The human condition

​12/1/20
Today's devotion for today is based on Genesis 6:5, "The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time."
Our society bombards us with the idea that all people are inherently good and that humanity will eventually move past its difficulties. Humanity is held up as the one thing that can save us all. Movie after movie continues to tell us that good will prevail over evil and that we should trust in humanity's goodness.
The reality is no one is inherently good. The Bible says it is quite the contrary. We read in Genesis—and throughout the Bible—that humanity is inherently sinful. Our thoughts and desires are inherently sinful, not inherently good. We are, by nature, selfish and greedy. We want our way and do not want to listen to anyone else, let alone listen to what God has to say. That certainly is not news that anyone wants to hear, but it is true.
The good news is that there is someone who was inherently good. His name is Jesus. As our substitute before God, Jesus lived a perfect life in our place and died on the cross to pay for our sins. Because of this undeserved wonderful act, we should desire to live for God and to do what is right out of love for him.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, gracious God, creator and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for accepting Jesus's sacrifice on my behalf. Enable me to serve you today with that same love that you have shown toward me. Help me to always be ready for the day when you will call me home. In Jesus' name, I pray.  Amen