Romans 1: 28 Because those people
refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to
corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. 29 They are filled with all
kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder,
fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip 30 and speak evil of one
another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they
think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no conscience;
they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. 32 They know that God's law
says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they
continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.
============
When I took the
exam, I did well. I studied and memorized all the facts. Years later, after not
having used the subject, I struggled to remember the content. When someone
asked me questions, I could not help. I had forgotten everything.
- There have been many things I used to know that I have forgotten.
- There have been many practices I used to do that I no longer do.
- There have been many things that were good for me, and I did at one time that I stopped doing.
Paul continues
explaining what GOD revealed to him. He says that some people refuse to keep in
mind the true knowledge about GOD. Because of this, GOD allows those people to
have a corrupt mind, doing anything evil that feels right to them.
- GOD wants me to keep HIM top of mind every day.
- GOD wants me to know I would choose evil every time if it weren’t for HIS guidance each day.
- GOD wants me to recognize I would choose greed, vice, jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, pride, boasting, disobedience and hatred unless I speak to HIM each day.
Having done many evil
things on this list, I can testify that Paul’s writing is true. I mean, when he
puts jealousy next to murder, it really makes me think that I am hopeless. BUT
GOD gave me a way out of my mess.
Only GOD HIMSELF could
save me from my sin. I would never choose HIS way, so HE chose me instead. HE
died just for me and was raised from the dead. JESUS then sent the HOLY SPIRIT
to live inside me to guide me back to HIM. I still want sin, but I keep in mind
what GOD wants.
- Are you doing what you want, never asking GOD what HE wants you to do?
- Do you see things only from your perspective, justifying your actions along the way?
- Will you keep GOD in mind, knowing you could fall to the things HE does not want you to do, so you could be given your perfect purpose today?
