The Truth We Cannot Ignore
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18–32 (ESV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a 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 dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Paul paints a sobering picture of humanity’s rebellion against God. He explains that God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen through creation, yet people suppress the truth and choose their own way. This rejection of God leads to moral and spiritual decay, with devastating consequences.
This passage is not meant to make us feel superior to others but to remind us of the seriousness of sin and our desperate need for grace. Apart from Christ, all of us are guilty of turning away from God.
As we reflect on this, let it move us to gratitude for the mercy we have received and compassion for those still far from God. The truth is clear. God is holy, and He calls us to turn from sin and walk in His ways.
Prayer Points:
Thank God for revealing Himself through creation and His Word.
Ask the Lord to give you a tender heart toward those who reject Him.
Pray for boldness to speak the truth in love.