Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, nor realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what He has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
– Romans 2:1-11
Devotion
In chapter one, Paul declares that God will sit in judgment over those who outright reject His power and authority. In chapter two, Paul is showing that God will also judge self-righteous and religious people. The logical conclusion to this argument is found in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” In this chapter, Paul sets down certain principles by which God is going to judge “good” people. Chapter one reveals the unrighteousness of man, and chapter two reveals the self-righteousness of man. Neither of these address the real issue of God’s righteousness and His response to an unrighteous creation. A key phrase in the above text is “who reject the truth.” Jesus referred to Himself as “the Truth.” When self-righteous and religious people turn to their own righteousness to obtain salvation, they have rejected the Truth. The Gospel that Paul preached and taught was radically Christ-centered. When our religion or morality blinds us to the reality of the sin problem within us, we are in a very bad place. Brokenness always proceeds salvation!
The Big Question
In your heart/mind are you unwilling to admit what is really going on inside of you? Are you stubborn to ignore the sinful tendencies in your own heart? Are you spiritually proud or spiritually humble?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.