What’s Taking So Long?
Is God’s Word worth listening to? I wonder about that when those of us who claim to be Christians agree with things the Bible disagrees with, or we do things the Bible says is wrong. How can we justify persisting in performing actions, making decisions, and holding beliefs that contradict the inspired Word of God? It seems as though we’re becoming callous because we don’t see disastrous results immediately. Ecclesiastes 8:11 warns, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (NKJ).
I think maybe we don’t fully understand the extent to which our lives are not our own. Or maybe the disconnect happens because we don’t really grasp the enormity of the fact that we are children of the ultimate Master of the universe. If we indeed knew who we were—saints of the most high God—lining our lives up with our identity would be no problem. We wouldn’t be perfect all the time, but when we did fall and fail, we would be quick to get up and get right rather than wallow in the mud of our defeat. As soon as God’s word was brought to mind related to a sin in our lives, we’d immediately line ourselves up to it with no hesitation. Neither personal feelings, nor cultural norms, nor societal pressures should be able to obstruct our instantaneous passage back to obedience.
Be encouraged and emboldened today to take the Word of God seriously. Realize the blessing of Proverbs 13:13. “Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded” (ESV). It’s time we stop taking so long to get things right. Worship God for both His warning about the self-destruction of ignoring the Word, and His promise of reward based upon obedience to it.
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©2014 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.
Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
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at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
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