Title

Are We Still Foolish?

Scripture
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
(Titus 3:3)
Devotional
We unfortunately see these characteristics not only in the world, but among believers as well. The apostle Paul rightfully asks in the book of Romans, “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”(1) How can we continue to hate those for whom Christ died? Why do we continue to walk in malice and envy? Why do we continue to be deceived when we know the deceiver’s devices? Are we still foolish? When we were in the world without Christ, we had no control over our sinful nature. But now that we are His and have been redeemed, forgiven, sanctified, and graced how can we continue in such a state of sinfulness? The answer is simply, “by choice”. Who do you hate? Stop the hatred. In what realm are you disobedient? Stop the disobedience. Toward whom are you malicious and envious? Repent and bless, and curse not. We do not have to embrace those who have harmed us, we just have to love them and pray for them.

(1) Romans 6:2
Thought For The Night
“The human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked out with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.” John Calvin, (1509–1564), Protestant reformer who emphasized the omnipotence of God and salvation by grace alone
 
Evening Text
Titus 3:3: For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Looking for Answers
 
Evening Study Guide
Defining: “Foolish”: “In scripture, wicked; sinful; acting without regard to the divine law and glory, or to one's own eternal happiness,” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.
 
Referencing: “Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20.
 
Applying: You may have once been foolish, but for the believer, foolishness is not to be an option. Therefore, opt out of foolishness.