I
awaken to see the sun rise
On
the dawning of a new year
Instead
of celebrating
My
heart is grieved
For
sin will be politicized
Celebrated
and glorified today
That
which God has declared sinful
Will
be paraded as something acceptable and good
That
which You foretold in Your Word
Will
be on display
For
today I am living in
A
Romans 1 kind of world
That
which You have declared evil
Man
has declared good
That
which is good in Your sight
Has
been perverted and called evil
Lord,
even some in Your church
May
not speak up and stand for the truth
For
they fear being branded
As
narrow minded, intolerant or bigoted
May
I not mistake Your patience
And
desire for all to come to repentance
As
approval of sin
Or
believe that You will not punish un-repented sin
God,
You are still upon Your throne
Sovereign,
Holy and Righteous
I
don’t get to decide for myself what is sin
For
You have clearly spoken in Your Word
When
I look back and see Christ on the cross
I
know what You think of sin
The
sinless Son of God was crucified
As
He bore my sin and the sin of all mankind
May
I remember the punishment and wrath
You
poured out upon Your only begotten Son
Because
of His sacrifice
I
have been forgiven
I
have been fitted for heaven
Clothed
in the righteousness of Christ
Christ
paid my ransom and I have been bought back
From
the slave master called sin
Lord
give me a heart of compassion
For
those still held captive by sin
May
I warn the sinner on the broad path
That
leads to destruction
Salvation
is found in no other name under heaven or earth
By
which man can be saved
May
I remember that You stand ready to forgive
A
repentant sinner who proclaims Christ as Lord
By
Susan Wachtel
January
1, 2014
Romans
1:16-32
God’s
Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be
known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal
power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because,
although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and
changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible
man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave
them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies
among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the
lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave
them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for
what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men
committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their
error which was due.
28 And even as they did not
like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased
mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled
with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are
whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are
deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice
them.
