READING: 1 Chronicles 19-21, John 8:1-27
“For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
John 8:24
Sometimes you just need to read and hear the words, and then let them sink in. That’s what I needed to do today when I read these words: “You will die in your sin” (John 8:21).
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had rejected Him. They denied His claims, called Him a blasphemer, attributed His work to Satan, and sought His demise. They refused to believe in Him, and the result was that they would die in their sin. Indeed, the contrasts in these texts are striking. Jesus was from above, but the religious leaders were “of this world” (John 8:23). Jesus would be returning to the Father, but the people would never follow Him there. Even if they looked for Him, they would not find Him; they were headed to judgment as Jesus headed to the Father. Because they did not believe that He was who He said He was, they would die in their sins.
That is, they were unforgiven. Guilty. Separated from their Creator. Lost. Hopeless. Judged. In hell.
Their situation was deeply tragic, but such is the case for everyone who dies in his or her sin – and that’s where I needed to dwell on the text today. People die in their sin every day. It happens all around the world. It happens in my country. It happens in my state and my local community. It could even happen to people I know and love. Someone I know could die in his or her sin today.
The proper response to this reality is to pray for God to open their blinded minds while giving us courage to speak the gospel to everyone. Were it not for God’s grace, we, too, would die in our sin.
ACTION STEPS:
- Make a list of non-believers for whom you should be praying. Begin to pray today.
- If you are a Christian, thank God for His grace.
PRAYER: “Lord, I praise You for saving me. I do not want to take grace for granted.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 22-24, John 8:28-59
