Tag: Isabella Osborn

True Holiness

Deuteronomy 21-23

When reading chapters such as the ones we read today, I find it’s sometimes easy to just glide through these laws that initially seem irrelevant to us today. Within these ancient statutes, however, two timeless themes particularly stood out to me: God’s call for His people to be set apart in holiness, and His heart for the most vulnerable in society.

1. A Call to Holiness

As we’ve read previously, God set Israel apart from the surrounding nations to be a people that reflected His righteousness. These laws we observed today emphasize moral purity, integrity, and responsibility within the community. For example, laws regarding sexual immorality (Deut. 22:13-30) were meant to protect family structures and promote faithfulness. 

While we no longer live under these specific laws, the principle of holiness remains. Something beautiful happens in the New Testament—though it caused an outrage at the time. Jesus shifted the focus from outward regulations to inward transformation. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. – Matthew 5:8

Holiness today, while still requiring abiding by a list of rules (the handy little updated one provided by Jesus), is ultimately about living in a way that honors God, demonstrating His love and goodness in our daily actions. Even though we don’t face the consequence of being stoned to death if we fall into temptation, these passages point out just how important it is in the eyes of God that we choose to walk in His light. 

2. Justice and Care for the Vulnerable

These chapters also reveal our Father’s deep concern for justice and protection of the weak; many of the laws were designed to guard against exploitation:

  • Captive women were given dignity and rights, rather than being killed or treated as property, as they would if their home had been conquered by other nations at the time (Deut. 21:10-14).
  • Neighbors were expected to care for one another—returning lost property and offering help when needed (Deut. 22:1-4).
  • Fair treatment of runaway slaves—they were not to return an escaped slave to their master but to let them settle freely in their land. (Deuteronomy 23:15-16)

We see Jesus continue this mission throughout his ministry on earth, declaring, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18-19). He demonstrated through both his life and death that true holiness heeds more than personal purity, but also constantly considers how best we can treat those around us, especially those in need.  

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  • How do we maintain spiritual purity in a world full of distractions? What are some ways you can guard your heart, mind, and actions?
  • Even though we are no longer called to live according to the Old Law, we still are called to holiness in the New Testament. What are some of Jesus’ commandments that you find it difficult to abide by?
  • What are some practical ways we can reflect God’s heart for the weak and vulnerable in our modern world?
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A Just God. A Merciful God.

Deuteronomy 17-20

Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. – Deut 19:21

We serve a just God. Since the very beginning, He has worked to keep His justice system in place, while still pouring out His love and upholding His commitment to bring humanity back to Him. In Genesis, it was impossible for Adam and Eve to remain in the good and perfect world that God created for them, for they were no longer good and perfect. They were tainted with sin and death. But it broke His heart to lose His children, so He made a way for them to live out full and meaningful lives, and to someday be eternally reunited with Him in a renewed good and perfect world. 

When Abraham’s descendants were established into the nation of Israel, they found themselves tugged toward sin and disorder, godlessness and false-god worship. And so God gave them a nice set of very thorough, very just laws, such as the ones we read about today. Israel served a God of order and righteousness, and was to be a nation of order and righteousness—a beacon among the lawlessness that surrounded them. Some of the laws found within these chapters seem harsh to us today, but this was before Jesus was sent to justify us freely. There had to be a system in place to bring God’s people back to Him when chaos ensued, and to discourage such chaos from coming about in the first place.

The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. – Deut 32:4

Fortunately, our God of justice and order is also a God of love and mercy. By making His Son Jesus our sacrificial lamb, we are saved. We need not impose justice upon our neighbor by repaying an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, or a foot for a foot. We, the guilty, have been justified—our debt paid. Jesus, the innocent, took our full punishment. He is our city of refuge, where even the most stained by sin can find rest and grace. 

In Jesus, justice and mercy collide. The weight of the law, which once demanded life for life, was satisfied on the cross. Because of his sacrifice, we no longer stand condemned, but redeemed. Let us walk in the freedom he purchased for us, extending to others the same mercy we have received, and living as a reflection of God’s righteousness in a chaotic world.

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. God’s justice required that sin be dealt with, yet His love moved Him to make a way for redemption. How does understanding both His justice and mercy deepen your relationship with Him?
  2. In what ways can you extend the same grace and forgiveness to others that God has given to you?
  3. Israel was called to be a nation of righteousness and order, standing apart from the lawlessness around them. How can you live as a reflection of God’s righteousness in a world that often rejects His order and truth?
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Remember His Faithfulness

Deuteronomy 14-16

Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.” – Deuteronomy 16:13-14

Today we read God’s commands to begin observing three major feasts: Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Each of these festivals was meant to be an intentional time set aside for remembrance (a recurring theme in Deuteronomy). The Israelites had witnessed God’s power and provision in so many ways… like so many. They were delivered from Egypt, provided for in the wilderness, and were finally being brought into the Promised Land—all of which included various miracles and supernatural occurrences. These celebrations were more than legalistic rituals—they were acts of worship and gratitude intended to continually remind God’s children of His unending goodness.

While most Christians today don’t keep these feasts in their traditional form, their purpose no doubt remains deeply relevant. We are still called to remember God’s goodness, rejoice in His provision, and keep His Kingdom promise forefront in our minds. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, has secured our ultimate deliverance, and we live in the hope of the final harvest when God will gather His people into His eternal presence. Not only must we live in hope, but in daily remembrance. Our hope is not a baseless one. We have a book full of stories and people and places that display our Father’s faithfulness. We live in a world uniquely and precisely designed for human life in ways that defy mere chance. We see glimpses of the Kingdom in small moments every day. These are the things that we must recognize and reflect upon on a daily basis. 

Whether through communion, worship, prayer, or perhaps even partaking in some feasts or holidays, we are called to consistantly honor the God who has redeemed us, sustains us, and promises us a future. I pray today that we cultivate hearts of gratitude and remembrance, celebrating our Father’s steadfast love and infinite goodness in every season of our lives. 

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. God established specific times for Israel to remember His faithfulness. How can setting aside time for remembrance strengthen our faith? How might neglecting remembrance weaken faith?
  2. How can you intentionally set aside time to remember and celebrate God’s goodness?
  3. What are some specific ways God has delivered you in your life? Have you taken time to truly reflect on and thank Him for those moments?
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God’s Truth and Way – Not Ours

Deuteronomy 11-13

Chapter 12 is the beginning of a new set of comprehensive laws that take up the bulk of the book of Deuteronomy.  Today we read about the specific ways in which God desired His people to worship. He called them to worship in His good and perfect way, not in the ways of the surrounding nations. The Israelites were instructed to destroy any false altars and worship only where God had chosen. This was about doing what was right in God’s eyes, rather than every man acting on his own whims or false morals.

You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way. But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go. – Deut 12:4-5

You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you. – Deut 12:8

Chapter 13 issues a strong warning against abandoning their commitment to the one true God for a false god. It is warned that there will be false prophets and dreamers who can perform signs or wonders, but that they must not fall for such tricks and deception. It is even warned that if your family member whispers to you suggesting that you serve other gods, you must not listen to them. In fact they were instructed to kill them. Fortunately for us, such violence is no longer expected in these cases, however, discernment and steadfast loyalty to our Creator are expected of us. In today’s age, we are instructed to be aware of false prophets, and even false messiahs, as Jesus warns in Matthew,

Then if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or “There he is!” do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. – Matt 24:24

Today, we may not have physical altars to tear down or false priests to execute, but our hearts can easily become divided. We are tempted to blend worldly influences with our worship, allowing distractions, personal desires, or cultural norms to shape our devotion rather than the truth of God’s word. In a world full of voices claiming to speak truth, it is imperative that we remain anchored in scripture. Even generally positive things, such as success, relationships, or even religious experiences, can become idols if they pull our hearts away from God. True devotion means prioritizing Him above all else, not in the ways we see fit, but in the ways He has commanded us.

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. Are there any influences in your life—cultural, personal, or societal—that may be shaping your faith or outlook in ways that are not aligned with God’s Word?
  2. How can you actively practice discernment in recognizing false teachings or influences that lead you away from total devotion to God?
  3. In what ways can you ensure that your worship and daily life reflect God’s truth, rather than personal preferences or societal norms?
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Choose God

Deuteronomy 8-10

We all know the Israelites had their share of ups and downs, more often than not due to their own iffy decision making. This is where God makes it indisputably clear that He’s not cool with that. He never has been, and though they made a narrow escape from His righteous wrath once, they have to make a change. Moses reminds them of the abundance of evidence they have of God’s provision. They have no reason to doubt His guidance, or His love. They need only obey the very simple, very clear instructions laid out before them, and they will thrive in the Promised Land. Moses is really leaving no room for misunderstanding; if they remember what the LORD has done for them and follow His commandments, blessings will flow. If not, destruction awaits them. (Deut 8:6-20)

It is also made abundantly clear that any blessings they have previously received were by no means owed to them, that the great nations God delivered into their hands were not because of their own righteousness, but rather because of the rival nations’ wickedness. God had a covenant to keep with the Israelites, and He chose to blot out some evil along the way. 

 It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to take possession of their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. – Deut 9:5

Chapter 10 expresses that God desperately wants the wholehearted devotion of His people. No other being is worthy of our praise. We cannot divide our allegiance between God and the things of this world that compete for our loyalty; Yahweh’s unmatchable greatness demands our reverence.

You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your glory and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen. – Deut 10:20

Just as the Israelites had to be repeatedly reminded of God’s provision and grace, it is of such importance that we remind ourselves (and each other) on a regular basis that even though we haven’t (and can never) earn such a reward, we serve a God who has endlessly displayed His immense love for us and His perfect plan for us. It is not by our own righteousness that we are saved, but we are saved nonetheless. And furthermore, we are loved beyond all comprehension. Who else is worthy of our praise? Who else is worthy of our life-long commitment? Even in today’s world, there are so many things competing for our attention and fealty. We must make the same decision the Israelites were faced with in today’s reading, the daily decision to choose God over all else. Although we don’t deserve His love, He is the only thing that deserves ours. 

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. How has God provided for you in ways that you may have overlooked or taken for granted? Take a moment to reflect on His faithfulness in your life.
  2. In what areas of your life are you tempted to divide your loyalty between God and the things of this world? How can you realign your heart to give Him your full devotion?
  3. If our blessings are not earned, but given by God’s grace, how should that shape your perspective on gratitude, humility, and obedience in your daily walk with Him?
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Listen – and Act Accordingly

Deuteronomy 5-7

These 3 chapters continue to reiterate the importance of REMEMBERING. Moses is addressing the new generation of Israel, preparing their hearts to enter the long-awaited Promised Land. We read in chapter 5 the repeated Ten Commandments, and Moses’ encouragement to follow these laws that bring life and blessing, “that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” The Israelites are repeatedly reminded throughout these chapters that these laws are meant to serve them for generations to come; Moses emphasizes over and over again the cruciality of ensuring that their children and their children’s children not forget the foundation provided to their ancestors via these laws. 

Chapter 6 is home to one of the most well-known prayers in the Bible, the Shema Yisrael, which has remained embedded in Jewish culture to this day. Ancient Jews combined Deuteronomy 6:4-5 with other Torah passages (Deut. 11:13-21; Num. 15:37-41), reciting the words every morning and every evening. This prayer became ingrained in Jewish tradition, and was widely practiced in the Second Temple Period. Jesus declared it the greatest commandment in the Torah in Mark 12:29-31. 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31

Many of us memorized these verses at a young age. What gives this prayer such immense significance? Well, to the Jews at the time (and through history), it is a pledge of allegiance to God, emphasizing three main ideas:

  • Monotheism: The Shema asserts that there is only one true God, distinguishing Israelite faith from the surrounding polytheistic religions of the ancient world. (Deut 6:4)
  • Covenantal Relationship: The Shema affirms Israel’s special relationship with God, requiring wholehearted love and devotion. (Deut 6:5)
  • Daily + Generational Remembrance: It is recited morning and evening, reinforcing a life centered on God’s commandments, and ensuring that it is passed down to future generations. (Deut 6:6-9)

These truths remain relevant to us today, and this prayer is a beautiful, concise way to remind ourselves what Moses stressed throughout these passages. 

Something interesting about the opening line of the Shema, “Hear, O Israel,” is that in Hebrew, “hear,” or “shema,” does not only mean to listen. It means to listen and then act accordingly. It is directly tied to action. And the word “love,” or “ahavah,” similarly means to act in love. It’s more than just a feeling; it’s active obedience and loyalty. It’s a call for the Israelites to be faithful to their covenant with Yahweh. We, too, have a covenant with Yahweh, a renewed covenant with new laws and a new Promised Land. But as Jesus clarified, this command remains true, and we must make the active decision to live out the Shema each and every day. 

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. What are some practical ways you can incorporate Scripture into your daily life to ensure that you keep them on your heart, as to better remember and live by God’s Word?
  2. The Shema calls us to love God with everything we are. How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper love for Him in your daily life?
  3. Just as Israel was called to pass down God’s truths, we are called to disciple others. Who are you investing in spiritually? How can you be intentional about sharing your faith—whether with your family, friends, or community?
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Test Your Memory

DEUTERONOMY 3-4

“Deuteronomy” is derived from the Greek word deuteronomion, meaning “a second law.” This whole book is meant to be a second edition of God’s laws, compiled of commandments received at Mount Sinai as well as a few additional ones. The first four chapters of Deuteronomy set the stage for these laws by providing reminders of why the Israelites serve the God of Abraham, and the importance of keeping His statutes. 

Moses begins this book emphasizing to his people the importance of remembering. He reminds them of the many instances in which God delivered them from their enemies and gave them new lands. As we read yesterday and continue to read today, chapters 1-3 serve as a brief overview of Israel’s recent happenings. In chapter 4, Moses switches gears and opens the book with a call to remembrance, and a command to obey. (Deut 4:1-5, 4:9-10, 4:14, 4:23, 4:30) 

Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. – Deut 4:9

Moses is reiterating that the laws provided previously in Exodus weren’t just a temporary set of guidelines or a mere suggestion; they were meant to be kept. These laws are the foundation upon which God’s chosen people will be set apart, unique from the rest of the world. (Deuteronomy 4:5-8, 4:32-40)

So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today? – Deut 4:6-8

Israel’s obedience and devotion to the statutes of the LORD serve a larger purpose. Not only will these laws keep Israel on the right track in terms of their own safety and wellbeing, but they will also distinguish God’s people from the rest of humanity as a righteous and wise nation. Ultimately, despite many roadblocks and failures, these laws will sustain Israel for 400 years, allowing them to become the nation from which the Messiah is born (as prophesied later in Deuteronomy 18:15-19).

Moses makes it abundantly clear to his people that God will not forget His covenant with them, therefore it is crucial that they do not forget either. He warns them that they will stray, but that they serve a merciful God, a loving Father who patiently waits for His children to return to Him. (Deut 4:25-31)

For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. – Deut 4:31

Though Christ has since set a new system in place, consisting of new laws under the new covenant, the main ideas that Moses expressed in these scriptures remain true for us today. First, we must remember God’s promise to one day restore the earth (Gen 3:19), as well as the commands His Son gave generations later under the new covenant. Second, God’s commands are not meant to needlessly restrict us, but to guide us into a life of blessing and purpose. When we obey, we reflect His wisdom and goodness to the world around us. And lastly, that God knows we live in a broken world; He sees our darkest desires and our biggest downfalls. But even when we stray from His ways, He waits for us to return to Him, arms open and heart yearning to pull us into His loving embrace. 

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. How can you actively remind yourself (and others) of God’s goodness, His commands, and His promises?
  2. Moses emphasized that God’s laws were meant to set Israel apart—how does living according to God’s principles set you apart in today’s world?
  3. How does knowing that God patiently waits for us to return to Him impact the way you approach repentance and restoration in your relationship with Him? How can this truth shape the way you view both your own failures and those of others?
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Vengeance is the Lord’s

OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 51 & 52

POETRY: Psalm 119:97-104

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 6

In Jeremiah 51-52, we continue to read about the rise and fall of one of Israel and Judah’s greatest adversaries – Babylon. Most would think they had it coming; after the ruthless destruction of Judah and years of the children of God being held in captivity, how else would Yahweh react? One might even wonder why it took so long for Him to free His people from these evil, power-hungry conquerors. As we’ve seen throughout the Old Testament, (particularly Judges, 1st and 2nd Kings, and Isaiah) the Israelites had their own series of mishaps and repeated sin. As a result, God – in His perfect timing – used Babylon to bring retribution to His people. However, He did not let Babylon’s wickedness go unpunished. Eventually, their arrogance and sin led to their ruin. Through Jeremiah, God declared that Babylon would be punished for its pride and cruelty. This was not just a political event, but a fulfillment of God’s divine justice and plan.

Our God’s ways are not to be challenged, nor is His wrath to be evoked. Vivid imagery is painted throughout the 64 verses of chapter 51, which follows the previous 46 verses in chapter 50 (in which the proclamation of Babylon’s grim downfall was only getting started). The LORD our God has a fierce vengeance, one that nobody should desire to face. Our God is a God of love, but as seen in these chapters, He does indeed declare enemies. And to be an enemy of the one true God is pretty much the worst place you could possibly find yourself in. These scriptures serve as a powerful reminder of God’s complex and perfect character. He is surely abounding in love, kindness, and mercy, but He is also a God of justice, holiness, and righteous wrath. This understanding brings to mind two important truths:

1. We can rest assured that justice is ultimately in the hands of God, and punishment will be bestowed upon His enemies on the day of judgment. We don’t carry the burden of deciding who is worthy of God’s love, and instead have freedom in Christ to love everyone God places in our lives – choosing to love the person and not the sin. In a world filled with brokenness and division, we can be a light of grace, knowing that God’s justice will prevail.

2. I do not want to be an enemy of God, and I know you don’t either. These chapters challenge us to examine our own hearts and lives. Live each day knowing fully that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, you are a servant of Christ, you are the beating heart of the church, you are the hands and feet of God, and you are His beloved child. In a fervent endeavor to avoid ever being known as an enemy of God, anchor your identity instead in these things, and place your trust in the unshakable Kingdom of God. For the empires of this world will fall, but His is everlasting.

To be a part of God’s everlasting kingdom means surrendering our own desires and aligning ourselves with His greater purposes. It means that we are called to walk in obedience, trusting that His plans are far beyond our comprehension. Babylon fell because it was built on the shaky ground of pride, greed, and corruption. But as followers of Christ, we stand firm on the solid foundation of God’s eternal kingdom—a kingdom defined by love, justice, mercy, and truth.

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions

  1. Are there areas in my life where I am relying on my own strength or worldly systems instead of trusting in God’s good and perfect ways?
  2. How can I actively align my daily choices and actions with God’s kingdom values?
  3. In what ways can I guard my heart against pride and self-reliance, ensuring that my foundation is rooted in Christ rather than the fleeting things of this world? 
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God of Restoration

Old Testament: 2 Kings 7-8

Poetry: Proverbs 26

New Testament: Luke 9


Our God is a God of restoration. There will ultimately be a full restoration, but full restoration can only happen when the world is once again the beautiful, perfect place God created it to be, when His Kingdom is established on earth. Partial restoration, however, has been happening ever since the beginning of time. We read about restoration countless times in the Bible, and if you look, you can see it in our lives today, too. God constantly restores what has been lost to His people, whether it be a physical ability, such as sight, or movement, or a spiritual restoration, such as that of faith, or even the restoration of life.


Today, we read in 2 Kings chapter 8 about a Shunammite woman who lost everything she had during a 7 year famine, but because of her faith in God and willingness to obey, it was restored to her. Now this woman was not new to witnessing God’s ability to restore what was lost. In chapter 4 of 2 Kings, we read about how Elisha rewarded the Shunammite woman’s kindness with fertility, and she bore a son. Sadly, the son later died, but she had faith in God’s power, so she sought out Elisha. Elisha came, and the son was brought back to life; he was restored.


It is clear that this woman had remarkable faith. Perhaps this is why Elisha warned her about the famine that would come on the land for 7 long years, and advised her to leave. So without question, she and her household left their home and stayed in the land of the Philistines for 7 years, until the famine was over. When they returned, she had to appeal to the king to get back her home and all her land. The crazy thing is, right as she was coming to appeal to the king,
Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, (who in chapter 5 was cursed with leprosy, and left Elisha… so perhaps these chapters are not necessarily in chronological order) was telling him the unbelievable story of the miracle Elisha performed in the resurrection of the son of the Shunammite woman. The woman, who just happened to show up during this particular story time, also gave an account of what happened, and the King was so impressed that he instantly granted her the land and all that she left 7 years ago.


This story speaks volumes of God’s perfect timing, and adds to the common theme we see throughout the Bible of God’s willingness to restore what has been lost to those who are faithful. Look closely at the different ways in which God restores things in your life, and let it remind you to live everyday for the ultimate restoration that’s coming.


-Isabella Osborn

(originally posted for SeekGrowLove on June 8, 2021)

Reflection Questions

  1. In 2 Kings 8 what does God do for restoration to take place? What did the Shunammite woman do? What did others do?
  2. Where have you seen restoration? Did faith play a part in the restoration you witnessed? What did God do? What did the recipient of the restoration do? What did others do?
  3. How can you be a part of God’s great restoration project? What restoration can you be praying for? What restoration can you be working towards, with faith in God, that He will act in amazing, restorative ways?
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Their Sin, Your Sin

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 13 & 14

Poetry: Job 34

New Testament: Romans 2

Have you noticed how much easier it is to condemn others for their actions than to condemn ourselves, and our own actions? Too often, we become critics of everyone around us – judging the way they live their lives, the words they say, the things they do – critics of everyone except ourselves. For this particular sin, a trap we all probably fall into from time to time, Romans 2 really hits hard. Paul over-emphasizes repeatedly that wrong is always wrong, and sin is always sin, no matter who does it, no matter your intentions or your justification. Yes, our God is a loving God, forgiving and merciful forever and always. But our God is also a just God, and He will judge each and every person accordingly. As Romans 2:3-4 expresses, just because we serve a God who is kind, patient and forgiving does NOT mean that you can get away with any evil deed, continuing to live in unrighteousness relying only on the idea that all will be forgiven. 

“Do you suppose, O man – you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself – that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:3-4

God’s abounding love and kindness is not a means to live however we desire, it’s a call to repentance, because He so wants us to live with Him in eternity, and if we truly want it as well, we would not continue living in sin, but repent and grow and strive to reach the very highest of our potential. We would strive to be just the tiniest bit worthy of His love and mercy. Because in all God’s perfection and all our imperfection, we are utterly incompatible. And yet He still loves us and desires a relationship with us, a relationship that lasts for all eternity. 

As we continue throughout this week, whenever we catch ourselves judging the actions of others, let us remember to instead look within ourselves. I pray that we may see through God’s eyes how we can improve and grow closer to who God made us to be, and ask forgiveness for our own sins, rather than judging the people around us for theirs. Let us obey the truth today for the sake of eternity, and not obey unrighteousness for the sake of today. “For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury… but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good” (Romans 2:9-10).

-Isabella Osborn

(originally posted May 18, 2022 for SeekGrowLove)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. If God has instilled in us a conscience, allowing us to discern right from wrong, (which according to Romans 2:15, He has) then why do we persistently live in sin?
  2. How should we move forward after acting in an unrighteous, ungodly manner, in order to continue seeking everlasting life with God- living for Him and not for ourselves? 
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