Romans 1:18-32

Romans 1:18-32 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Paul's argument is what theologians call general revelation, because it is general and made known to everyone . Paul says in verse 18-20 that people have no reason not to believe in God, because God has made himself evident through the created order. Paul goes on to say that people really did not want to know God or glorify him, but they preferred to worship (glorify) themselves and other living creators (vs 23,25), which would lead them to unspeakable acts (vs. 24-32).

Whether we are followers of Christ or not, there are times when we would prefer to make ourselves or something else the center of our lives. Sometimes it is very innocent like having a bowl of ice cream, but sometimes it is much larger. The decision to put our own personal selfishness before God's will usually ends quite badly, and so I think Paul. wanting good things for the Romans, brings to light this important warning.

I know that I am not perfect at it and God is helping me, but I hope that I be willing to consider his glory before my own. This is my hope for you also.