Divine Imperatives October 20 Devotional

JOHN 10:10 | ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.

Romans 3:9b-12 | ^9b No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: ‘There is no one who is righteous, not even one; ¹¹ there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, there is not even one.’

Since both life and death live within us, we must learn to be undeserving yet undeterred. Too many of us engage in sin management. We obsess over our own brokenness and allow the Evil One to discourage and depress us. We feel stuck. God is not surprised or alarmed by our shortcomings! He wants us to focus more on the good and great things he has for us through his spirit. As we seek deeper communion, fuller faith, more adventuresome service, we’ll begin to know a richer life in him. Instead of just managing sin we’ll experience grace and freedom. We’ll still be undeserving but we’ll be undeterred.

What would it mean for you to be undeterred by your own brokenness?

Gracious God,

Help me remember — You use broken people to change this world, not just perfect ones. Help me be undeterred.

Amen.