Daily Reading: Judges 19
Scripture Focus: And all who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.” Judges 19:30
Devotional Thought: A horrible crime against a vulnerable woman, the story of the Levite's concubine, shows the complete depravity to which man will sink when left to his own moral code and conduct.
While this specific account may shock us, we are surrounded by the same type of evil in our current culture. “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God…” (Romans 1.28-30). Paul’s words give the cause and effect relationship between rejection of God and the evil that exists in our world. They are equally applicable to Old Testament times, New Testament times, and current times. “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” This is eerily on the mark for today’s “live and let live” morality.
When we see a new depth of depravity emerge in our culture, it should not surprise us, but should spur us to prayer. We should not bend with the flexible morality of the progressive masses, but stand firm on the Lord’s definition of sin and his warnings of its consequences. The world will hate us, just as it hated and rejected God’s own Son. But, acceptance of sin is acceptance of death for those who do not yet know the truth. May we show love as Jesus did, never compromising the truth, but full of love and compassion for the lost.
Jenny
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand how to be full of grace and truth. We know we will not be loved by the world for speaking the truth about sin and our need for a Savior. We will be hated, mocked, and reviled. Give us the ability to love our enemies and win them to your Kingdom. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 57.6-11
6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
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