded in our own mind.

It’s also biblical and right to teach and preach what we’ve become persuaded is the truth of God’s Word. We are to be witnesses to every creature. We are to serve as lights to those in darkness.

But there are dangers.
First, being critical and judgmental toward those who don’t see things as we do. 

We probably can’t avoid being accused of this when we boldly preach and teach the truth—but being accused is not the same as being guilty. They will accuse us. Be sure their accusations are false.

Second, the danger of hypocrisy—preaching what we do not practice. 

Theft, adultery, idolatry… proclaiming the Bible, but not honoring or obeying it. None of us are perfect, but there are far too many stories of Christians in general—and preachers in particular—who live double lives.

If the Bible teaches Christians anything, it’s to beware of and to fight against the corruptions of the flesh. We dishonor God when we become so confident that we presume these battles no longer exist in us.

#ConfidentButHumble #LightInDarkness #PracticeWhatYouPreach #FalseAccusationsNotGuilt #FightTheFleshDaily

Confident, But Not Careless: Guiding Others While Guarding Yourself

Are you guiding others or just going through the motions?
Too many claim to shine the light but live in the shadows. God calls us to more than just words—He calls us to walk the truth we teach.

👉 Action step: Share one area of your life where you're actively applying Scripture today. Be specific. Show the world what real faith in action looks like.

💬 Question: What’s one way you can lead others without falling into pride or hypocrisy?

🌎 Visit marvinmckenzie.org for more biblical insights and resources.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

or this and, more than 6700 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Romans 2:19 (KJV) Confident, But Not Careless

Romans 1:20 (KJV) The Power of God, Not Debate

Romans 1:20 (KJV)

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

Romans 1:18–22 contains one of the most challenging truths in the Word of God—because it is so damning to the lost man and, in his mind, easily denied.

The Bible says:

• They know God is.
• They choose to deny Him whom they know is.
• They, by their denial of God, are fools.
• They hold the truth of God in unrighteousness.
• They are therefore without excuse.
• And the wrath of God will one day be revealed against them.

This is one of those truths where we, who believe the Word of God, must take the Word at its word. We’ll not win a debate with the natural mind on this subject because we can’t prove his heart. If a man says he can’t see God in creation, how would we prove otherwise?

I do not see this as a hole in the Gospel, but rather a matter of vital importance. It is God’s design that we do not win debates, prove the things of the Spirit, or convince sinners with enticing words of reason. The soul is converted not by our means, but through the power of God.

We are not the players—adeptly using the tools God gave us to meet our goals. We are simply the tools God uses to accomplish what He intends.

Many professing Christians have lived in frustration, not recognizing this difference. Much damage has been done by those who insist this is not the case.

Christianity is not using God to make the world better, or even to win souls. Christianity is full surrender to God, day by day.

#WithoutExcuse #GodRevealedInCreation #PowerOfTheGospel #TruthOverDebate #SurrenderNotStrategy

The Power of God, Not Debate: How True Conversion Happens

Are you tired of man’s reasoning and ready to trust God’s Word completely? God has already revealed Himself in creation. The question isn’t “Is there evidence?”—it’s “Will you submit to what God has already shown?”

👉 Action Step: Share this truth with one person today who says they “don’t see God.” Don’t debate—declare the Word. Let God do the work.

💬 Question for you: Have you ever struggled to explain faith to someone who insists they don’t believe in God? Tell us how you handled it in the comments.

🌎 Visit marvinmckenzie.org for more biblical insights and resources.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

or this and, more than 6700 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Romans 1:20 (KJV) The Power of God, Not Debate

Acts 28:19 (KJV) True Christians Don’t Hate

Acts 28:19 (KJV)

But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 

 

Albert Barnes writes of this:
“I did it for my own preservation and safety, not that I wished to accuse my countrymen. Paul had been unjustly accused and injured; yet, with the true spirit of the Christian religion, he here says that he cherished no unkind feelings toward those who had done him wrong.”

And John Gill says:
“What he did was not of choice, but by constraint, and with reluctance; being no friend to heathen tribunals, nor any enemy to the Jewish nation.”

I’m going to take from this two applications:

Christians are gracious and forgiving, even toward those who do them wrong. 

I understand that church history may seem to say otherwise, but I firmly insist that those who have persecuted others of different persuasions were not Christians. They certainly did not demonstrate the spirit of Christ or the early believers. It is possible, I suppose, that some of them were saved. I’ve met people whose profession of faith appeared genuine, but whose actions were not Christian in nature. When that happens, I believe it's due to the influence of so-called Christianity, not true faith. The spirit of this world has always been to elevate the record of false churches while suppressing the testimony of the true. I say again—those who have persecuted others of different persuasions were no Christians.

Christians have no “ought” against the nation of Israel. 

Those who claim to be Christians, yet demean and condemn the people of Israel, are no friends of Christ. Like the apostle Paul, I long to see Jewish people saved, to come out of Judaism, and to unite with a local Baptist church. I believe the nation of Israel is spiritually dead today. But that is no excuse to accuse them or to hate them. That kind of spirit is the spirit of anti-Christ. And I seriously question the professions of those who claim to be born again but harbor such hatred.

Jesus, Stephen, and Paul all possessed a heart of forgiveness for their oppressors and a spirit of love for Israel. That is the spirit of genuine Christianity.

#TrueChristianSpirit #ForgiveLikeChrist #LoveIsrael #NoToReligiousPersecution #GenuineFaithTestifies

True Christians Don’t Hate: What Should We Do When We've Been Wronged?

Are you living out the true spirit of Christianity?
Paul faced injustice without bitterness and loved his people without compromise. That’s the kind of faith the Bible teaches—gracious, bold, and grounded in truth.

💬 Question for you: How do you respond when others wrong you or speak against your faith? Share a specific example in the comments.

✅ Take action today: Reach out to someone who has wronged you—pray for them, bless them, or even send a kind message. Live your faith out loud.

🌎 Visit marvinmckenzie.org for more biblical insights and resources.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

or this and, more than 6700 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 28:19 (KJV) True Christians Don’t Hate

Acts 27:2 (KJV) Life in the Storm

Acts 27:2 (KJV)

And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

I think we seldom consider the others who were with Paul on this perilous ship. The Bible says there were 276 people onboard:

Acts 27:37 (KJV)
And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

The text for my consideration right now tells me of two souls we might not often think about:

Luke was onboard.
He is the “us” in the verse. Luke wrote the whole account we find in the book of Acts—many parts of which he learned by discovery, eyewitness testimony, and being led of the Holy Spirit. In this case, he was there—onboard the ship. In the midst of the Euroclydon storm. He was one of those who feared that all hope to be saved was lost. He would have been among those who swam to shore or floated on boards.

Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was onboard.
Luke gives us his name—not just in passing, but certainly without making the narrative about him. Aristarchus suffered all that Paul and Luke endured. But we know something else about him:

Colossians 4:10 (KJV)
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Luke was with Paul during his confinement in Rome, but he is never expressly called a prisoner. Aristarchus was.

We do not know what became of him, but I think we may assume his fate was similar to Paul’s.

Life never happens in a vacuum. While it would be impossible to tell the story of every soul who’s ever lived, whenever we do learn the story of one, the compassionate thing is to remember that his story is representative.

For good or bad, life is lived in community.

God grant us eyes to see others—and a heart to uplift and help them all.

#FaithInTheStorm #BibleJourney #UnsungServants #Acts27 #WeAreNotAlone

Life in the Storm: Never Alone

Who are the “Aristarchuses” in your life—quietly enduring, faithfully serving, rarely noticed? Send a message, make a call, or lend a helping hand to someone who’s been standing strong in the background. Don’t let the faithful go unseen.

#BibleAnswers #ChristianLiving #FaithInAction #Acts27 #MarvinMcKenzie

🌎 Visit marvinmckenzie.org for more biblical insights and resources.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

or this and, more than 6700 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 27:2 (KJV) Life in the Storm