2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30 ESV, Romans 5:6-21 ESV, Psalm 15:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 19:18-19 ESV
Daily Verse: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 ESV)
ASEBES (765): “This word means “impious, ungodly, without reverence for God, not merely irreligious, but acting in contravention of God’s demands.” [i]
Without reverence.
Jesus died for us even though we had no reverence for Him. Stuck in the mire of sin, we need a Savior to pull us out of our misery and make us whole again. God supplied a solution to the problem we can’t solve, man’s sinful nature.
As hard as any of us try, we still falter. For many years of my life, I put people on pedestals, thinking they could conquer anything. In the end, they disappoint me because their humanity eventually shows. With Christ, He never disappoints; in Him, we can find freedom from condemnation.
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV)
Still sinners.
Whether we like to admit the truth or not, we still sin. Following Jesus makes us sensitive to the misdeeds in our lives, but we still do them. Battling our sinful nature will continue until we reach heaven.
If you read my book, Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living, you know I struggle with anger issues. Granted, I’ve come a long way, but the beast still rears its ugly head, especially on the golf course. When something becomes ingrained in you, it takes a lifetime to conquer.
And my anger draws me closer to God as I apply Biblical principles to deal with the volatile emotion.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19 ESV)
Jesus died for me, knowing I would struggle with anger issues. Christ’s strength helps me overcome my weakness. Jesus reveals the reasons for my anger, which allows me to defeat it. Behind anger, fear lingers. Identifying the fear helps defeat the emotion. Christ helps me recognize and solve the problem.
Jesus died for you, warts and all. God doesn’t expect perfection; He wants honesty. Tell the Creator your struggles, find scripture that addresses your needs, then apply it to your life on repeat. Watch as God transforms your weakness into His strength.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 44) Thomas Nelson
