Tag: disobedience
Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Scripture reading for May 30th: Romans 11, Psalm 107, Proverbs 14
Romans 11: 32-36 “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
Paul ends his discourse on his desire for the salvation of his own people, the Jews, with this summary and worship. God’s wisdom is wiser than any human wisdom. His knowledge and understanding of man and his deepest needs stretches human ability to comprehend. Because of the darkness of sin over the human mind and soul, there is no man who has not sinned and who is able to advise God! There is nothing we can do or give to God to repay Him, because He has created it all and owns it all! All we can do is worship Him for His amazing grace and His work on our behalf through creation and the cross!
Psalm 107:19-21 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing my cry and the cries of the disobedient and hurting throughout our history. Thank You for providing the answer to my greatest need, Your mercy given as a gift of grace through Your Son Jesus Christ! I humbly accept all You have provided and honor You with holy reverence and worship! Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done for all who call upon Your Name! Amen!
Proverbs 14:30 “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
Thankful for an obedient heart!
Scripture reading for August 30th: Jeremiah 41-44
Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 42:19-22 “”O remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything He says and we will do it. I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all He sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle (Egypt).””
Jeremiah had been asked by the leaders of the remnant left in Jerusalem whether they should stay there under the Babylonian rule or go to Egypt. Jeremiah prayed and God answered: ‘Stay in Jerusalem.’ But the leaders knew better than God. God warned them what would happen if they went but they chose to disobey! Rebellion is stubborn and won’t listen to reason!
Lord, give me and obedient heart: “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold silver, bronze, stone and wood–idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20-21)
A wake-up call from God!
Scripture reading for April 25: 2nd Chronicles 10-12
Have you ever slept through an important event or meeting that you were supposed to attend? Have you shut the alarm off or hit the “snooze” button and then failed to make it to work or an important gathering? King Rehoboam got an unusual “wake-up” call from a prophet of God and a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, and his 1200 chariots! (2nd Chronicles 12:3) Sometimes the wake-up call is death staring us in the face!
The problem with Rehoboam was his failure to keep regular appointments with God and obedience to God’s law after he was established and became strong. (2nd Chronicles 12:1-2) Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne. But he failed to listen to wise advice and evidently failed to seek the Lord and obey His law. Instead he sought the advice of his own peers and sought his own way and welfare over the welfare of the people God had entrusted to him. We may get by doing this for a while, but soon our sins find us out.
When we disobey the Lord, we open the door to Satan’s attack. Rehoboam found himself under attack by Shishak, King of Egypt. Shishak had 1200 chariots and many hired warriors. God sent a prophet named Shemaiah to warn Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. Upon hearing the Word of the Lord, the king and the leaders humbled themselves and God relented of destroying them. He did allow Shishak to carry off the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace. (2nd Chronicles 12:6-9) The king and the people became subjects of Egypt.
Rehoboam heard the wake-up call and responded temporarily. He was spared destruction but did not truly repent. He continued to do evil in God’s eyes and failed to set his heart on seeking the Lord in everything. (2nd Chronicles 12:14)
This is a sad story that is repeated often in our time as well. Many have divided loyalties and God sends his “wake-up” calls. Sometimes we humble ourselves and repent but often we go right back to doing the same old things that cause us to not seek the Lord fully. If you have trouble in this area today, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Take this message as your “wake-up” call and respond with all your heart! You wouldn’t want to miss the most important appointment in all eternity!