Tuesday's Reading: Romans 1

Encouragement - This is what the church is to be about. Paul says he wants to encourage the Romans and also be encouraged by them. Think about the last time you were at church ... did you feel encouraged as you left? Do you think that you encouraged any0ne else while you were there? The chapter ends with another thought about encouragement ... but this time it's not the good form of encouragement, but rather, the kind that leads to sin. Are you being encouraged in your faith or in your folly? Am I encouraging others to walk further in the "light" or am I ignoring or even encouraging "darkness". Lord help us all to put off things that get in the way of the intentional power of encouragment.

Good memory verse: 16 "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes"

This first chapter of Romans seems to signal a clear warning shot to any of us who know the Good News and do nothing with it. "Trading the truth for a lie" is a verse that stood out. Let's keep our eyes on the Author of Truth!