God Gave them Over

Romans 1:24, 26, 28

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity… 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts… 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…”

Have you ever noticed Paul’s emphasis that “God gave them over”? Three times in five verses Paul stressed that God gives men the free will to decide the course of their lives, but there were always increasingly worse consequences.

I suggest you read the entire passage of Romans 1:18-32. If your Bible had pictures, mine would be there in that very passage as the poster child of that lifestyle.

My own steady, downward spiral into reprobation, perversion and depravity started when, similar to verse 21, I refused any longer to acknowledge God. He let me have my way. He gave me over to the sinful desires of my heart to every kind of sexual impurity as stated in verse 24; the shameful lusts described in verse 27; and, depraved, perverted thoughts of every kind leading to the lifestyle enumerated in verse 29-31. As verse 32 states, I even took pleasure in seeing others do the same things. I am not exaggerating.

“But God…”! Oh, how very thankful I am that regardless of how far I fell, or how long I stayed there, God was ready to receive me home when I came to Jesus for forgiveness in true repentance.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Thank the Father that what He does for one He will do for all. If you haven’t yet done so, today would be a great day to turn around.

Repent. Receive His unconditional love and forgiveness.

Dive Deeper: Study Romans 1:18-32; Luke 15:11-24.