Daily Devotional for Sunday, November 13

Follow God’s Plan—Not Man’s

“Turn around, don’t drown,” the warning sign declares on a low-lying stretch of Highway 288 at the southern edge of Houston. The dangers of this place in the road during torrential rains is well known to locals. Yet seemingly every time a Houston thunder shower drops inches of rain, there is another news report of motorists stranded in this precarious spot. Tragically, some have died there because they did not heed the warning. 

This tragic event plays itself out time and time again for many believers. God’s Word gives warnings against sin and its dangers, yet we approach the warning signs and think “I will be okay. I can make it.” God’s Word makes it plain that sin brings destruction, bondage, pain and even death. 

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of our sinful choices is that we have plenty of warning and plenty of evidence of the dangers. Like that dangerous place on Highway 288, we have seen many others trapped and harmed by sin. We read the warning signs and consider the others who have felt the consequences of sin, yet somehow, we inch forward thinking, “just this one time, it will be fine.” 

While the sting of sin is painful, we do serve a gracious and loving God who forgives us when we forsake our sin, and He restores us when we return to Him. Many Christians carry the scars of their sinful choices. Though the painful consequences of sin could have (and should have) been avoided, the scars we carry are also reminders of the grace and forgiveness of our loving Father. When we repent of our sin and return to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive.

JUST A THOUGHT: Satan is like a wolf who will lead a sheep to follow him away from the flock convincing him it is for his own good. Satan is a liar. Heed the warning signs of Scripture and flee from sin.

Steven Ridings