Tag: stumble
Peril in a rejection of knowledge!
Scripture reading for September 5: Hosea 4-6
“Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery. . .” Hosea 4:1-2a
“You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother–My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of Your God, I will also ignore your children.” Hosea 4:5-6
Hosea’s message to God’s adulterous people told them that they were unfaithful and unloving to Him. They knew what He required of them. Keeping His commandments was a sign of love in the Old Testament and the New! (John 15:9-10) The job of the priests was to live and teach the Word of God. Hosea told the priests that they had rejected the knowledge of God’s Word. It was a willful omission and so they would be willfully rejected by God–and He would also reject their children! When we reject or ignore God’s clear commandments, there are terrible consequences for us and our family as well!
God’s people are no different today! We are all called to be priests and kings before Him! (1st Peter 2:9-11) We are to show forth His praises by being a royal priesthood and a holy nation. When we curse, lie, steal, and commit adultery and murder, we show our lack of faithfulness and love. We are rejecting and ignoring our wonderful lover and faithful Father! These sins cut off our fellowship with God and also put stumbling blocks in front of our children who are watching our bad examples. (Hosea 4:5) There is great peril for our souls and for the souls of our children!
Our nation is stumbling today because of the failure of God’s people to live what they say they believe. Whole denominations of Christians are calling homosexuality practiced by their clergy acceptable before men and God! Many who call themselves Christians vote to put those in office who will keep on murdering our children through abortion. We are allowing politicians to steal our money from us to use for all kinds of projects that are against the Word and will of our God! We have been unfaithful and are in peril, not because we lack knowledge, but because we have rejected knowledge and ignored the laws of our God!
Repentance and faith are the only routes back from the perils we are discussing. If you have not lived your life according to God’s word, repent and ask Him to cleanse you. He is loving, faithful, and merciful! He can restore you! Pray for our nation and ask God for mercy! Only repentance can keep us from stumbling into destruction!
Love builds up!
Scripture reading for August 10th: 1st Corinthians 8, Psalm 9, Proverbs 4
1st Corinthians 8: 1-3 “Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”
Paul, writing to Christians in a culture of idolatry, cautioned them against spiritual pride and using their freedoms and “knowledge” in a manner that might cause weaker or younger believers to stumble. “Knowledge” puffs up a person with pride. Using even right knowledge that an idol is nothing and that food does not necessarily defile you, even if offered to an idol, could cause those who still believe that is defiling to stumble and violate their conscience. The law of love says that we follow the Holy Spirit in caring for others and limiting our freedoms that all might grow closer to Jesus Christ. When we love God in this way, God takes note and upholds each loving believer.
Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for being our stronghold in times of trouble and in this idolatrous culture. Help me daily to stay humble and avoid the trap of pride. May Your love flow in me by the Holy Spirit to love God and show love towards others seeing them built up in their faith. May we not stumble as we run the race of faith and follow Your path of wisdom and uprightness.
Proverbs 4:10-12 “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have lead you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.”
Check your heart for hatred!
Scripture reading for November 21st: 1st John 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st John 2:9-11 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
The devil is always stirring up emotions in the hearts of mankind. Because of the selfishness of the human heart because of sin, hatred towards one another abounds. Every person is made in the likeness of God and hatred towards another brother or sister is part of the world of darkness. This darkness blinds people and causes them to stumble and fall. Christ’s love alone can cleanse the heart from hatred. Hatred is the precursor of murder!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers guard their hearts against a return of the old nature and its evil desires and emotions of hatred. The live in the Light of Christ’s glory and mercy. “Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.” (Ezekiel 35:11)