²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³² who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  Romans 1:28-32

“God gave them over to a reprobate mind” – kind of sounds like many in America today does it not?  Look at the laundry list of things that Paul listed the “reprobates” would be filled with, and the acts these people would be doing.

Look at the world around us, watch the news, read the news online, sample the available articles, one needs only to look at article titles to get the gist of what the content is; immorality, lies, propaganda, anti-God – there is a complete narrative available and it is not at all believer friendly.

Look at verse 32: “that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  Does this at all strike you as describing today’s social media sites?

As hard as it is, we need to rise above this trash, we need to pray for these people to know Christ.  This is a lost world, and more are running off the rails all the time.

It’s hard not to respond to those that wrong us, whether or not it has anything to do with God, I know.  In my line of work, my faith is known to many – I believe that counts against me.

Others that I “work” with were the other day yucking it up at my expense, not having any idea what they were talking about in reference to the situation.  A lot of back-stabbing goes on.  It was really hard to not give them a piece of my mind.

It’s ok to stand up for yourself, but one has to ask:

• Will this accomplish anything?
• Will I make things worse?
• Can I defend myself without using unjust attacks?
• Will this make God look bad?

I could list more, but I’m sure you get the idea.  We as God’s people are to pray for those who use us, hurt us, persecute us etc. (Matthew 5:44)  We are also told to extend grace to those who don’t deserve it, exactly like God extends His grace to those who don’t deserve it – us.

^{29 “}Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:29

Lest we forget, we are saved by grace, therefore we need to show this grace to those who most assuredly do NOT deserve it, just as we forgive them also, as God forgives us.