Daily Devotional

My daily Bible reading has been wonderful lately, and it is a result of my pastor challenging the congregation to go 7 out of 7, meaning, getting into God's word 7 days out of 7 and not just being a Sunday Christian. I have taken this to heart and I have attempted to accomplish that. My daily reading has taken me through I Corinthians and while reading I Corinthians 6:9-11, I had a few thoughts.

I Corinthians 6:9-11
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

As Christians, we are quick to criticize certain lifestyles that we don't agree with, namely adulterers, prostitutes, and homosexuals, which were all mentioned in this verse. But I think what we are quick to dismiss is the fact that God lumps greed, drunkeness, slander and swindling into the same boat in this verse. In God's eyes, it is all sin and it is all bad. Then why are we so much more accepting of slander, or greed? We may deal with some of these issues and because they are more acceptable in the worlds eyes, we don't see them as a big problem. God did, and that is why he died for us. If I were to line up a homosexual or a prostitute in a room next to a slanderer (Liar), who would you honestly say is a bigger sinner? In God's eyes, it is all bad.

Again, the verse is followed by a BUT, "But you were washed," sanctified, justified...Saved by Grace through Faith. It is not done by being "good." It is done because Christ died for us and paid for our sins.