Devotionals for October 19, 2023
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READ
2 CORINTHIANS 4:4
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
ISAIAH 6:5
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
ROMANS 7:24-25
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
PHILIPPIANS 4:7
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
ISAIAH 6:5
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
ROMANS 7:24-25
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
PHILIPPIANS 4:7
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
REFLECT
This letter to the Corinthians tells us the truth. The world is unable to see what Holy and Righteous is. Satan does his best to distract and blind people from the love God has so freely given.
During his vision in Isaiah 6, the prophet of God realizes how sinful he truly is and is afraid the Holiness of God would overcome and kill him. An angel of God symbolically purified Isaiah so he would be without fear in order to deliver a dreadful message to Israel that would eventually spring hope for the rest of humanity.
Paul takes the recognition by Isaiah of how sinful we are and puts it in perspective. It is our sinful nature that puts a wedge between us and God. How can we stand in His presence and have a relationship with God? Paul plainly and truthfully states the answer is Christ. Jesus paid the price, conquered death, and offered Himself to us as the atonement of our sins. Our sinful nature will never leave us until we physically pass on, but our faith in Christ will overcome and carry us on to God’s Kingdom.
During his vision in Isaiah 6, the prophet of God realizes how sinful he truly is and is afraid the Holiness of God would overcome and kill him. An angel of God symbolically purified Isaiah so he would be without fear in order to deliver a dreadful message to Israel that would eventually spring hope for the rest of humanity.
Paul takes the recognition by Isaiah of how sinful we are and puts it in perspective. It is our sinful nature that puts a wedge between us and God. How can we stand in His presence and have a relationship with God? Paul plainly and truthfully states the answer is Christ. Jesus paid the price, conquered death, and offered Himself to us as the atonement of our sins. Our sinful nature will never leave us until we physically pass on, but our faith in Christ will overcome and carry us on to God’s Kingdom.
APPLY
Q: Considering Paul’s description of our sinful nature, what conflicts can arise within us?
Q: When these conflicts do come up, how does the answer Paul give comfort and encourage us?
Q: How can we explain “the peace that exceeds understanding” to a world that cannot understand it?
Q: When these conflicts do come up, how does the answer Paul give comfort and encourage us?
Q: How can we explain “the peace that exceeds understanding” to a world that cannot understand it?
SING
PRAY
"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Father God, forgive us for when we let our sinful nature get in the way. Remind us of the answer You gave us in Christ and the price He paid. Help us to bring the unconditional forgiveness You have given us to others who may not understand it.
Father God, forgive us for when we let our sinful nature get in the way. Remind us of the answer You gave us in Christ and the price He paid. Help us to bring the unconditional forgiveness You have given us to others who may not understand it.