Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 21:7-10
Prov 21:7-10
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. 9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
1 John 3:4-7
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who seek to serve the Lord God and there are those who do not. One is described as the sinner, the wicked, or the one who practices lawlessness. This person has no regard for the law of God. The other is described as one who is a child of God and is righteous because his or her life is guided by the law (or will) of God and acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ, the risen Son of God. He confesses that Jesus is Lord.
Does this mean that this believer is perfect? The answer is no, but it is also yes. It is no because we never meet the perfection of God while we are here on earth, we come short of his glorious perfection. It is yes because as a child of God our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus and there is no sin imputed to us, only the righteousness of God. In actions we are sinners. In relation to God, we are perfect.
This is why John says that as we walk in the light (living the best we can to be what Jesus wants us to be, but still falling short at times) his blood continues to forgive us from all sin. Because of this grace shown to us, we strive harder each day to be all he wants us to become, seeking to know his will and trying to live it. Even the apostle Paul said that when he looked at himself, he saw a person who wanted to do the will of God to perfection, but he also saw a person who failed at times and who did the very thing he hated or failed to do that which was right.
O Lord God, giver of life, both physical and spiritual, it is such a blessing to know that my sins are forgiven in Jesus Christ and to know that there is therefore now no condemnation in him. Guard my heart and give me a pure heart so I will want to be just like Jesus in all I think, in all I do, and in all I say. Fill me with your Spirit so I will show your love, your kindness, your mercy and your compassion to all around me. Thank you for loving me. Be with our nation and our leaders so that we can live in peace. I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and my Savior.
Robert
