Be Wise in What Is Good

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Be Wise in What Is Good

After Paul gave the Romans instructions  in the true faith  and grace of God,  he gave them this parting word  in Romans 16:19-20,

For the report  of your obedience  has reached to all;  therefore I am rejoicing  over you,  but I want you  to be wise  in what is good,  and innocent  in what is evil.

And the God of peace  will soon crush Satan  under your feet.     The grace  of our Lord Jesus  be with you.

As we grow  in God’s word — and in faith  and God’s grace  —  as the Romans did,  “the God of peace  will soon crush Satan”  under our feet.     That means  that God will strengthen  our faith  so that we will fully realize  the power  of Jesus’ death  and resurrection  to truly wash away  absolutely all  of our sins.     When we realize  that our heavenly Father  no longer sees us  as condemned sinners,  we have the peace  of God’s full forgiveness.

That means  God will soon crush  all the accusations  that Satan tries to make against us.     God now sees us  as His children  and He wants His children  to have the peace  of being forgiven.

All we have to do is believe  and trust  that Jesus’ shed blood  on the cross  has totally cleansed us  of all our sins.     ( In other words,  don’t call God Almighty  a liar  through unbelief  when He says,  “He who has believed  and has been baptized  shall be saved.”    Mark 16:16 )

In all this peace and joy  that we have  in now being forgiven children  of God,  we are also to  —  be wise in what is good,   and innocent  in what is evil.

This is the way we say thank you  to our heavenly Father  for all  that He has freely given us  in Jesus Christ.     Every time we receive a gift,  it is only good  and right  that we be thankful  and appreciative.     Our actions need  to show  that we now understand the difference  between good  and evil.

If we are wise,  our appreciation  of God’s love  will cause us  to want to do  what is good  and right.     It will also cause us  to recognize evil  and avoid it  for Jesus’ sake.     But,  we know  we’ll never be perfect  on this earth,  and so 1 John 2:1-3 says,

And if anyone sins,  we have an Advocate  with the Father,  Jesus Christ  the righteous;  and He Himself  is the propitiation  for our sins;  and not  for ours only, but also  for those  of the whole world.

And by this we know  that we have come  to know Him,  if we keep His commandments.

If we know  how dearly Jesus has loved us,  we will love Him  and want  to be His friend  by keeping His word.     Friends show they care  for one another  in all their actions.     Jesus has shown  His friendship  and faithfully continues  to show His friendship  towards us.

Have we shown ourselves  to be His friend  by joyfully  and faithfully living  in His truths?

As we draw close  to Jesus  in fellowship,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  thank You  for forgiving all our sins  and for guiding us  in Your truths.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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