Devotion Choice to do Right

Read: I Peter 3:10-18 

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit: --I Peter 3:18   

How often do we use “Christian” jargon either to excuse our behavior or (maybe unwittingly) confuse others about what we mean? It is easy for some of us who grew up in the church to use such terminology as “Jesus forgives sins”; “Jesus paid the penalty for my sins” or “He took my place.”   

We spout spiritual-sounding words such as the following: new birth, salvation, sanctification, and the much-used phrase--”Asking Jesus into your heart.”   

These may have meant something significant in our lives. But as time passes, we tend to lose sight of what this terminology once meant to our faith and to our walk with Jesus. We lose sight of the deeper meaning and forget those who do not know Christ may have no clue what we’re talking about when we use such phrases as worn idioms. Why should they? We’ve forgotten.   

Jesus Christ, Lord and Creator of the entire universe, loved each of us so much that, when He realized what a mess we’d made of our lives and His beautiful world, He made a critical choice. He left His power and glory to be born into our world. He lowered Himself to our level. He lived as we lived, felt as we feel.    He struggled with the same temptations, enticements and sins that seek to entangle us. The difference? He knew God’s Word. He chose to say, “No!” over and over again. He used Scripture to foil Satan at his own game.   

Because Jesus said, “No!” to sin and temptation, He didn’t have to suffer consequences for His own sin-- He had none. It meant He could, and did, choose to take the consequences for our bad choices. He chose to take on Himself the punishments and consequences we rightly deserve.   He allowed Himself to be tortured and murdered-- for you, for me, for our sin.   

We do not need to castigate ourselves over sins for which we’ve regretted and for which we’ve repented and turned away. Jesus forgives all those sins, bad things we’ve said, thought or done. He took our punishment and set us free of the guilt. Our part is simply to accept His gift; a gift freely given, which cannot be earned. 

 Jesus made the sacrifice for one reason. He loves us. He created us and desires a personal relationship with each one of us. He wants us to follow Him, that He might give us the deep, rich life He has planned for us. Jesus accepted death, that He might conquer death, evil and hell. Those of us who choose to follow Him, He offers His peace, hope, new life today and a place with Him forever in heaven.   

He doesn’t want robots. He doesn’t force me to serve Him. With His death and resurrection, He provided us a choice. We do not have to choose His gift of forgiveness, guidance, hope and life. There is always choice to make.   We never lose our right to make choices that either bring us life and light or selfishness, heartache and, ultimately, separation from Him. Satan entangles, manipulations, entices and intimidates. Only Jesus offers choice. Only Jesus offers true freedom.   The choice is mine--yours.

Thank you, Father God, for the gift of Your Son. Help me commit or recommit my life to You. Help me not merely spout words of faith, but live them out as a follower of Christ. Help me make choices that lead others to You. Amen.

Meditations: Monday: James 4:1-8 

Tuesday: Revelation 2:1-7 

Wednesday: Matthew 27:15-25 

Thursday: Luke 18:18-30 

Friday: Revelation 3:14-22 

Saturday: Hebrews 25

(C) 2018, 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

From LISTEN! WHO ME?

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Devotion God Hates Sin: Loves the Sinner--ME?

Read: I Corinthians 10:1-14, 23, 31

There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. --1 Corinthians 10:13

Eve listened to the serpent and ate of the forbidden fruit. Did she smile when she turned and tempted Adam? Did he merely wish to please his wife when he chomped his teeth into the fruit and ignored God’s plain admonition to not eat it?

The serpent said doing so would enlighten them. It did that. What he failed to mention were the consequences, already clearly laid out, that disobedience would open them to the world of evil as well as good. They found death, terror, and fear. They lost their innocence, their security, and their dependence on their Creator.

They forfeited an intimate relationship with God and a perfect world for momentary pleasure and a world twisted by evil, hate, loneliness, and death. Is it any wonder God hates sin? He knows the devastating results.

Joseph’s older brothers became so consumed with hatred and jealousy, they lost their reason and critical thinking skills. They were so focused on hatred they planned to murder their own brother until they found a horrifying alternative--sell him into slavery. They meant what they did for evil. From then on, uncertainty, fear and guilt followed them—even after discovering Joseph was alive.

What of Korah? Was he not as important as Moses? He thought of himself so highly he chose to not only defy the leader God had chosen, the man who led them out of years of slavery in Egypt but also misled others in his rebellion. The consequences were grave--death for the rebels and their immediate families.

God hates sin because it leads to harm of self and others. It is destructive, and a vehicle for more evil. Out of fear, the Israelites refused to go in and conquer the Promised Land. Their disobedience brought them 40 years of wandering in the desert until the adult population died. Their sons and daughters were the ones who entered the land promised by God.

David committed murder out of fear his adultery would be exposed. It was revealed anyway. The son of that affair died soon after birth. Though his repentance restored his fellowship with God, the seeds of his actions took their long-term toll on his family and his people. God really does hate sin, because he knows there are always negative consequences.

How lightly do we take sin--if we admit that word into our vocabulary at all? Do we fudge on taxes, cheat on a test? Have we taken towels from a motel, glasses, etc. from a restaurant? Have we taken the mind we gave to Jesus and filled it with a profusion of adultery, fornication, violence, greed, and other sins in our search for “entertainment?”

Do we rationalize our sin, calling it by some other name? Excuse ourselves? Do we not realize there are consequences for not following God’s principles? Our choices matter for ourselves, our families, and who knows how far our choices for good or evil will reach. What we do in the privacy of our homes, with our families, and on the internet does matter.

Help me, Lord, maintain a clear and clean conscience before others and before You. If there are things in my life that do not please You, show me and give me the courage and strength to eliminate them from my life and home. Amen. 

Meditations:
Monday: Numbers 16:1-14
Tuesday: Deuteronomy 1:19-36
Wednesday: Genesis 3
Thursday: Exodus 20:1-17
Friday: Romans 6:23; I Peter 4:12-19
Saturday: Psalm 37:27-40; Acts 24:16

c) 2018, 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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From Listen! Who me? 
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