26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:26-27
After reading yesterday’s post, look where it leads -> “For this reason”. So, there is a building effect at play here. Starting with a rejection of God as the One True God to be revered and worshiped, God give them over to their impure hearts that are filled with lusts…where they worship themselves and the sexuality of the body instead of the LORD God.
Where does that lead, well, it leads to the walking away from what God designed in His perfect plan for ‘male’ and ‘female’ and the incredible relationship that produces children through a sacred marital covenant. Paul calls these “dishonorable passions”: passions birthed out of a debased, lust filled, and impure mind.
Our world today lives this out and we can see, in our culture, the absolute depravity that happens when this exchange of God for worldly pleasure takes hold.
Paul ends this 2nd “gave up” with “receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error”. This is the ‘sowing’ and ‘reaping’ nature of dishonorable passions. There are many health issues and diseases that arise from this embraced behavior and lifestyle.
APPLICATION
Lord God, you know the situations and environments I work in. I pray Father that you would guide me in how to love those who have been ‘given up to’ dishonorable passions. I was (and am) in the same desperate need of your grace and mercy of every one of these people mentioned above. I love you LORD and ask for your discernment and wisdom as I walk these spaces in my life.