Romans 3:12

Passage

All turned aside.  Together they were being engaged in behavior that is detrimental.  There is not one who practices benevolence, not even one.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

All turned aside.  What a deep and dark point for Paul to make here.  Jews have turned aside.  Christians have turned aside.  The world has turned aside.  When Paul uses the world “all” here, Paul literally means all.  He means himself.  He means all who have ever followed Christ.  He means all the Jews.  He means all of the rest of the world.  All means all.  Everyone is guilty of turning aside from God and following the desires of their own heart.

Where are you guilty of turning aside from God?  How have you gotten back on track with God in the past?  How can you get back on track with God now in those areas that you aren’t pursuing Him?

Second Thought:

Paul says that together we have become engaged in behavior that is detrimental.  The word that is used here is a word that literally means “to be rendered useless.”  Think of milk that has spoiled.  Think of a board that is warped.  Paul’s point here is that the object takes on a character that is no longer useful for what the object is intended to do.  Through our rebellion against God, we have engaged in behavior that is detrimental to God’s purposes within us and for us.

What in your character makes it difficult for God to work in and through you?  Do you think it is possible for God to redeem those areas within you that are detrimental to His working?

Third Thought:

 There is not one who practices benevolence on their own.  This is a difficult and challenging teaching.  What Paul is essentially saying here is that we are all inherently self-mongers.  We are all inherently self-centered.  There isn’t one of us who would think of the needs of another person unless God first gives us the ability to do so.  This is a bleak perspective on humanity indeed.

Do you believe this to be true?  Does this mean that God has to be within a person in order for them to do anything good?  How might God be able to do good through people without them having to believe in Him first?  Was God able to do good things within you before you truly submitted to Him?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 3:13-18