March 18 (Ezekiel 16:49)

Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. (NIV)
Who says the Bible is irrelevant to the modern age? Exchange the name of Sodom with your country, your state, or your city, and the verse will read the same. The modern arrogance by which we scream for our own attention amidst an ever-deafening din of narcissism enabled by social media makes the hubris of the Roman emperors seem humble. If statistics on obesity are not enough for us to realize that we are overfed, then ask your grandmother about portion sizes in her day. As for whether we are unconcerned, that hardly needs consideration. There is plenty of money for education and fighting poverty with the billions we spend on pornography, alcohol, and cigarettes.

Now, how does it feel to be compared with Sodom? This city is so infamous for its evil that it has become a byword even today. We may feel shocked, hurt, or angry. We may be offended, tempted to list all that is good in our society. When the emotions have settled, however, the clear light of truth exposes the accuracy of this comparison.

The wonderful, powerful thing about following Jesus is that we never need to wallow in such feelings. We can confess our sins, confident in His forgiveness, and with His strength repent and do differently. Imagine what would happen when one Christian did this. What about one small group, one church, or the body of Christ in one community? Instead of being Sodom, we can be a light on a hill. The grace to do so comes from God. The choice is ours.

Father, forgive me for carelessly falling into the sins of this age. By Your grace, help me to live as You would have me to do. May I be the salt and light that You have called me to be. In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins