«Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God» (l Corinthians 6:9-11).
TODAY’S TEXT does not seem to be very appropriate to start the day. In just four lines, there is enough evil to erect a Hall of Fame (or, rather, a «Hall of Shame»), based in the ancient city of Corinth.
The city of Corinth was so perverted that its lifestyle became a source of «inspiration» for all kinds of nicknames. Thus, for example, a woman leading a bad lifestyle was called a «Corinthian girl»; and a licentious person, or a drunk was called a «Co In that same vein, «Corinthianizing» was the same thing as living a depraved life.
Its degree of perversion reached such an extreme that about a thousand prostitutes practiced their craft in the temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. These «priestesses» attracted thousands of tourists, increasing the city’s wealth and also its degree of corruption. As Paul W Marsh said, «sexual perversion in the name of religion.»
But then the unbelievable happens. The apostle Paul arrives at licentious Corinth and, for about 18 months, gives himself entirely to the «teaching the word of God among them,» testifying that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:5, 11). What was the result of his efforts? Scripture says that «many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized» (v. 8). In the end, a Christian church was established upon the same throne of moral depravity!
Can there be a miracle greater than this? What happened in Corinth was that men and women who were dead to spiritual things were born into a new life because of the power Christ has to save. In other words, when sin abounded, God’s grace abounded all the more! Isn’t this wonderful?
The great news from God today is that we are no longer what we used to be. Why? Because we have already been justified «in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God» (1 Corinthians 6:11). And the greatest miracle is that no matter what you have been, God can change you right now: «Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new» (2 Corinthians 5:17). Praise God!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, because today I am not what I was.
The past has been left behind,
Through Your blood, I am forgiven and my new life is a reality!
#AdultsDevotional
#RadioJovenAdventista
#MeditacionesDiarias
Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
