Disobedience and Rebelliousness

The Lord chastises us because He loves us like many parents who correct their children.  According to God’s Word rebelliousness is like witchcraft.

Please read 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.’”  Samuel was talking to King Saul at this time in case you may not know.

We don’t hear much about this subject, chastisement, or correction, but it is real, and it is the truth.  I believe that some of what we experience in life as believers, and that we don’t always understand, comes to us because of the Lord’s chastisement, or correction, in our lives.  I don’t think that God has any spoiled children.  I know there are some that may preach and teach that His grace covers everything and once we have been born-again it’s kind of like we can just skate through life, almost like someone took our free will from us and we can’t choose to sin or if we do sin we don’t have to worry or give it a second thought; God just sweeps it under the rug, so to speak, and pats us on the back and says that’s all right, I understand, don’t worry about it I got you covered.  

A while ago I saw where a man wrote this, ‘sin what’s that,’ and this man claimed to be a preacher.  Well I have some good news for you, God doesn’t lie and we all better wake up to the fact that God hates sin in any form and never winks at it, but He judges it regardless of when we do it or what it is.  Maybe someone needs to hear this, that the Lord even commands the church to repent, check out Revelations chapters 2 and 3.

Let me throw this in the mix, judgement starts at the house of God, please read 1 Peter 4:17-19, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”     

When believers experience suffering and pain this may be the consequence of sin in their lives, because of God’s judgement.  God does not allow these circumstances in our lives to hurt us, but to get our attention because He loves us and wants us to repent and humble ourselves before Him so that He can lift us up in His time.  If you need to humble yourself before the Lord do so, then resist the devil and he will flee from you!!  God’s purpose is to purify His children, not to harm them but to give to them a hope and a future and to make them more like His Son, Jesus.  

When you hear some people preach, if you didn’t know better, you would think we had a license to sin, God forbid.  If you are experiencing pain and suffering or circumstances you don’t understand, then examine yourself and see if you have unconfessed sin in your life, and if you do, try godly sorrow that leads to true repentance and, if not, praise the Lord and continue to pray for yourself and your situation.  Remember this, God loves all His children and is working everything out for our good, praise His Holy Name, He is truly worthy!!

May the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness. My prayer is that this Tidbit will encourage and bless all who read it, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want and Reality

Think of this, people want many things but not everything they want is good for them.  Some people may benefit from the things they want, others may not, in fact, in all reality some things may end up being a stumbling block and a hindrance in the end.  For instance, some people buy large new

houses and fancy new vehicles because that is what they want and that is ok if they can afford them, but what about the other people who want them but can’t afford them but still buy them, ending up living miserable lives just trying to make ends meet; that is truly not practical and not in the realm of reality either.

This makes me think of hoarders that I have seen on TV.  They seem to want everything and have a real struggle letting go of anything.  They have so much piled up in the rooms of their houses that they have little paths to walk on and in some cases they have put so much in the rooms they have to walk on the stuff that is in there.  There is nothing wrong with having things, but when the things have you, that is all together a different story.  How can you tell when you have crossed the line?  I would say when you have a real struggle getting rid of anything you own that you don’t need or use, then the things you have, have you.  

The reason I am typing about this is that I have had this problem, but not near the extent of some others.  My big problem has been mainly garage sales or the occasional flea market.  To me these sales seem like a treasure hunt and it seems that sometimes I do find a treasure; but then there are also many times that people sell items so cheap it is hard for me to pass them up, whether I need them or not I always figure that someone will want them, but many of the things just hang around until I give them away or sell them.  

Like l said, it isn’t wrong to have things, but when those things have a hold on you is when they become problematic; they can even become idols in your life, so be very careful.  We need to be careful of what we want or what we ask for, what we ask for and want is one thing, and reality is another.  Think of this, every person that I have heard of that has won big on the lottery, it has basically ruined their lives, which just goes to show you that what you ask for and what you want are not always the best things for you.

Please read what it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

One of the problems with humans is that many of us think we know what is best for us, but many times we don’t.  If we knew everything that was good for us we wouldn’t need the Lord which would be real problematic because He is the only one that does know what is best for us.  Think of this, all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to His purpose.  I am pretty sure that some people struggle with this verse at times and wonder how the circumstances or situations or both that they are in, in their estimation is good for them, but what does the Word say? 

Think of Joseph, he was thrown in a pit, then ended up in a caravan, then sold to a man named Potiphar in Egypt.  Things didn’t look good for him on the outside looking in.  Then he was lied about which caused him to end up in prison and if you don’t know the rest of the story you might be scratching your head wondering where is the good in this story.  In the end, when all was said and done, Joseph came out smelling like a rose, so to speak.  If you would like to read the whole story it starts in Geneses chapter 37 and goes through chapter 50.

There are many other examples such as Moses in Egypt, Daniel and the Lions’ den, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in the furnace, and then there is Job and then read about Saul before he became Paul after his name was changed. There are more examples and in all of these examples none of the men knew if things were going to work out to the good but in the end, they did, and I am sure they were all faith boosters.

Let me add one more; this one was a lady named Esther, she put her life on the line for her people, the Jews, not knowing for sure if she would live.  She was truly chosen for that particular time and through her courage and the good Lord’s intervention, she was used in a mighty way and that turned out very good.  If you find yourself in a situation or a circumstance, as a believer called by God, and you don’t see how it could turn out for the good, maybe these examples will encourage you to believe that God can turn anything around for good if you trust Him to work it out that way.

This Tidbit has been an encouragement to me as I find myself in a situation where I cannot see it working out to the good.  I need to give it over to the good Lord and trust that in the end it will work out for good and be a blessing to me and to God!!  I think I have said enough about this and I think you got the message.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may all of you have a super day!!

The Word of God

How can I truly stress how important the Word of God is?  I will give you some examples. Thy Word have I hid or (treasured) in my heart that I might not sin against thee, Psalms 119: 11.  A very important fact, if we memorize God’s Word, when we are tempted, the precious Holy Spirit can bring it back to us and help us to resist the temptation.  You might say that the Holy Spirit can do that anyway, and that is true but, we are commanded to study the Word of God for ourselves and I have already given you Psalms 119:11.  Let me give to you this verse in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Plus, if God gives you the privilege of consoling someone, or possibly ministering to a group of people, how will that happen effectively unless you have studied and have hidden God’s Word in your heart?  Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God’s Word will direct your steps and guide you into all the truths if you hide it in your heart and then put it into practice.  In it you will find the answer to every question, if you seek it hard enough, just like Jesus said about Himself in Jeremiah 29:12-13, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

This was said to the Jews at that time who were going into exile and I believe it is true for anyone regardless of who they are if their heart is set on the Lord and they have truly repented and then seek Him with all their heart, they will find Him, praise the Lord and they will never be the same.

Now let me give you possibly the best example that I can give you of someone using the Word and putting the evil one in his place.  Please read Matthew 4:1-11, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Did you notice that the evil one knew and used the Word also to overcome Jesus’ resistance, but Jesus fired right back with the Word and overcame the evil one!!  If Jesus used the Word to resist the evil one, how much more do we need to know it, plus hide it in our hearts so we can use it in our spiritual warfare also?  Like I said we need to hide the Word in our hearts, for in them are the issues of life.  We will never overcome without studying and hiding the Word in our hearts then living out what we have learned.  I think you got the point, so if you are not reading and studying the Word, I think it would be wise if you start, you will be glad you did!!

May the good Lord bless you and yours and may all of you have a super, super day!!  I hope this has been an encouragement, a reminder if you needed it and a help.  Here is another reminder, don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy.