Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (Hebrews 2).
Failure to pay close attention to important details could lead to costly errors. Mistakes can be avoided when we dot our i’s and cross our t’s. We learn from the failures of others so that we don’t repeat them. In order to be efficient in our daily responsibilities, we have to stay focused; make sure we have everything we need, follow directions and execute our duties assiduously.
“Privileges come with responsibilities.”
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His Goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again (Romans 11).
The Israelites were ordained by God to be His people, by Covenant. They were to keep His Commandments, love and serve Him, as their only God. Instead, they rebelled and made themselves idol gods, followed the pagan ways of the nations around them, and refused to listen to His messengers. They were the natural branches that had the privilege of having God in the midst of all their affairs. Privileges come with responsibilities. Since the fall of Israel, God began to reach out to the whole world with His Goodness. He grafted the rest of us into the promises of His Goodness, as wild branches.
We must not take for granted the promises we have been accorded with His people. If God didn’t spare Israel, He will not wink at our disobedience. He made us co-heirs of the promises and inheritance, through His Son, Jesus Christ. We can’t be lackadaisical about His Goodness. We must dread being cut off; just as the natural branches were disqualified, because of unbelief. Learning from the failures of others will keep us from repeating them. We have been privileged to be numbered among His people. We have to take seriously the responsibility God has laid on us—faith and obedience. He has called us His sons and daughters; established us in The Covenant that was made by the shedding of The Blood of His Son. This is a precious and priceless purchase of our souls. Therefore, we must live circumspectly, as heirs of God’s Kingdom.
8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You (Psalm 143).
Our first encounters in the morning will determine how well we start our day. What do you listen to, first thing in the morning? Seeking The Lord and His Wisdom gives strength to face the day. Listen quietly in His Presence and learn the way which you should walk. Indulge in His Wisdom, so that you are equipped to handle situations with integrity. Lift your soul to Him so that He can examine it; to see if there’s any false way that will trip you up. Seek God’s Words early and put your confidence in Him alone.
“Learning from the failures of others will keep us from repeating them.”
6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My Words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you (Ezekiel 2).”
God commanded Ezekiel to boldly speak to the Israelites, what God told him. Ezekiel was told not to fear them nor to be dismayed by their response. Diligence inspires boldness in the face of opposition. When God asks us to do something, we should not be worried about the response of those who will oppose us. God wants us to listen to Him, even if every one else has tuned Him out. He requires us to respond to what He reveals. Though others may object, we have to do what He mandates. Rebellion is neglecting to act on God’s Words. Like Ezekiel we are to speak to those God puts in our hearts, whether they listen or not. Our only concern is to obey. Do not be rebellious; open your mouth and speak what God reveals.
20 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His Voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My Name is in Him. 22 But if you indeed obey His Voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries (Exodus 23).
God sent His Angel ahead of Israel to guide them and instruct them, before they entered the promised land. There’s a place that God has prepared for each of us—the place of His Purpose. He doesn’t let us wander helplessly through life; He goes ahead of us and gives us instructions. If we hang on every word, we are on track to succeed. He promises that He will fight for us as long as we do our bit. He will be an enemy to our adversaries, because we are diligent to follow after Him. Obedience is our responsibility, while battles are His. So don’t be encumbered by adversaries, who are beyond your purview. If we play our part well, we will have His Victory. We must also remember that He will not tolerate disobedience.
“Diligence inspires boldness in the face of opposition.”
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the Command of The Lord they remained encamped, and at the Command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of The Lord, at the Command of The Lord, by the hand of Moses (Numbers 9).
How long are we willing to wait for God’s cue? At the Command of The Lord, the children of Israel were to take their journey or stay put. There’s usually a rush to get things done, to start something new, or to do something risky. If God has not opened a door of opportunity, then we must wait until He does. If He has not moved things in the direction we want to go, then He may be biding His time. Waiting perks up our ears to any slight changes. God made Israelites wait and watch intently for the cloud’s movement. Waiting kept them attuned to God’s next move. This is why God doesn’t answer some prayers right away; He wants us to keep our attention locked on Him. He gets the attention He would not otherwise get, if we had no need. At His Command we will take our journey; but never go forward apart from Him.
“Rebellion is neglecting to act on God’s Words.”
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10).
We stay out of trouble by taking heed to instructions, and making sure we don’t repeat the mistakes that others make. We need to speak and act on what God tells us. Though we are likely to make enemies in our ambition to succeed in life, we have God on our side. As long as we are earnest to heed God’s dictates, He will gives us victory. We must seek Him first and early, before we take another step forward. He is our guide and protector. He will not brook rebellion, so we must be careful to do as He Commands. We must not forfeit our inheritance by negligence, but keep in close step with Him. By listening and obeying, we have the ability to succeed in life.
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am The Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. 18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, and the offspring of your body like the grains of sand. His name would not have been cut off, nor destroyed from before Me (Isaiah 48).”
It’s easier for people to look at an accomplishment as a whole, rather than the sum of the parts involved. With time, it’s harder to remember someone else’s efforts that may have ensured our success. It’s important to acknowledge invaluable support we received, especially in those tough times. If we don’t keep memories of those who helped us during challenging times, we will forget their efforts. By creating a memorial, we honor the kindness and support that others gave.
“God gives victory to those who are willing to preserve His memory.”
9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent Hadoram, his son to King David; to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to The Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations—from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek (1 Chronicles 18).
God gave David victory over his adversaries in the wars he fought with Edom, Moab, Philistines and Amalek. Upon hearing about David’s rip-roaring success, king Tou sent David gifts of gold, silver and bronze. David didn’t furnish his palace with them, nor did he have them smelted to adorn himself with; he instead dedicated them to The LORD. He took also of the spoils from the nations he defeated and dedicated them to God. David understood that God had preserved him by fighting for him. He expressed his gratitude by honoring God with all his gains.
How often we forget the fervent prayers we made to God, when we had no other hope. Remember to thank God as much as you ask of Him. When God comes through for us, we should acknowledge His Goodness. Have you dedicated to God some of your accomplishments? Don’t usurp the glory from Him. Gratitude is the acknowledgement of good done by others. Dedicating a portion of the victory to God’s honor, shows humility. God gives victory to those who are willing to preserve His memory.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of The Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever (Joshua 4).”
On the way to the promised land, The LORD commanded Joshua to send twelve men representing the tribes of Israel, into the midst of the Jordan, to take up stones to commemorate it being cut off. The LORD had caused the overflowing Jordan to stand us a heap and create a highway for the Israelites, to cross over. The twelve men went ahead, as the priests stood in the midst of it, and picked up the stones. These were not pebbles; they were heavy stones that had to be carried on their shoulders. These would be a memorial to teach the next generations how The LORD had separated the waters so that they could cross to the promised land.
Memorials are not just for us but for the generations coming after us, to retain a relic of our past. Maybe you don’t have a memorial, but you may have a story to tell about great experiences that you have had with God. There are situations we thought we could never get out of, but for God, we would have come to grief. Are we defining God to the next generation, by retailing what He has done for us? The less we tell others, the less we will remember. We should be narrating good experiences more than we do bad ones. People will remember the good as much as they do the bad. There’s so much of God’s Goodness to recount each day. Just like the Israelites, we should be speaking to the next generation about what God has done for us, daily. It will lift up our spirits and it will give them hope to trust in Him, in their own circumstances. We don’t have to wait to share a big miracle; each day has it’s small mercies to be grateful for.
“Remember to thank God as much as you ask of Him.”
7 Then The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to The LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to The LORD and called on The Name of The LORD (Genesis 12).
At the place where God made a promise to Abram, Abram built an altar to The LORD. Abram had just set foot in Canaan, he had no children, and was not a resident of Canaan, when God promised to give the land to him and his descendants. Abram believed God and right there he worshipped Him. Abram took God at His word and built Him an altar at the place of promise—there he called on The Name of The LORD.
If we first have to see prayers answered we will not worship God. Faith honors God for things not yet seen. Make the place of promise an altar to seek God. What of the place God has blessed you, have you made it a place of His Honor? Did you get that house, job, marriage or promotion? Turn it into a place to seek Him, as a reminder of His Faithfulness. Make it a place of exuding faith in Him, for everything else you need.
“The less we tell others, the less we will remember.”
10 And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the works of The LORD. Surely, I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds (Psalm 77).
We can’t ignore the reality of our troubles and pain, by denying how we feel. We have to admit when we are hurting; that things aren’t the way we would have liked them to be. But we must choose not to let fear, sadness and anxiety get the best of us. In our anguish we should remember God’s Love, Mercy and Goodness. Instead of meditating on the things we have no power changing or controlling, we can remind ourselves of God’s Faithfulness. We can encourage ourselves by clinging to the moments He never failed us . This will change our mood and turn our focus away from sullen, to hopeful. Memories of God’s Greatness are a tower of refuge in troubled times.
8 Oh, give thanks to The LORD! Call upon His Name. Make known His deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His Holy Name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek The LORD! (1 Chronicles 16)
What could be a better pick-me-up than singing and rejoicing? Talking of God’s wondrous works will keep us from losing steam. Glory in His Name by basking in His Fame. Those who seek The LORD are made glad by Who He is. They call upon Him with confidence in Him. How can one not rejoice after they have sought The Great King? Will He not let His children delight in His Goodness? Talk about His Abilities, instead of your uncertainty. If you can’t rejoice in your circumstances, you can rejoice in The LORD. If you can’t be thankful for your distressing situation, consider being thankful to The LORD; Who has you in His Loving Arms. Like any loving father, He will move heaven and earth to help us. He will never forsake us. He can use others as vehicles of His Love, because He cannot fail us.
“Memories of God’s Greatness are a tower of refuge in troubled times.”
8 Yes, in the way of Your Judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You. The desire of our soul is for Your Name and for the remembrance of You (Isaiah 26).
If we can wait for God to answer us by trying to obey Him, we will have given ourselves something better to do. We opt out of worrying by focusing our energy on obedience. The desire of our souls should be to honor His Name. What if you prayed this way everyday? “LORD my greatest desire is the remembrance of You.” That would make every situation we face a remembrance of Him. It would mean we would be asking God to make a Great Name for Himself—well-renowned for what He can do. As we wait in obedience, He continues to exceed expectations.
“Make the place of promise an altar to seek God.”
We should not forget what The LORD has done for us. Every place of future or fulfilled promise is a place to worship. Memories we share with our loved ones, will keep us from doubting Him. The next generation will need hope for today and the future. We can leave them with relics of our past experiences of God’s Greatness. In our troubling times, it will benefit us greatly to focus our energy on God’s Faithfulness, by encouraging ourselves to cling to Him. Each day is an opportunity to live in obedience and to give God’s Name a place of honor. As much as we have to take the good with the bad, of what each moment gives us, we can choose to speak of God’s Goodness. Our past encounters with God should be etched in our minds. They will keep us in good stead, when we have no control of everything else.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to You. My soul longs for You like a thirsty land (Psalm 143).
7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32).
It may seem like there’s no hope for all the suffering, sorrow and hurt around us. Bad news has become fodder for the news media, as it’s churned out all day long. We get sucked in by the negative streaming of information, then begin to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. We can be overly stimulated by what we ingest repeatedly, by listening to it over and over again. It’s important to curtail how much we take in. In all the hurt and suffering around us, we should try to find a glimmer of hope. We also have our own share of troubles. Somehow, we have to steel ourselves to cope with it all. When we are in over our heads, we need strength and provision beyond our means.
“Be content in what God can do.”
19 He shall deliver you in six troubles. Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. 20 In famine He shall redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine, and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth (Job 5).
Trouble is inevitable, but God will not allow us to be consumed by it. God never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. Though they may be buffeted by many trials, He will deliver His people, time and again. In the midst of famine and war, He will redeem His own from death and destruction. We should be encouraged by God’s Goodness. We can rest in God, by choosing to rejoice in His unfailing Love, even in the midst of disasters. There’s nothing funny about troubles, but if we make God our hiding place, we can be glad in His Presence. There’s a sanctum for the weary—a place of refuge that tunes out the ominous din of misfortunes. We don’t know how things will pan out, but we are certain of our God. Though destruction may pervade us, Almighty God is still in control. In the face of trouble, God always wins. God is no match for any war, famine or disaster—He is our shield and fortress. Choose joy and victory in place of fear. The Maker of every moment is God at all times. He is Great, because He is God by Himself, and He never fails.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so Great a God as our God? 14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your Strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled (Psalm 77).
The Mighty One of Jacob, does great wonders for His people. It is during the most difficult trials, that He proves Himself to those who trust in Him. When we depend only on God for deliverance, He arms us with His Strength. He is honored when we trust in Him. In every situation, He reassures us that there is no other Deliverer. He puts to shame the things that afflict us. Creation trembles before His Presence and Majesty. We must remember that Greater is He that is for us, than any force against us. The battles we face are opportunities for God to reveal Himself. We should be able to laugh at the prospect of victory. How much peace we could have, if we turned our attention to God’s inimitable Abilities? May The Most High God be revealed in your time of uncertainty! He is the only One we can lean on; while every distressing situation seems fickle—He remains Faithful.
“The Maker of every moment is God at all times.”
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. That you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His Power toward us who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places; 21 Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1).
If we are willing, we will know the riches given to us who believe in The Father of Glory. He has given us an inheritance, which is access to His exceeding great Power—the same Power that raised Christ from the dead. This Power is made available to us. This is far above any other power, in the realm of things seen and unseen, in every dominion in Heaven or Earth. Our inheritance is not our suffering, but the manifestation of God’s Might in it. The hope of our calling is to know the riches of God’s Glory. We can only know what we are willing to experience for ourselves.
Our inheritance is irrevocable and independent of our circumstance. Have you experienced God’s Power yet? We have not been set apart to just muddle through this life, but to use everything made available to us from the Kingdom of God. We have assurance of having everything in Christ Jesus, as sons and daughters. Though we face trials, we are being equipped from above. Our supply is the riches of God’s Glory. We are not constrained to earthly reservoirs; we have a surfeit of heavenly resources. We are uplifted by our hope in God’s Providence.
“The battles we face are opportunities for God to reveal Himself.”
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His Glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for The Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified (1 Peter 4).
Suffering for Christ is common for all believers. They stick out like a sore thumb and can make others uncomfortable; because they have different priorities and views on life. As Christians continue to live by the courage of their convictions, they become a target for those who oppose them. We are told to rejoice, because the criticism and attacks from others, is evidence that we have The Spirit of God and Glory on us. If it were not so, they would not mind us one bit. By enduring the reproaches, we are partaking in Christ’s suffering and becoming one with Him— For He suffered in the hands of His accusers. We can rejoice in the taunting and ridiculing because we glorify Christ in us.
“We are uplifted by our hope in God’s Providence.”
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever (Psalm 30).
When we cry out to God for help, we give up control in exchange for His help. So why not start rejoicing, because it’s no longer up to us. Turn your mourning into a song of praise and thanksgiving, because the burden is no longer yours to carry. Be content in what God can do. Take off the garments of sorrow and put on joy. Give thanks for God’s Mercies which never run dry. Give thanks to God forever.
Though this life is full of terrible surprises, coupled with all sorts of reactions from people, we can still live above all of it. We are found in Christ, Who is seated above the heavens. So, in all things hurtful, painful, and sorrowful, we can find solace in what we focus our energy on. The antidote to the droopy and foreboding uncertainty, is a revitalizing restorative. So, tune out the deluge of negative emotions and information. We have access to glorious riches, peace and power, in the heavenly places. In Christ, we can rejoice no matter what is thrown at us, even criticism for boldly living out our convictions. We have The Spirit of God and Glory, that makes us complete. Uplifting begins by turning our thoughts to the things that stir up peace. Remember that the present is not just gloomy, but there’s still plenty of good, to be grateful for.
“Though we face trials, we are being equipped from above.”
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned, received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4).
Within a second, our ears have received many sounds that are sent to our brain for processing. We can differentiate sound, discern what direction it’s coming from, who is speaking, and whether it is a cause for alarm, even before we go towards it. From all the noise around us, we are selective about what is of importance. When we pay close attention to sound, we are no longer just hearing it but listening. Listening is a skillful art. It requires rapt attention to catch specific details of what we hear. We can’t listen while we are speaking or thinking about something else—we must put aside all distraction. There’s a mine of information we can retain, if we hear intently and act on it. We listen with our minds when we read words out of a page. We hear ourselves narrating what is written and choose how to respond.
“The Word of God is our best source of nourishment for the soul.”
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1).
People are drawn to the information which can reinforce their knowledge or can teach them something new or exciting. Most people will take time to listen or read what they consider pertinent to their well-being. If we put aside distraction, we can pick up invaluable information that can greatly benefit us. What are you reading to profit your soul? Whatever we feed our mind will motivate us to do what will benefit the body and soul. But the body is temporary, while the soul is eternal. These bodies were not meant to last; hence all the aches, pains, slumping, atrophying of tissues and muscles, and loss of senses, as we age.
“Listening is a skillful art.”
We have to do whatever is necessary to keep our souls in what will profit beyond this life. The Word of God is our best source of nourishment for the soul. There are a lot of diets out there; to help those with different ailments, food allergies and intolerances, that also increase longevity. There’s only one diet for our soul—The Word of God. As we try to sustain our bodies by avoiding intake of high levels of destructive food, we should not neglect to be as earnest with what we feed our souls. We must nourish our souls with Scripture so that we can get to live for eternity. We have to be not just hearers of the Word, but do what it says. The Word reveals our condition so that we can do something about it. Just as one has to put on their face in the morning before they go out the door, we have to strive to purge our souls of unsightly attitudes and passions. Repentance is accepting God’s correction and being willing to change. Those who just hear the Word and fail to do what is said, are like one who sees themselves in a mirror, denies that they need to clean up, and goes on to continue in a dissipated lifestyle. Listening is meditating on what we have heard and applying it ourselves. When we do what is good and pleasing to God, we will profit in this life and the next.
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. (Luke 16)’ ”
The LORD Jesus told of a true story of a rich man and a poor man, who both died. The poor man, Lazarus, went to heaven and was in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man who ignored Lazarus afflictions, went to hell. The story picks up where the rich man in his agony of hell’s torment, sees Lazarus and begs Abraham to send him to his family to warn them of hell. The rich man believed that if his loved ones saw one who came from eternity they would believe that hell existed. There are those who don’t believe in God’s Word until they see something extraordinary or supernatural. There are also those who believe that the soul is only destined for heaven; like the rich man who was pleading to have his family convinced of hell. God has spoken through Moses and His prophets, but many have turned a deaf ear to the only Truth that ever existed: The Truth that can save their souls from hell. If we won’t listen to those who God has ordained to deliver His Word and Truth, then we don’t need miracles, signs or people back from the dead, to convince us.
Abraham is alive as we have read, and Christ already died and rose to life; yet some are still obstinate in their unbelief. God’s Word is time-honored and unchanging. He continues to speak through Scripture. Reading God’s Word is listening to His Insight. The rich man and his family failed to heed to those who spoke what God revealed. We often give credence to a lot of false information out there, but we should not ignore truth that will determine our eternal destiny.
“Listening is meditating on what we have heard and applying it ourselves.”
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
We can muffle what we hear, by allowing all sorts of distractions to drown out the Word of God. Our minds can wander off to the cares of this life and we can easily lose the opportunity to hear what The LORD is speaking to us. Those who hear the Word and understand it, have to go and do what it says. They should be fruitful, and with increasing measure become more like Christ. They are the good ground that profits from being in The Presence of God. They are resolute in obedience and submission to The Holy Spirit’s prompting. We need to read Scripture as a guide to be fruitful and useful in Christ’s Likeness.
“God’s Word is time-honored and unchanging.”
9 And He said, “Go, and tell these people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “Make the heart of these people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes. Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed (Isaiah 6).”
There are those who have heard the Words of God but they have had no impact on their lives. They are those God prophesied by Isaiah that their eyes can’t perceive, their ears are dull and they lack understanding. If they were listening they would have understood that they need to be healed. Those who seek after God, seek to be made spiritually whole. Reading and listening to The Word of God is an admittance to His Presence. In Scripture, we see ourselves clearly as we see God in His Holiness. It is by listening and meditating that we yearn to be restored. It is also by choice that many have become apathetic to the things of God. If they understood with their hearts they would repent and be healed.
“Listening to God is shown by trust and obedience.”
47 He who is of God hears God’s Words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God (John 8).”
When we are in agreement with God, because we believe He is the source of Truth, we will listen to Him. Those who are of God, are those who are chosen in Christ—born-again of The Spirit of Christ. They are in one accord with Him, therefore they hear what He says. Those who don’t hear are those who are not of God. It’s that simple. We can try to convince others to listen or read God’s Word until we are blue in the face. Christ tells us there are two groups of people; those who are of God and those who aren’t. God made creation with two opposites, physically; light and darkness, mountains and valleys, hot and cold and the list goes on; so it is with the spiritual; those of God and those who are not.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2).
The Holy Spirit fills us with spiritual things which the wise and educated of this world can not grasp. Those who have the Spirit of Christ have the mind of Christ; to know the deep things of God that can not be discerned by the natural mind. Those who reason with logic are incapable of understanding spiritual wisdom. The Holy Spirit teaches those who are willing to grow deeper in the things of God. They are mysteries freely given to those with an insatiable piqued-interest in knowing God. The wisdom of The Spirit is never revealed by man’s wisdom. It is taught by The Holy Spirit.
“It is by listening and meditating that we yearn to be restored.”
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matthew 7).”
What principles are you building your life on? There are all sorts of books, resources and seminars for self-help and improvement. Unfortunately, they are not enough to sustain our spiritual well-being. The Creator of all things bids us to listen and do what He prescribes. When storms, trials and hardships come, those self-help strategies will not stand you in good stead. Whoever builds his life in trusting and obeying God’s Words, will not be shaken by troubles. They discover that in spite of storms, a foundation of obedience and trust overcomes all sorts of untoward emotions. Listening to God is shown by trust and obedience. If we teach trust and obedience to our children from a young age, they will not be easily swayed by uncertainty.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. On the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest (Hebrew 3).’ ”
What do you listen to routinely? We are physical and spiritual beings; we must consider giving precedence to godliness which profits everything. We can do better in every area of our lives, when we understand that our body is the temple of The Holy Spirit. By obedience to Him we are assured of His rest and peace. The Holy Spirit is speaking in us and we must submit, to do as He commands. He wants to change us to His Likeness, as sons and daughter of The Most High God. We have to be diligent to listen with our spiritual ears and understand by trusting, repenting and obeying. We are of God if we hear Him. Let’s tune out all distractions and perk up our ears in His Presence. We can ingest and digest the things which will keep us firm, unshaken, to overcome the challenges of this temporary life. Today, if you hear The Spirit speak, do not harden your heart.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12).
Each day we are met with situations that require we make a choice or decision. There are instances when we have to come down one side of the fence or the other—a decision that will have a significant impact on us or others. Some people prefer to wait and see what others will do, before they make up their own mind. Others will stick to what they are familiar with and will not venture to try something new. Whatever the case, there are decisions which we must resolve to make sooner rather than later; using sound judgement, wise counsel and feasible outcomes. Choices are ours to make and should not be swayed by the opinions of others. We have to consider the benefits and make an earnest commitment to follow through. Our spiritual well-being is one that requires making the right choices that affect all areas of our lives. Under God’s Authority, we are required to do what pleases Him and in return we gain the wisdom needed to do His Will.
“Each family has to choose what is best for them.”
14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24).”
Our parents had a great influence on us, as we were growing up. They inculcated certain values, culture and ideals for the life they wanted for us. As children become adults, they can choose what to take with them or leave behind. No parents are perfect, but they tried their best to pass on what they received. We can not become our parents; we have to chart our own course for our future.
Spiritual maturity requires making strides for a better future. We are to serve and fear The True God, not gods of our traditions. Our household is not the one of our parents, though we may wish to emulate them. Each family has to choose what is best for them. It’s our house we are building and sustaining, not the house of our parents, nor is it that of those around us. We must choose for ourselves, who we will serve in this life; where we will put our effort, spend our resources, what we will reap, and what we will leave behind for our children. This is our moment; the choices we make are for now and the future. Whether we believe it or not, we are serving someone or something. We are toiling for ourselves or for others—putting in hours of work, paying someone for services, making sacrifices for our children and trying to have the best we can attain. Serve the LORD and fear Him. After all, without the breath in our lungs, the heart beat, the air and everything that functions in our bodies, we are hopeless. We owe more to God than we think. In a snap, He can take the air out of our lungs and the curtains will be down for us. We can make the choice for us and our family: “As for me and my house we will serve the LORD.”
“Nothing impacts our decisions like our values and priorities.”
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6).”
We need to choose who we will devote our lives to. We only have one shot at this life, so we must be decisive about what is inviolable. Nothing impacts our decisions like our values and priorities. Far above trying to please ourselves and everyone, God must be honored. When we only strive for material wealth, we live for the ephemeral. We have to make this life count—it must have purpose. So why give our blood, sweat and tears for temporary thrills, when we can seek after our eternal good? We will be in eternity longer than our days on this earth. Long-term goals pay greater dividends than short-term accomplishments. We need to live as those who are heaven-bound, by putting our investments in God’s Purpose. He orders nature in it’s cycles to do what no one else can; He will order our lives according to His Perfect Will.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6).
As long as we have bills to pay and are in need of basic necessities, we can become bloated with worry. We must work to eke out a living that sustains us. Seeking the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness, is not just going to work but going to serve Him. If for some reason, we have no job and are lacking, we need to continue to seek God, by praying, obeying and trusting in Him. Our Heavenly Father knows the things we need, so we should not worry. Worrying is a choice, just as is trusting. If we desire righteousness before we desire anything else, God will provide everything else. When we live for Him, He will make sure we have everything we need to do so. This means we continue to help those who are in need, we spend more time praying for others, and we look out for others’ well-being, even when we are downbeat. He doesn’t ask us to serve Him without giving us what we need to do so. But when we live for ourselves, we will worry about whether we have enough just for ourselves. As long as we set our sights on living to please God and caring about others, He will keep us in His supply, to ensure we lack no good thing.
“Worrying is a choice, just as is trusting.”
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My disciple (Luke 14).
The greatest decisions we make require discernment and sound judgement. No one wants to be a laughing stock for failing to have a proper plan to succeed in what they have set out to do. A builder has to make sure he has all the material and labor to complete the structure. A king going to war must have the intelligence, soldiers and weapons to overcome his opponent. Anyone who is considering being a follower of Christ, must count the cost of losing this life to gain His. The decision to become a born-again Christian will require one to be willing to forsake all that they considered priority and make Christ the center of their life. It doesn’t mean that they will stop playing their roles in society, it means they should be willing to be at His Service, when called to do so. And yes, we are called to do so daily. We should lay aside those things that would stand in the way of our commitment—relationships, fear, pleasures, activities and even material possessions—that divert our time and attention from Him. Being a follower of Christ is a costly decision. It is one that we make for ourselves, by taking into account what we must give up to fully submit to Him.
“When we only strive for material wealth, we live for the ephemeral.”
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into submission, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9).
There are things that are not worth our energy or attention. Time is a valuable commodity that must be used to our benefit. Life is like a race to the finish; we are in a hustle and bustle along with others. There are hurdles to go over, there are critics, cheer squads and inclement weather all along the way. We steel our bodies to endure under trials, pain, and suffering, by disciplining ourselves to press on. So, we must be careful not to fritter away our life on worthless things. We are in it for the long-haul and we are looking for a prize that is imperishable—to earn us a place in the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ. So, we don’t just do this life haphazardly, in a shiftless manner; we should be intentional, focused and disciplined. We can command our desires to submit to God. Just as a runner doesn’t graze on junk while training for a race; we are to subject our bodies, mind and attitude to attain what Christ has already set aside for us. As we boldly live out our convictions, we also ensure that we practice what we preach to others, so that we are not also disqualified.
“Being a follower of Christ is a costly decision.”
We have important decisions to make daily. What is our basis for the decisions we make? Seek God and His Righteousness—this is a good starting and ending position. No matter what we have learned from our parents or the influence of those around us, we have to make the best choices for ourselves. Keeping eternity in mind, will give us long-term goals that will impact our lives and those of others. We are in this race of life to finish well. It’s imperative that we lay aside all hindrances and be willing to pay the price to live for Christ, in order to please Him. There’s only so much we can put on our plate; worrying should be excluded from our to-do-list. When we seek to do God’s Will, He will equip us with everything we need. It cost Our LORD His Life to give us Eternal Life, we must be willing to give up everything to attain it. The choice to be a follower of Christ, is one that will cost us this life to gain the next. When we seek God with all our heart, we can be rest assured we will always strive to do what’s right, and have an impact on those around us.
7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isaiah 26 ).
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