December 31: Romans 6 17-23
Key Verse: Romans 6 23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Devotion:
As another year draws to a close, we have so many things to look back on. We have all the memories, be them good or bad. We have all the physical things, good or bad. And whatever has happened, we have a lot to that God for/about.
For as long as we had followed our sinful ways, we had been destined for a sinful death. For as long as we had our backs turned to the truth, we would not have seen the truth.
We are utterly incredible creations who God has lovingly created from the start. We have been given free choice in what we want to believe and follow. We have had the truth laid down in front of us and have been given the options to believe or ignore.
We have chosen our path based on our own free will. We have chosen our ways after being given that truth and after having accepted that truth. Our destination is chosen by what we believe, or by what we choose to ignore.
We have been shown the law of the land. We have been shown God's Law. We have had the choice as to follow both or none. We have known the penalty for both laws. And yet the one law, God's Law, does not carry the same impact in people’s minds because the effects are not visible to us.
Each one of us may well have broken a law of the land at some stage and some of us may well have been punished for that. But every single one of us has broken God's Law! Every single one of us would have had to pay the debt for those broken laws. Every single one of us would have had to die, not just physically, but spiritually.
But the best joy of all is that we can look back on this year and know Christ has already given us a way of escaping the debt we owe. A way of eternal life. A way we do not deserve... Just because He loves us so!
Points to Ponder:
What has been your fondest memory this year?
What do you think God will look at as His best memory from your life this year?