My daily journaling from God’s Word. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Today’s journal comes from reading Romans 1.

Scripture

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.” –Romans 1: 24 NLT

Observation

Sometimes God abandons people who choose to dishonor Him. What a terrible reality–to be abandoned by God. I don’t believe God gives up on the person, but He stops restraining them from sin, meaning their hearts become harder and harder.

The life of unrestrained sin not only hardens our heart, it leads to defiling and degrading our very bodies. Sin is not a good thing. Here, in referring to sexual sin, the scripture exposes that immorality is not liberation or, “a great time;” it is degrading and vile.

Application

This verse describes most of the people who oppose me on campus. They have been given over by God to their vile and shameful desires. Without the power of God to rescue them, they have no hope. They may hide behind intellectual arguments, but the real issue is their pride, and their future without God is hopeless.

Prayer

Father, thank You for delivering me  from such a miserable life as those who You have given over to do shameful things. It’s only by Your grace that I am who I am. Give me compassion for lost souls who glory in their shame.

Give me boldness to confront them in ways that will awaken them to reality. Bring people to repentance–people far from You who are captured in degrading sins. Even do so, today, I pray!

In Jesus’ name and for Your glory, Amen.