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The World We Are Living In

Briefing: The world is a wicked place. In this culture we are seeing wickedness rise up like never before. Part of the reason for the momentum is the amount of people who are giving in and going along with thoughts and ideas that have never been acceptable before.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read Romans 1:18-32.

On the Street: Paul wrote Romans almost 2000 years ago yet he paints a picture of the world we live in. It is like he had a vision of the present time and wrote down all the vile things he saw. There is a long laundry list of unacceptable practices that Paul talks about. We could start naming the wicked things we have seen that have gained acceptance. The problem with that would be the fact that we would be trying to cast light off of our own sin by shining the light on “those other people” and their sin.

We cannot point to just one or two sins we think are bringing the world down. There are many different sins that contribute to the disgusting state of immorality we find ourselves living in. It is an increase of all sin, yours and mine included. Remember what Jesus said at the Sermon on the Mount? Take the plank of wood out of your own eye before trying to take the splinter out of someone else’s eye. Jesus was not saying we should not judge (there is a place for judging and it is within the family of believers, not outside of it) but I believe He was warning against hypocrisy.

One of my favorite work quotes is, “bring me solutions, not problems.” The purpose of this devotional is not to point fingers at all the wicked people of the world, rather it reinforces what Paul is teaching about being different from the world.

When I read these verses I see the answer to the wickedness and the contrast to the way the world is living. After Paul describes the dismal condition of the people of the world and what they were doing, he tells us what they were not doing. They were sinning, as stated earlier we are all sinning, but Paul specifically states they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks.

We have this guide that tells us we can avoid falling into these traps that threaten to steal our souls. It is called God’s Word. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Their thoughts were only on themselves. Selfishness and putting human desires and pleasure above everything is destroying the world we live in. We have to take every thought captive. To capture it and test it against God’s Word to see if it is a thought or action that will glorify and give thanks to God. If it does not pass this test then it is wicked and must be eliminated.

Investigational Resources: Titus 2:11, John 3:19-21. For more on how God reveals Himself to a world without excuse, read Psalm 19:1-6.

Officer Safety Principle: Like most of the lessons we are learning from Romans, we have to start practicing them immediately. We have to make the practice a routine and the routine a discipline. Glory and thanks to God!!!

from The Book of Romans Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
Click here to check out the entire Through the Eyes of a Cop series!