1/5/15: Get Serious

We tend to make lots of promises to ourselves at the beginning of a new year. Some people scoff at the idea of resolutions, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with making a decision to do better. If the beginning of a new year just happens to be the time when we are reminded of ways in which we can improve, great! January first is a perfect time to listen to God’s voice to hear where He’s prompting us to go and what He’s calling us to do. Once His voice is discerned, our redeemed mind, body, and soul must get serious and be about the business of moving decidedly in God’s revealed direction. If we don’t, we will have problems.

God says, “Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror come” Proverbs 1:23-26 (NKJ). In other words, God makes known to us His word or direction. When we deafen our ears to His call, discount the nudges of His hand, disdain His counsel, and disregard His rebuke, He will allow calamity and terror to enter our experience.

Why do we think we can live in opposition to God’s word yet continue to enjoy the shelter of His hand? Don’t we realize we are dealing with a holy God who must act against sin to remain true to His own character? We are playing Russian Roulette with God’s blessing and favor each day we knowingly presume upon His mercy while slapping Him in the face with our willful disobedience. It’s like walking up to God face-to-face, waving our sin in front of Him, and flippantly remarking, “I know Jesus died carrying this sin for me; but, I’ve decided to take it back and live in it. What are You going to do about it?” The above Proverbs passage answers, letting us know that when God sees such an attitude, He laughs at the troubles we bring upon ourselves.

Turn when God rebukes us so we’ll experience the pouring out of His Spirit in our circumstances. Let’s get serious about living for the Master by lining up every area of our life with His revealed word.

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©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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