Devotionals

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"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions and factions; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21)

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"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed...Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking...For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Ephesians 5:3-5)

Do any of you engage in these sorts of actions? How about, do any of you engage in these actions...drunkenness, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, a hint of sexual immorality...on a consistent basis? For those of you who do, I tell you this, you have no inheritance in the kingdom of God.

Whoa! Wait a minute, you might say, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Salvation is eternal, not some passing thing that's thrown away by God just because I do a few bad things. I agree. Salvation is forever. Jesus promised that he would never, ever lose any of the sheep given to Him by His Father. But, I ask you this, have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Then I ask you this, why does your life not show it if you claim to have done so?

All of us fall short of the glory of God, even after we are saved. Look at my life. I've struggled enormously at times over the past year over the pressures of parenting. I cursed God, ranting and raving at Him because my baby would not stop crying one night. Do I, then, doubt my salvation? No, but this entry is not about me. I fall terribly short of the glory of God, but I wonder for those of you continue to live your lives in a way contrary to the will of God, do you even have a conception of God's glory?

There are some of you out there who believe that you can woo people to Christ by being 'cool' Christians. Do you think that by being the anti-Ned Flanders, you actually draw people to God? If anything, you draw people to yourselves. What I see in some Christians is a terrible mix of worldliness and Christianity, and the worldliness is present for fear that some people won't think you're cool. Those of you who have that mixture justify it by thinking to yourselves that by being 'cool', Christ seems more appealing. You forget, though, that our God is a Holy God!


You compromisers! Wake up and see God for whom He is. When you think of God, do you think of some old grandfatherly figure who lets his children do as they please, but loves them no matter how badly they screw up? Or, maybe for those of you with more Biblical knowledge, you picture Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, saying 'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I longed to take you under my arm like a mother hen...' You forget, though, that he weeped over Jerusalem because of the judgement that faced it in 70 AD. Jesus wept and mourned that it would not turn, but when it did not, He brought His wrath upon it.

Have you ever considered what it would be like to face God's wrath? Don't you know that 'Our God is a consuming fire'? When we see Him face to face, His beauty will be terrible to behold (see Isiah 6, the transfiguration, and Paul's conversion in Acts, for example), can you imagine His wrath? He is a Holy God, who hates sin with a passion. He loathes your drunkenness, your foul language, your gossip and slander, your bitterness, your pride in being 'cool', your arrogance and boastfulness. Those actions bring about the wrath of God. See the prophets to get a sense of His fury when His people turn from Him to fornicate with other idols. Imagine yourself standing before the Lord in all His might and Holiness. He is the One who has given orders to the morning and shown the dawn its place (Job 38:12) and you have sickened Him with your adulterous ways. Can you stand before Him, knowing that nothing is hidden from His sight? Who can stand before His Holy Majesty?

Those who are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb! But do you understand what it means to be covered in the blood of Christ? Do you understand the mercy He has shown, or do you take advantage of that mercy?! For those of you who take advantage of it, let me warn you (if no ever has): in Revelations, Jesus promises to vomit out of his mouth those who are neither hot nor cold. Do not think that any of your service to the body will exempt you from this fate should you turn lukewarm. You cannot add one thing to the finished work of Christ. He does not want your service; he wants you. But you are sold out to the world and not to Him. How he longs to take you under His wing like a mother hen, but you are not willing! Oh, you unrepentant children! Soften your hearts and leave your life of sin!

For those of you who feel burdened with a heavy dose of condemnation at the moment, let me remind you of something. Read Luke 15 again (all 3 parables). You have acted detestably in His sight, but look at the joy your Father feels when you turn back to Him. See the delight in the Father's eyes as he cries: 'For this son of mine was dead is alive again; he was lost and is found!' Run to the Father and His joyful embrace! His acceptance of those who put their faith in Jesus is not a grudging acceptance. He's not like 'Oh, OK, you had faith in my Son, so come on in...just try not to get any dirt on my white clouds, OK?' No, he rejoices over the lost who turn to Him. Remember that!

Or, do you think your sin is too bad for him to rejoice over you? Do you not know that Jesus' sacrifice has made perfect forever those who are being made holy? (Hebrews 10:14) Do you esteem yourself so highly that you cannot forgive yourself when God has? Are you more holy and pure than Him that your action is more detestable in your sight than in His and therefore you cannot forgive yourself?! What foolish pride? Through Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins! Do not forget what that means! We who were enemies of God are now adopted as sons and daughters! Has that lost any transforming power to you? How about the fact that we who have been justified by faith are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ?!!!! God has put all things under Jesus' feet...and has made us co-heirs!!!!

Do not forget your identity, brothers and sisters! Do not let the promises of God grow tepid in your hearts! Replace the lamp of your first love! Turn now and run back to the Father's arms, for he has a home prepared for those who do. In view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God...Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

How great is the Lord our God! How majestic is His name all the earth! To Him goes all the glory. May the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always!

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