THE REFUGE
DEVOTIONAL
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NASBS
Romans 8:1 NASBS
Today beloved, if you are in Christ it is a time for rejoicing. It is a time to cast off your earthly burdens and lift up your voice and sing with your deepest affections, “Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin; How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, Setting my spirit free; For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.” The verse above is a sweet melody to the soul, a symphony to the ears, and a continual orchestra playing beautiful notes that are in perfect harmony of the surety of our salvation. As the scriptures tell us concerning the work of Christ on the cross, and of those whom He has called, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Come now drunkard, you who are given over to the party life. Do you hear the word of God speaking, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ?” Come to Christ and be saved; cast all of your affections upon Him and strive against the very thing that is destroying your life. Jesus will give you the strength to close the door you have opened out of ignorance. Gird yourself with holy vengeance and do not give in to the temptation. Will you stay in bondage all your life and wake up one day on your sick bed with years of regret?
And you who are immoral, the one who engages in all kinds of sexual misconduct that the Bible has forbidden. Do you not know that there is an origin for all things? That God has set a standard in the Bible which brings order and harmony that corresponds perfectly with creation? Do not believe the lies of the world, for God has designed man and woman to be joined together. He has given them a gift to create a family; and then within this family to give allegiance to His word that will bring peace to the house. Apart from this order there is no blood lineage that bares your genes. Repent, turn to Christ and be saved, for as it is written, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”
And you who are liars, cheaters, and thieves. I have never had anyone look me in the eye at the end of the day and shake my hand who was proud of that kind of lifestyle. The Bible has told us to work with our hands and be honorable in our position no matter where it may be. This is where true contentment lies, for we were created to cultivate the land and bring forth fruit by the sweat of our brow as an act of worship unto God. Will you continue to be held by the cords of sin and die for lack of instruction? Remember the thief cried out at the last hour of his life and he was forgiven.
The truth is, “There is no one righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seek after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Just as the scriptures tell us, all are deserving of eternal judgment, I myself being the chief of all. You see, sin lies hidden within the heart, and the heart is desperately wicked who can truly know it? We all have secret sins hidden in our life that have condemned us under the wrath of God’s perfect law. You must understand that sin uses the system of the world to feed your lust and blind you to the reality of eternal truth and the existence of God. May this small devotional open the eyes of your heart to see these truths. Then you can cry out with me daily, “Thanks be to God for Jesus my Lord, for He took the punishment for my sins by going to the cross and then three days later was raised from the dead. He ascended back to heaven where He makes intercession for me.” Will you forsake your sin and come to Him today?