Have you ever seen this verse? I’m working on edits for a study through Romans. And saw these 4 characteristics all in their own little verse at the end of a whole list of others. They caught my eye.

Sooooo lets do a little dive

Romans 1:31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Let’s define them a little further:

Foolish – undiscerning, lack of good judgement, be without wisdom

Faithless – untrustworthy, a lack of loyalty, unreliable

Heartless – unloving, lacking empathy, no concern for others

Ruthless – unforgiving and unmerciful, an absence of compassion, one who acts and reacts in a harsh and generally unkind manner

This is the end characteristics of what is called a debased mind. Debase is a word that means lower quality, even degraded. So, these characteristics are the end result of a low-quality mind that has been degraded. That is what sin does to us. Sin degrades us.

Strangely enough many who have these characteristics are also boastful about their display of them. As if it is something to be proud of.

Whoever exalts himself (proud) will be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles (lowers) himself will be exalted. (raised up)

Matt 23:12

Christ does something amazing through the cross. When we come through humility – the condition of lowering yourself, admitting your littleness of mind and your need for God – He exalts you.

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:5-7

God made a way for us and in Him we become:

WISE

FAITHFUL

COMPASSIONATE

MERCIFUL

Sounds a lot like the description of the Lord in Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Could it be – we could be – Christlike?

I can see areas I need to yield more. Thank you, Lord. Help me not to live ish, less, less, less.

Did you know ISH means being … how are we BEING or settling for less, less, less?

Thanks for Listening,
Starla