July 16 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Do we pay sufficient attention to the wrath and anger of the Lord? Many churchgoers are hearing very little about God’s wrath because pulpits are silent on the subject. To speak of God’s wrath is considered old-fashioned and depressing. It is argued that any emphasis on the subject will only turn people away from the church. God is deemed to be tolerant of almost anything and will not exhibit wrath or judgment. People no longer feel comfortable hearing sermons that speak about hell and eternal damnation.

If we are to remain faithful to Scripture, we need to maintain that the Lord is almighty. His anger is unrelenting toward those who are unrepentant. God’s wrath is not mere displeasure, annoyance or irritation, but it is a raging fury that is directed at wicked and godless people. The heat of His fury and wrath matches, even surpasses, the scorching heat of the sun. In Romans 1:18 Paul writes, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” God’s wrath is not provoked by goodness or righteousness. It is never unreasonable or without good grounds. It is sin that provokes Him to anger.

Attempts have been made to soften the severity of God’s wrath and punishment. Nevertheless, those who condone sin as normal behaviour are living with a false sense of security. The Lord removes all restraint and gives up people to their own sinful thinking and practices. Those who refuse to glorify God become futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts are darkened. They consider themselves enlightened and advanced beyond those who hold to the primitive views advocated in the Bible. Yet anyone who acts contrary to God’s norms is a fool. Those who refuse to listen to God’s Word and reject salvation in Christ remain under the wrath of God. God will punish them by giving them up to their own sinful ways (Rom 1:26–27).

No one likes to talk about wrath and punishment. We’d prefer to talk about grace and peace. We need to realize that those terms are actually enriched when we recognize what Jesus did to deliver us from God’s wrath. Praise God, in wrath He always remembers mercy! May knowledge of God’s wrath move us away from complacency and cause us to look for mercy in Christ alone.