Unfit - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.
Romans 3:12

Unfit
A scene from my military recruitment has remained firmly in my memory. I was sitting in a row of young men on a long bench. After going through various medical examinations, we waited for the final decision of the officer on duty. Without much privacy, one by one we were called to appear before the officer. He examined everyone briefly and then made the final judgment: either “fit” or “unfit”.

The word “unfit” or “unprofitable” also appears in today’s verse. It reminds us that God has judged us human beings – each and every one of us. He has pronounced the same judgment on everyone: “unfit”. There is no exception. This is hard for us to swallow. We are unfit for God. As we are by nature, He cannot use us: sin has corrupted everything!

But God not only passes this just sentence, He also shows us the way to become useful or profitable to Him. In 1 John 1:9 He says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then we are like Onesimus, of whom Paul writes: “Onesimus, … who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me” (Philemon 10–11).

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 8:54-66 · John 7:25-36