God Gave Them Up

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. . . . And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:18, 28, ESV

GOD’S ANGER is not an out-of-control outburst over a petty matter. Instead, he is provoked to anger by that which destroys what he created in his image. Paul tells us in Romans 1:18 that God is even now revealing his anger against ungodliness and unrighteousness. Ungodliness is wanting to have nothing to do with God. And unrighteousness is a perverse reaction to what God commands —living a life that celebrates the opposite of his loving law.

So how does God show his anger toward those who don’t want anything to do with him? Three times we read in Romans 1 that God “gave them up.” God gives up those who don’t want to know him or obey him so that they are free to pursue lives away from him. He gives them up to what they want. He stands back and takes his hand off those who want his hand to be removed from their lives.

The good news that Paul presents in Romans, however, is that even though God “gave up” humanity to live apart from him, he did not give us up ultimately or forever. Instead he sent his Son into our godless and unrighteous world and gave him up to experience all the judgment we deserve. “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32).

God has not ultimately given us up or given up on us but has been patient in his anger so that we might come to him in repentance. And this is the patience we want to show to our children. Just as he kept reaching out to us in love, so we refuse to give up on our children but keep on reaching out to them in love.

God, if you were to give us up ultimately and forever, we would have no hope. But instead you are patient, kindly calling us to repentance. And because you have not given up on us, we will not give up on ________. Instead, we will be patient for you to work to bring about the change that you see fit. Today is a day for grace, not for giving up.