Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 3: Salvation by Grace!”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What do you think the biggest problem our world and/or country is facing right now?
Is it the pandemic? Is it border crisis? Is it hunger? Is it terrorism? Is it abortion?
Does the world need new medicines? Our country need a wall? Humanitarian efforts or military efforts?
All of these are legitimate issues. All of these are occupying individual’s time and attention to try to solve or curtail.
But are they the world’s biggest problem?
Are they YOUR biggest problem?
Do we know what our biggest problem is?
You can’t find a solution to a problem you don’t know you have. In fact you won’t be looking for a solution if you don’t know what the problem is!
We can spend a lot of time trying to fix and find solutions for surface issues and we really never find the true issue.
It’s time to get to the heart of the world’s biggest problem, our country’s biggest problem, your biggest problem and my biggest problem.
What is it?
Ephesians 2:1-4 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
The biggest problem we have…I have…is sin and it’s life-killing, wrath-deserving nature that it holds. Our biggest problem is a broken relationship with a perfect, almighty, just God who hates sin and in his justice must punish sin.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
We can make vaccines that may or may not work. We can build walls. We can gather food. We can send drones against terror targets. We can make laws to curb abortion. But we can’t solve the sin problem on our own.
Since Adam and Eve first broke God’s command, a sin nature has been passed down to each one of us. It’s affects are obvious:
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
Its consequence is dire:
Galatians 5:20 I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We must not ignore the seriousness of sin. We must not minimize its consequence. We must seek a solution…one that truly works. This week we will…there is good news ahead!
Apply: God promises he is faithful to forgive as we confess our sins to him. Take time today to recognize your sin and confess it to God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being clear on your standards, consistent in your justice, and forgiving in your nature. Lead me to see my sin, to repent, and seek your mercy. Thank you for providing a solution for sin…lead me to rediscover it this week! AMEN.