TUESDAY June 2, 2020

God’s Name Is Blasphemed

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Romans 2:21-24

Paul pointed out a logical problem in the Jews’ teaching. They taught the law of God, but what they preached to others needed to be preached and applied to them! Paul encouraged them to take the Word of God and dissect it in application to their lives. What Paul told them was similar to Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5).

People can be so self-righteous. They judge others of stealing, when they are stealing themselves: stealing gum, cheating on their income tax, or stealing from God by not giving their tithes. Have they convinced themselves that they are in right standing before God? The title Christian makes a person responsible for their actions.

Listen: unless a person lives what is taught in the Bible, they cannot preach to others, because there is no power behind the message. They have a bad testimony in front of nonbelievers, which causes the enemies of God to mock. This is exactly what the prophet Nathan told King David when he sinned by committing adultery: …you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme… (2 Samuel 12:14). The Holy Spirit is grieved. Where is the fear of God in people’s lives?

People may say, “I attend Church every week and serve in ministry,” but does that make anyone righteous? No, it does not. There first has to be an inward change where a person is touched by God—born again of the Holy Spirit (John 3). People have to be truly converted, and then the Holy Spirit will empower them to live the Christian life (Acts 1:8).

An unholy church! It is useless to the world—and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, Hell's laughter, and Heaven's abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world—have been brought upon her by an unholy church.
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!