Scripture
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Reflection
In these verses Paul continues to depict what it looks like when people suppress the truth. They are given over to their deprived minds. They start to justify their own wickedness. An example of this is when the Pharisees and Sadducees were able to justify to themselves it’s OK to arrange Jesus’ betrayal and execution. They knew the Law said it’s wrong to give false testimonies and to murder, yet they continued to follow through on their plan. The scary thing about being given over to our own depraved minds are that people who are in a similar position tend to agree with our actions and encourage it. That is why it’s a good idea to keep Christian fellowship and to keep us accountable (Con).
Thoughts for the day
- Do you have any Christian friends or a group that keeps you accountable?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- What is one way you can apply this truth to your life today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
Stop and ask God to place a nation on your mind and heart. Pray for the people to blessed by God, the church to shine brightly and for God to be present in that place.
