Obedience
16 The descendants of Jehonadab
son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them,
but these people have not obeyed me.’
17 “Therefore this is what the Lord
God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on
Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced
against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to
them, but they did not answer.’”
18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord
Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your
forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have
done everything he ordered.’ 19 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’” Jeremiah 35:16-19
Do you find it hard sometimes to be obedient? Maybe at times you
struggle and your mind tends to slip away from the focus being on what
God wants for you. Or, it could be a time when you try and make a deal
with God that you will do whatever it is later, whether reading His Word
or helping someone who really needs it. With either scenario, your
lack of obedience tends to create a separation you have made by turning
your back on God and this falls right into the enemy's hands. He wants
you to be disobedient and not follow the path God sets out for you. The
enemy also wants you to make deals with God, when we all know God does
not make deals. So how do we battle our own disobedience? Take a look
at this scripture from Jeremiah. The Rekabites, a relatively obscure
group of people in the Bible, were told many years earlier not to
partake of wine, not by God, but by their forefathers. God uses these
people as an example to the people of Judah who were being disobedient.
If the Rekabites could be obedient to their forefathers, why couldn't
the people of Judah be obedient to God who had provided them
everything? Through their disobedience these people of Judah suffered
and the Rekabites were promised to always be able to serve God because
of their obedience. If you get a chance today, read the entire chapter
in Jeremiah, I think you will see an interesting picture of obedience
and reward. It is not easy sometimes to be obedient, because we let the
enemy put doubt in our minds. It is now important to think about how you
can be obedient to God and not turn your back on Him and all He has
given us.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Fantastic Friday #407 - Complacent
Complacent
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-6
Do you have the experience of knowing or seeing people who are really pleased with themselves, or they are overly satisfied with their situation? Do you know people who seem to act like they know it all about God and what God has planned for their life? I look at the life of Paul who was humble and never seemed satisfied with just living a life that focused on his needs, but more on needs of others and making sure others knew about Jesus. His friend Timothy was urged to give instructions to the church about opposing false teachers. He also gave instruction on how to worship, church leadership, and basically how to devote yourself to God. In some ways he was stern and bold, but he was not overly satisfied with his own circumstances and felt led to share what God wanted him to share. When people get overly satisfied with themselves, they tend to get complacent. Complacency can make them forget who they are in Christ. It is important not to be complacent, but focus your efforts on Godliness, because as verse 6 says, this along with contentment provides great gain. No complacency allowed.
Have a great weekend.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-6
Do you have the experience of knowing or seeing people who are really pleased with themselves, or they are overly satisfied with their situation? Do you know people who seem to act like they know it all about God and what God has planned for their life? I look at the life of Paul who was humble and never seemed satisfied with just living a life that focused on his needs, but more on needs of others and making sure others knew about Jesus. His friend Timothy was urged to give instructions to the church about opposing false teachers. He also gave instruction on how to worship, church leadership, and basically how to devote yourself to God. In some ways he was stern and bold, but he was not overly satisfied with his own circumstances and felt led to share what God wanted him to share. When people get overly satisfied with themselves, they tend to get complacent. Complacency can make them forget who they are in Christ. It is important not to be complacent, but focus your efforts on Godliness, because as verse 6 says, this along with contentment provides great gain. No complacency allowed.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Fantastic Friday #406 - Magnificence
Magnificence
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent. Isaiah 28:23-29
When I began looking at this week's writing and scripture, I thought about just including verse 29. The more I read over and over again, I could not ignore verses 23-28 because of the full picture this grouping of verses show. I think magnificent is a great word that is underutilized in our society today. We may say that something is great, awesome, or just cool, but how many of us use the word magnificent to describe our view of something. If you look closely at this scripture, it paints a picture of a farmer who is being guided by the Lord to work and provide grain for food. It gives full credit to our Lord Almighty for all these actions that this farmer performs. How many of us look at our daily work or families as being full of magnificence. Maybe we don't look at these things in this way because we are looking at them as human-controlled and not God-controlled. If we view our Father as the Wonderful God He is; and we view His wisdom and creation as being full of magnificence, then maybe our view of work and family would be changed. Take a look at your magnificent life and family and realize that the magnificence comes from God and not you.
Have a great weekend.
23 Listen and hear my voice;
pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
and teaches him the right way.
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent. Isaiah 28:23-29
When I began looking at this week's writing and scripture, I thought about just including verse 29. The more I read over and over again, I could not ignore verses 23-28 because of the full picture this grouping of verses show. I think magnificent is a great word that is underutilized in our society today. We may say that something is great, awesome, or just cool, but how many of us use the word magnificent to describe our view of something. If you look closely at this scripture, it paints a picture of a farmer who is being guided by the Lord to work and provide grain for food. It gives full credit to our Lord Almighty for all these actions that this farmer performs. How many of us look at our daily work or families as being full of magnificence. Maybe we don't look at these things in this way because we are looking at them as human-controlled and not God-controlled. If we view our Father as the Wonderful God He is; and we view His wisdom and creation as being full of magnificence, then maybe our view of work and family would be changed. Take a look at your magnificent life and family and realize that the magnificence comes from God and not you.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Fantastic Friday #405- Senses
Senses
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
I wonder if when people say "come back to your senses" they actually know what they are saying. What are senses anyway? Touch, taste, see, smell and hear are all senses, and when they are put all together they are a very powerful force. What happens when we ignore what the Lord commands, and only focus on something bad that makes us feel good for a short period? Sometimes our senses deceive us to take the wrong path. Have you ever thought of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit guides you and your senses? Sometimes we get caught up in what other people are doing by watching them and if these people are of bad character we can easily ignore what we should be doing and follow them. All the while the Holy Spirit is nudging us not to participate in this poor behavior. Kind of like a sense that overpowers the other five if we listen and feel what the Spirit is doing in us. Don't be misled by your senses or others, but be led by the Spirit.
Have a great weekend.
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
I wonder if when people say "come back to your senses" they actually know what they are saying. What are senses anyway? Touch, taste, see, smell and hear are all senses, and when they are put all together they are a very powerful force. What happens when we ignore what the Lord commands, and only focus on something bad that makes us feel good for a short period? Sometimes our senses deceive us to take the wrong path. Have you ever thought of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit guides you and your senses? Sometimes we get caught up in what other people are doing by watching them and if these people are of bad character we can easily ignore what we should be doing and follow them. All the while the Holy Spirit is nudging us not to participate in this poor behavior. Kind of like a sense that overpowers the other five if we listen and feel what the Spirit is doing in us. Don't be misled by your senses or others, but be led by the Spirit.
Have a great weekend.
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