Daily Reading: Romans 14
Scripture Focus: Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (Romans 14.22b)
Devotional Thought: Do you know what I love? Besides Lana and ice cream that is? I love when I can feel good about what I am doing. I love when I feel no guilt for harboring ill motives or for doing something I'm not sure I should. The Apostle Paul agreed with me, too. I feel blessed!
Have you ever been doing something and felt a pang of judgment? That is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Spirit would come to convict us of sin (John 16.8). We should thank God for that because there are some people "whose consciences are seared" (1 Timothy 4.2). Or, in the case of Romans 1: "They did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity" (Romans 1.21-24).
Strive to live this day so that when you pillow your head tonight you will have peace with God. And, if for some reason you do feel the sting of conviction, do not deny it and do not despair. Rather, confess your sin to God for he is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1.9). Then by faith live at "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5.1).
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to keep me and to give me victory over the power of sin. Help me, O Lord, to so live that I might have peace with you. And should I fail, O Lord, convict me of my sin and grant me faith to confess my sin and receive your forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! (Psalms 25:1-7)
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