On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-off white South African Lady has found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating.
"What seems to be the problem Madam?" asked the attendant.
"Can't you see?" she said " You've sat me next to a kaffir!(Kaffir (racial term): a term for Black Africans. The term was taken from the Arabs, who had used Kaffir to mean someone who was not a believer; in their case, a non-Muslim. Europeans then applied the term to Africans, as unbelievers in terms of the Christian faith).I can't possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!"
"Please calm down Madam." the stewardess relied. "The flight is very full today, but I'll tell you what I'll do-I'll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class." The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention many of the surrounding passengers). A few minutes later the stewardess returns wit
h the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self satisfied grin: "Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I've spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class."
Before the lady has a chance to answer, the stewardess
continues ... "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that someone be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person." With which, she turned to the black man sitting next to the woman, and said: "So if you'd like to get your things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..."
At which point, apparently the surrounding passengers stood and gave a standing ovation while the black guy walks up to the front of the plane! People will forget what you said ...people will forget what you did ....but people will never forget how you made them feel.(http://sermonideas.net)
The BLUEPRINT:
A: What to believe (Romans 1:1-11:36)
B: How to Behave (Romans 12:1-16:27)
Purpose of the Book of Romans:
To introduce Paul to the Romans and to give a sample of his message before he arrives in Rome
Background To The Book Of Romans:(http://www.scribd.com/doc/3849609/Book-of-Romans-Background)
Paul was also known by his Jewish name Saul. Paul was raised in Hebrew tradition, and as a young man became an extremely radical Pharisee. He jailed and persecuted countless Christians and it wasn’t until a miraculous run-in with God on the road to Damascus that Paul changed his life around. And did he ever. Paul became “the apostle to the Gentiles” spreading the words of Christ throughout Greece and much of the East.
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans in approximately 57 C.E. The letter itself was probably written from Corinth where Paul was staying for three months after recently completing two to three years of hard labour in Ephesus. However, Paul’s intentions for writing are not as easy to identify. This marked a transitional period in Paul’s life. Paul had been working in the East for his entire ministry, and was now preparing to take on the west in general and Spain in particular. Paul in his letter was trying to solicit the support of the Romans in both prayer and action. He wanted the Romans to start the work in the west for him, so that by the time he arrived, there would be a foundation.
1. No Excuse
2. No Escape
3. No Partiality
Discussion:
1. No Excuse (1-4)
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
“Therefore” is a concluding word that usually appears at the end of every writing piece. This was written by Paul after presenting God’s wrath on unrighteousness on the previous chapter of Romans. He established the connections between people’s unrighteousness (previous chapter) and how God judge righteously.
There are times that we get irritated to somebody else’s sin, unknowingly and unconsciously, that same sin had actually taken roots into our hearts. We must therefore be very careful in dealing with it. When we speak of any sin towards our brethrens, let’s do it with a humble heart avoiding arrogance in every way. Let them feel that we too are sinners and that only God’s grace, mercy and love, we can be set free from the bondage of sin.
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”-Carl Gustav Jung
God really intends us to encounter such people, no excuse, if it means understanding our own selves. So the next time you encounter these people, think positively and say to yourself, “I’m glad, God cares for me”
“Judgments prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.”-Wayne Dyer
The inner beauty of the person mostly is overlooked by us because we are so busy with our “judgments”
When Paul’s letter was read in the Roman church, no doubt many heads nodded as he condemned idol worshippers, homosexual practices and violent people. But what surprised his listeners was when he said “you are inexcusable” which means “You are just as bad”. Paul was trying to emphasize that nobody is good enough to save himself or herself.(http://godswordonline.net/romans.htm)
So whether we sin “less” or sin “more” as we thought, we totally depend on God’s GRACE for salvation. Repentance is what we need! That is why we thought and ask ourselves “Why such a sinner still lives”? Simple, because God loves the sinner but hates the sin!
2. No Escape (5-9)
God doesn’t want His people to experience His wrath that is why we believe that our God is the God of second chances. Chances are given until His people will repent. But this doesn’t mean that we can escape the judgment day. It will surely come and we will surely face our Creator.
Paul mentioned two things that we can’t escape from (to the Romans & the believers today)
a. God’s love
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
b. God’s wrath
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
Judge means:
a. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration (http://www.thefreedictionary.com)
Yet we seemed to be very careless in our judgment!
But God’s definition is different:
H6419 פּלל pâlal paw-lal'
A primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension to intercede, pray: - intreat, judge (-ment), (make) pray (-er, -ing), make supplication.
No wonder why God always holds back His anger! He is interceding for us so that instead of experiencing His wrath, we will experience His love…hallelujah!
3. No Partiality (10-11)
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek 11For there is no partiality with God
Paul says that those who patiently and persistently do God’s will, find eternal life. It is not limited to the Jews but as well as to the Greeks or the Gentiles. Therefore, you and I are part of it.
CONCLUSION:
As we wake up every day, before boarding to the different flights in our life, make this simple prayer in our heart in order that we may not be led into judging others, as in the woman in the British Airways Flight. We must pray especially at times that we seemed to feel that we can’t escape sin.
A prayer for a new day
Dear Lord
So far this week I've done well....
I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help.
Amen...
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