Archive for the ‘Disobedience’ Category

SEEING GOD

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Day 134
“Having his eyes open”
Numbers 24:4

Balaam’s career was somewhat checkered. It seems he tried to use God to his own selfish purposes, but always ended up doing what God had instructed him. Interestingly, the scriptures give accounts of others doing the same. Jonah was assigned a mission, but ran away. God dramatically delivered him right back to where he had to go and after fulfilling his mission successfully, he sat under a tree depressed and complaining.

Esther wasn’t interested in putting herself on line with the King to save her people. Elijah ran away after carrying out a major mission for God. Joshua got his men killed because he didn’t take counsel with God. Moses killed a man and later in life struck a rock in anger. Two disciples wanted to call fire down from heaven. Peter denied knowing Christ three times. The list goes on and on.

The acts of these men and women varied in depth. But everyone had their eyes opened to see their God. He didn’t strike out in anger, punish them or reject them. Instead, God met them in patience, tenderness and love. He took time to reason with them. He led them to His way.

“The Lord redeemeth the soul of His
servants; and none of them that
trust in Him shall be desolate”
Psalm 34:22

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DECEPTION

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Day 128

“The men of Israel sampled the provisions,
but did not inquire of the Lord”
Joshua 9:14

God has given us the Holy Spirit not only as a guarantee of our inheritance in Him, but as a guide for our life. He has equipped us with everything we need to walk through our life. Then why do so many Christians struggle and seem to have great difficulty in their walks? The Old Testament, written for our benefit, may help us answer this question.

There is a great story in the book of Joshua about troubles in their life and how a bad decision was made that led to continued troubles. The people and Joshua made a pact with the Hivites without consulting the Lord. It had been established, through explicit instructions, that if they needed to discern God’s will they were to consult God by going to Eleazar the priest, who would consult the Lord for them [Numbers 27:21]. But, they didn’t do this. Their decision was made in their own strength and on their own initiative. The sin was not in being deceived, but in disobedience by not seeking God’s counsel.

Today, in the age of grace and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we should know God’s will. By consulting the Lord and waiting on his direction, we have less reason than ever to be deceived, and make unwise or unrighteous choices. The Word clearly states He has given us everything! We are fully equipped. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our good Father has set us free through Jesus Christ to walk in His salvation with peace and joy.

“Live by the Spirit”
Galatians 5:16

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THE LORD’S PASSION – PART 1

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Day 111

“He might be the firstborn among many brethren”
Romans 8:29b

Great respect was given by the Old Testament households to the firstborn. He had headship over his brothers, authority over younger members of the household, succeeded to the father’s authority, special claim to the father’s blessing, and he received a double portion of inheritance. It meant foremost in time, place, order and importance.

Was Jesus the first firstborn? No, He wasn’t. Adam was. Created in His image and likeness for fellowship, God gave man preeminence over every living thing and over the earth itself. More importantly, God created Adam a living being with a free will. He did this to bring the highest order of creation in man. But, Adam was not proven. There were choices before him. Out of everything given to Adam, there was one thing he was instructed not to do. He made a choice and it wasn’t for God. Because of this sin, Adam lost his birthright. He became a living soul. He was not saved. And the word tells us that by him came death to all men (1 Corinthians 15:21).

Adam’s choice made it impossible for man to be saved. Man cannot save himself. Sin blocked that road. God’s divine plan, which was set before creation came into existence, did not change. God chose who was to be His. But, when man could not save himself, He sent His only Son to become the firstborn among many of brethren. He sent Jesus to be the second Adam and firstborn of a new race!

“Both the One who makes holy and those
who are made holy are of the same
family. So Jesus is not ashamed
to call them brothers”
Hebrews 2:11

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GOD’S PEOPLE

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

Day 104

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery”
Romans 11:25a

God’s plan was and is to have a people who are his. This was his plan from the beginning and it didn’t change because Adam and Eve broke fellowship through disobedience. Through Abraham he established a race to be His own. He loved His people, nurtured them and continually sent leaders to help them. He set them free when they got into bondage. He delivered them from their enemies. He gave them their own land. But the worse happened; he sent His only Son and they killed Him.

Did He reject them? No. Not only did He not reject them, but He has prepared them for another day. And here is the amazing revelation of our Father God’s nature – today the Jews are enemies of the gospel, but because He elected them, they are loved by God and will be saved! We were once disobedient and now have received mercy. And God will have mercy on them as He has on us.

It defies our understanding to fathom the depths of our God and His mercy. It goes counter to how we see things. Yet, this is the goodness of God. His love has no boundaries. And Paul says, “how unsearchable His judgements.”

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Romans 11:36

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GOD’S COVERING

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Day 50

“And the Lord God made garments of skin for
Adam and his wife, and clothed them”
Genesis 3:21

Adam and Eve disobeyed God on the one and only condition He gave them; that they did not eat of the tree of knowledge. They lost their covering when they sinned, and became aware of their own nakedness. They hid When God called them because of their sin and nakedness.

Read carefully what God does; He deals with their sin. But after a lengthy pronouncement of judgment, He makes provision for them. He makes garments of skin to cover their nakedness. The Creator of the universe, God Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, has compassion on Adam and Eve. He graciously intervenes by providing adequate protection to the vulnerable couple. The protection – the garments – cover their embarrassment and help preserve them in the new and hostile environment.

God’s provision of covering for Adam and Eve was obtained by the slaying of an animal. This first slaying of an animal foreshadowed the Old Testament system of animal sacrifices for sin, and ultimately the blood shed by Christ for us. What a God He is! Man rebels against Him, and in response He provides a covering! Make no mistake; sin brought consequences and loss, but He was determined to redeem His children.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
2 Corinthians 5:21

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LOVE FOR DISOBEDIENCE

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Day 22

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Hebrews 12:6

Hebrews 12 delivers the very heart and purpose of God’s chastisements in our lives.

It is His Love for us.

We come to understand that His chastisement is meant to train us for perfection and peace. Consider this: we must first have been disobedient to need chastisement. With that in mind, the greater glory of our Heavenly Father’s love becomes clear.

The reward for disobedience is not rejection or removal from life. No, to a child of God, the reward for disobedience is love. This chastisement love may not be pleasant when it hits, but it is still love. It is the love of a good father.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness”
Jeremiah 33:3

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