Category Archives: Ungodly

Open book titled 'The Silent Echo' with readable story text and some distorted text on the left page
Bible, Cross, Deliverance, Isaiah, Jesus, Messiah, Romans, Scripture, Ungodly

AS IT IS WRITTEN

ROMANS 11:26

“and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: ‘THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

I have been writing devotional blogs just about every day since January 2016. I just surpassed 3700 blogs. This was the result of having gone through the Every Man A Warrior study which taught me how to journal in my personal Quiet Time. It has become second nature now. I normally write the devotional and schedule it to post the next day on this blog site. Perhaps one day people will continue reading these short devotionals to encourage them in their walk with Christ and in their study of the Word.

Those little words, “as it is written,” are more powerful than you may first think. This particular quotation from Isaiah 59:20 is a prophetic statement pointing directly at Jesus. Zion was an area of Israel that became acquainted as Jerusalem, the city of David. Zion became a reference to Israel as a nation. Even today Jews are called Zionists by people who want to insult them. They don’t even realize that is a compliment. The point, though, of this passage was to point to the eventual arrival of the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled.

APPLICATION

Great history lesson, Carl, but how does this apply to me? Glad you asked. Look at a couple of words Paul uses to quote Isaiah – deliverer and ungodliness. Has Christ delivered you? I hope so. I pray you have been rescued from the consequences of your sin. I pray you have been delivered from the wrath of God through the shed blood of Christ. This Messiah that was sent over 2000 years ago is our deliverer just like He was and is the deliverer for Israel.

And the verse says He will remove all ungodliness from Jacob. The purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection was so that we too could walk godly before the Father. Ungodliness simply means the absence of what is godly. The Topical Lexicon gives us this statement about the Greek word used here. “Asebeia denotes the absence of reverence toward God that inevitably issues in conduct contrary to His character and commands. It is not merely irreligion but an active, willful disregard for divine majesty.”

When we come to Christ, all that disregard vanishes. We recognize all He has done for us and bow before His majesty. Instead of disregard we show an awe and reverence for His glory. Our Messiah came centuries ago for us. He had you in mind when He hung on that cross. His blood washed your sins away. It has been written! God loves you. Now, go spread the news. 

Thank You, Father, for delivering me from my life of ungodliness. You have cleansed me for eternity.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Desires, Fire, God's Will, Godliness, Scripture, Ungodly

OUT OF CONTROL

ROMANS 1:27

“and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations with women and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing shameful acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”

It seems every year we see reports of wildfires that burn out of control. Many of these are started by lightning strikes that ignite dry vegetation. When fueled by strong winds, these fires can burn hundreds, if not thousands of acres of land, including homes and businesses. Uncontrolled fires cause a lot of damage. So do uncontrolled passions, as we will see today.

Paul continues the thought began in verse 26. Both males and females were “burning” in their passions for the same sex. The resulting carnage from these choices, Paul says, is they were “receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” Let me repeat what I said yesterday. This sin confronted by Paul here is no worse than other sins we commit that go against God’s Word. All sin has consequences. Paul is truly addressing the fact that disregard of God’s truth leads to uncontrolled passions and desires that lead us astray.

APPLICATION

The Greek word used here for “burned” is only used here in the New Testament. It means to inflame deeply. The Topical Lexicon says this about ekkaiō. It “depicts a fierce, consuming flame of emotion rather than a literal fire. The picture is of desire ignited from within until it blazes out of control, suggesting both intensity and inevitability once the spark is lit.” Can’t you just see that wildfire?

I am reminded of James 3:6. “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” The idea of the ungodly passions burning is the same. This is indeed a deceit of the evil one. He wants to distort the godly and make it ungodly.

For any fire to end, it must be confronted with a force to extinguish it. For ungodly passions to be extinguished, they must be confronted with truth. The washing with the water of the Word will put out these wrong fires. God’s Word will extinguish any sin in our lives if we will live by it. It has the power. It will purify us and wash away the stain of sin. Are you washing yourself with the Word today?

Father God, wash me today with the water of Your Word so that I can walk with You unashamed and holy.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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