²⁸Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³²Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (NIV)

Today finishes our first week of Romans devos. I hope you’ve been challenged in what has already been covered – there’s lot more in store! In today’s passage, Paul continues his letter to the church in Rome, and talks to them about the sins of wicked people and how the wicked are condemned. It’s easy to agree that wicked people sin, and Paul writes in a way to get the people who listened to his letters (most of them couldn’t read) to agree with him. But, as we’ll find out next week in chapter 2, Paul quickly tells his listeners that they commit the same kinds of sins, and then even worse, they judge those who commit them.

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The Bible has multiple lists of sins (Galatians 5:19-21 and 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, for instance), but today’s passage lists some biggies that are also crimes (like murder), all the way to some sins that might seem more minor (like gossip, disobeying parents, or boasting). I do relatively well on the big ones (I’ve never murdered anyone), but I fall short on many others (though I stopped disobeying my parents decades ago). Two chapters from now, Paul writes in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This list in Romans 1 is a good reminder that, though I may not commit the “biggies,” I still fall short of God’s perfect standard all the time.

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And speaking of the biggies – while I haven’t murdered anyone, I have harbored anger in my heart. Jesus says that those who are angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment, just as murderers are subject to judgment (Matt. 5:21-22). Maybe my view on what’s a biggie is different than God’s view.  

The Bible tells us that we have all sinned. We have all fallen short of God’s standard. We all deserve God’s wrath.

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What about you? I recommend that you read the passage again – are you convicted over a particular listed sin?  If so, what will you do about it?  Hint - start with repentance and accepting God’s forgiveness.

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While we all fall short, that is not the end of the story. Thank God that His grace and mercy abound. Fortunately, the rest of Romans helps us to understand how to respond.  

Dear God, I am a sinner. Even though I believe in You and in Your Son, Jesus, I still sin. Please forgive me. Show me the sin in my life, whether it seems big or little to me. Please draw me closer to You and cleanse me from my sin. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, which lets us triumph in Jesus’ name.  Amen.