Daily Devotional
God’s Holiness Cannot Overlook Sin
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:18
March 21, 2024
Ponder This
God forgives sin, but how? There must be somebody who pays the penalty for sin. God cannot just overlook sin. If God were to overlook sin, God would no longer be holy any more than a judge would be a righteous judge if He were to overlook a crime.
There’s a saying that goes, “When a guilty man is acquitted, the judge is condemned.” If a judge were to just say, “I’m a loving judge. I will overlook rape, murder, arson, robbery, whatever it is. That’s all right. I’m a loving judge.” At that moment the judge becomes a criminal.
If God were to simply overlook sin without punishing it, God would topple from His throne of holiness. If there’d been some other way for you to have been saved, God would have taken it. That’s the reason the Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation…” (Romans 1:16). Jesus died for you, and He wants you to live a life that glorifies Him and shares that hope with others.
- How necessary is the cross?
- What level of urgency do you feel to share the message of the cross with others?
Practice This
Think of someone you know who needs the hope of Jesus and find a way to serve that person.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
