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The integrity of God's Word is something we as Christians need to address and settle in our hearts once and for all. Paul dealt with opposition to this also. In this passage he headed off the question that would naturally arise concerning the revelation of the Law, the Jews and of Faith...What if some did not believe what God had said, will that nullify the promise of God?

The Jews had a covenant with God. Another word for covenant is contract. There is always two sides to a covenant and both parties must adhere to their obligations for the contract to remain effectual. God had promised the Jews a lot of things and the only thing required of them was their faith. God made this covenant with Abraham and ratified it with the seal of circumcision. Circumcision was a token of the faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Paul had just proven that the Jews had forsaken their end of a covenant because they traded in their faith for works. The Jews weren't living by faith in awaiting for the Seed of Abraham, the promised Messiah. Instead they started relying on adherence to the Law. So Paul's question is legitimate, would their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Does the Jews unbelief make God's Word ineffectual?

Verse four gives us an emphatic and resounding no! The unbelief of the Jewish nation made the Word and promise of God ineffectual in their own lives, because they choose not to believe it. However, God still sent Jesus as the Savior of the world, fulfilling His promise. For anyone who faith in Him, the gospel has the power to save them. So even though they were faithless and broke contract with God, He was still faithful in sending Jesus.

One thing we must settle in our hearts from the beginning is that no matter what circumstances surround us, what opinions people have or what we feel, we must decided that God is true and everything else contrary to His Word is a lie. Paul is saying that God's promises are always true even if men don't believe them. Just because circumstances have a way of lying to us, we have to resolve to adhere to what God has said about it in His word first and foremost. We have to believe God especially when everything around us tells us something different. Why? Because our lack of faith does not nullify God's promises. So our faith allows them to work in our lives.

Today, choose faith. Know that God is faithful to what he has already spoken. Decide in your heart to believe Him no matter what. Resolve to allow his faithfulness to work in your life and you will reap the benefits of His goodness and promised word.

As Christians we should be above reproach according to the world's standards. We should live at peace with one another and conduct our lives aiming for what is noble, honest and proper. Even though we cannot be responsible for others behaviors; as far as it depends on us we can live at peace with everyone.

This is accomplished in our lives by the transformation that occurs when we renew our minds to the word of God. Paul started out this chapter of Romans by encouraging us to no longer be conformed or poured into the mold of the world, but rather to be transformed into a new creation by renewing our minds to this truth ( Romans 12:2 ). This is the key to all of Paul's instruction. When we align our thoughts and philosophies to what the Bible says, then we will see these things manifest in our lives.

Paul reminds us in today's passage that we are not to repay for the evil done to us being careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. This does not mean that we should seek to please mankind; rather it means that we should live righteously according to God's principals in plain view of everyone. We should be fair and honest in all of our dealings. We should be above reproach in the sight of our peers. This comes about by knowing God's principals and instructions. The more we understand God's grace toward us, the more likely we are to also extend grace when wronged. The more we internalize God's faithfulness, righteousness and truthfulness, the more these principals will be evident in our lives. This happens supernaturally by renewing our minds to the Word of God and letting the new creation that exists on the inside seep out and exist on the outside.

The Christians life was meant to be lived this way. By understanding and applying the Word of God and relying on the Holy Spirit as our guide in all things. By living by the Spirit are hearts are set on what He desires ( Romans 8:5 ), so the natural result will be living at peace with one another and shining like stars in this dark world. Today, I pray that you evaluate your heart to see where it aligns with this truth. Get into the Word and enjoy the amazing things you will find. May your life be above reproach in the sight of everyone, amen!