The Devotional - R010

The Devotional

Comment:

Once you take that initial step into a stagnant lake, it would be foolish to continue onward since the deeper you go the dirtier you become. The slim, mildew and stench of death is all around you from the decaying vegetation and fish that can no longer survive. Even the water is suffering from the lack of life giving nutrients, as well the water is also dead and is a death sentence for the thirsty soul. In our town, we have such a lake and the name of this lake is “Mortlake” The Spanish word for dead is mort, nothing lives in this lake even some bugs ignore it. Our local people avoid the lake and with the signs posted even visitors would be considered “inexcusable” if they decided to fish or picnic at this lake. 

Challenge: Romans 2:1-16

Therefore you are inexcusable O man or woman to judge the sins of a polluted and dying nation, for whatever you say about those who are around you, you too are full of the stench of death and decay and you condemn yourself. What you judge of them, you do yourself; and your practice of righteousness agree with their conduct. Do we understand this? I believe that we do not! I for one can quickly judge my neighbor for his actions, and yet if I look first in my own yard I may decide to keep silent and direct my complaint to the LORD God and if need be He will open my mouth.

There is opportunity to judge rightly but we must first, be willing agree with God. He judges in accordance with TRUTH, a truth not based on comparing His Character to that of another man (God is not a man, He is our Creator – John 4:22-24). His Judgments are Righteous and we will not escape the Judgment of God that He has placed over our “MORT” condition. He will render to each one of us according to our works or deeds of practicing righteousness.

The apostle Paul is speaking to the believers in Rome (Romans 1:8-17) and it is interesting as the apostle Paul says that God will give to each of us according to our deeds. He refers to Proverbs 24:12 and Psalm 62:12 to show that this is a statute in time with eternal results. Some might conclude from this that Paul is saying that we must work or do good deeds for salvation and entry into heaven, but this is not what the apostle is saying at all. “Eternal life, in this context is; eternal rewards to those who by patient continuance do good in time for glory, honor and immortality”.

As for those believers who are who are self-seeking, who have disregarded the truth by dis-obedience to God – this standing statute promises; indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish on every soul of mankind who does evil, this includes all people groups, the Jew and Gentile will stand at the JUDGMENT SEAT of God and give account of his or her works. There is no partiality with God, be careful see it is easy for anyone of us to overlook our own personal SIN and judge another soul as sinful. “How do we know the other is sinning”? Come on now! We would not know his or her sin if we were not practicing it our self.

So with or without the Law of God, God has placed all under the same condemnation or judgment (John 3:16-19) so we really do need to heed the Words of the Living God. It is not the hearers of the Word of God that will be justified since most everyone hears the message. It will be the doers (obedient) men, women and children, both Jew and Gentile alike that is those who seek to be holy in this MORT world.