April 1st | Recidivism

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PETER’S SECOND LETTER   

RECIDIVISM 

2 Peter 2:20-21 ”If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” 

Recidivism occurs frequently among drug addicts and law breakers. You would think that once someone has been arrested, tried, convicted, and incarcerated for a number of years, upon serving their time they would make sure they never broke the law again. Same goes for the drug addict who was revived by paramedics when they were near death due to a drug overdose. Wouldn’t you think they would never want anything to do with an illicit drug again. 

That is just not how the sinful Old Adam operates. Satan, your sinful Old Adam, and the sinful world in which you live, once they have taken control of you and led you into a bad behavior will not let go quickly and certainly not easily. They will do everything in their power using all the temptations that ply on your weaknesses to lead you back into a behavior that led to your near death or incarceration. 

Peter’s message in the first verse of today’s devotional verses says, “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. . . “ Yes, just because you received God’s forgiveness for a sin, does not mean that you will never commit that sin again. Every sin you commit is a new sin in God’s sight. Every sin’s wage is eternal death. Yet, Jesus died for every sin you commit. If you confess your sins, repent of them, and ask for forgiveness for Jesus’ sake, even repeated sins are forgiven.   

Prayer: Lord Jesus, protect me from all temptation. When I do sin, bless the LAW that it does its work to show me my sin and cause me to desire God’s forgiveness. Through the Gospel call me to repentance and grant Your Spirit through the power of the Gospel brings forgiveness into my heart. In Your Holy Name. Amen. 

Just as I am, without one plea   But that Thy blood was shed for me  And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,   O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am and waiting not   To rid my soul of one dark blot,  To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,   O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, though tossed about   With many a conflict, many a doubt,  Fightings and fears within, without,  O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;  Sight, riches, healing of the mind,  Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,  O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, Thou will receive,  Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;  Because Thy promise I believe,  O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am; Thy love unknown  Haqs broken ev’ry barrier down;  Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,  O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(LSB 570)