Devotional:Hearty Approval:Romans 1:32

How do I respond when I see evil? Do I take a stand against evil or do I simply go along just to get along? Ron, a Registered Nurse asked to be transferred from his floor to another floor. He was granted his request. He was transferred to a floor that he had previously worked on. After Ron was working on his new floor he observed that some of the very sick patients were placed on DNR status. DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate. If the patient stops breathing do not take measures to keep the patient from dying. Do not put a tube down the patient’s nose or mouth so that oxygen can be forced into the lungs in hope that they will survive.

On one occasion Ron said to his fellow nurse that he did not approve of the patient being placed on DNR status. Larry, his fellow nurse asked him the reason that he had transferred to this particular floor. He knew that on this particular floor patients were placed on DNR status. Larry stated that he could have asked for a floor or clinic that did not provide care for patients on DNR. Ron did not answer Larry’s question. Ron shook his head and continued on his way.

When Paul said that there were people that gave their hearty approval for sinful acts, he meant that there are times when we do things that we know are wrong. We approve of sin acts even though we as individuals would not do it. We give a hearty approval because we want to be approved by others. Saul (Paul) did not throw one stone to kill Stephen. He gave his approval by holding the coats of those that threw the stones (See Acts 7:58-8:1). Paul showed his approval by being embolden to participate in the persecution of the church. Often times when we give approval, we become active participants in the sins.

Prayer: Lord, let us not give approval for sins committed by others. Amen.