Ashamed or grateful?

Romans 6:20-21 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. This verse may seem a little confusing. In human terms, he told them that when they were slaves of sin, they were free in regard to righteousness. In other words, they had no obligation to righteousness. He encouraged them by helping them remember the outcome of living as slaves of sin and giving themselves over to the things of which they were then ashamed. What was the outcome? Death! They were separated from God and condemned to eternal death. Do you remember being in that condition? As you think of your former lifestyle, are you not ashamed of the things you did? Does it not sober you to remember how you never even thought of pursuing righteousness. More than likely, you mocked those who didn’t walk in the same path or have the same ideology as you and your friends. What do you think about that lifestyle now? Are you not ashamed of it? We should be encouraged if that is the case with us. When I think back on the days, weeks, months, and years wasted in seeking my own selfish ambition and satisfying the desires of the flesh and of the mind, I am embarrassed, ashamed, but grateful to God for His glorious grace. My life is so different as I walk in love with Jesus each day. I’m not perfect, but I’m on a drastically different trajectory than I used to be. Thanks be to God! I hope you can say the same and rejoice with me in expressing our thanksgiving to God for another day of life to know and love Him and live to love with Jesus. If you have found the Live to Love Scripture Encouragements podcast to be a blessing in your relationship with Jesus, I would like to ask you to share it with your friends and family. In a world where we are inundated with bad news, Scripture encouragements are a breath of fresh air. Let’s share the good news. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com