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“"No Double Jeopardy"”

Thoughts for Today:

In our passage today, Paul explains that his (and our) deliverance from the law was through a lawful process. (Ezekiel 18:20: "The one who sins is the one who will die. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.") The Law demanded death as the penalty for sin, and Jesus fulfilled that requirement by dying in our place. So although we deserve to be punished for our transgressions, it wouldn't be lawful for punishment to occur twice for the same offense. (In our legal system it would be called "double jeopardy".)

However, it is very important to remember that we were redeemed for a purpose. What is it? To live for Him. He didn't take on our punishment and set us free so we could just go back to doing our own thing. Yet, that is exactly the way so many Christians are living. Look around the school yard, at work, or in your neighborhood -- do Christians seem any different? Or are they cursing, yelling, lying, arguing, gossiping, and generally doing the same thing as those people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God? It's often hard to tell the believers from the unbelievers.

As Christians, we don't belong to ourselves any longer. We aren't our own. And we were purchased with a pretty hefty price tag. As a result, our sole purpose in life should be to respond in joyful obedience and service to Him. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.")

Questions to Ponder:

Are you living your life in ways that bring honor and glory to God? Are you treating your body in a way that values the gift God has given you? Is it a temple of the Holy Spirit? What can you do this week to change some of your habits?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.