Wickedness Abounds

Churches are full of people who claim the promises of God and at the same time refuse to obey His instructions.  Today's verses remind us that we give up our possession of God's promises when we choose not to obey Him.  I'll go one step further to say that God considers disobedience as a sign of wickedness.

               But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 

                              Psalm 50:16 - 17 ESV

Discipline is hard work.  It is a choice fueled by a determination not to quit or give in.  It is the force that pushes us to set and achieve goals.  It keeps us moving even when we don't feel like it.  It is also the correction and chastisement of the Lord when we step off of His path.

The promises of God will not manifest in our lives when we refuse to obey Him.  Our excuses will not sway God in this.    He knows what is best for us and He will never ask us to do anything that is not in our best interest.  Therefore, we have no reason not to obey.  

To disobey God is to say that we don't trust Him.  There is no such thing as a relationship with God without trust.  If we don't trust Him, then we really don't know Him.  Knowing God and understanding the limitless grace He pours into our lives when we live with Him builds and sustains our trust in Him.  We obey God when we trust in His faithfulness to keep His word.

Another implication of disobedience says that our plan is better than God's plan because we know what is best and He doesn't.  This is foolish and insulting to God.  There is no possible way our finite minds could know all that our infinite God does.  Our understanding is limited by our senses, past experiences, and desires.  God is not limited in any of these ways.  He knew us and He knew every detail of our lives long before He made the world.  He knew everything that would happen, every choice we would make, and the outcome of our every decision before we had even been shaped in our mother's womb.  We can never know more than God what is best for us.

Disobedience is wickedness in the eyes of God.

There are a lot of people in the church today who are wicked in the eyes of God.  They allow their affections, their plans, and their wants to dictate their choices in life.  They look to people or things to satisfy the need in them that only Jesus can fulfill.  They demand to have their way in everything and hold on to grudges and bitterness.   They refuse to forgive and they disqualify those whom God has qualified.  Wickedness abounds in the church.

Many people miss out on God's promises because they choose not to live according His guidelines.  If we are disobeying God, then we will not possess anything He has promised us.

Don't waste another minute, repent now of any disobedience in your life.  Allow God's mercy to flood your life through Jesus Christ.  Let Him restore you to right standing with God.

Do the best you can to follow Christ.  Apologize quickly and make your words edifying and encouraging.  Stop and think before you take action in any situation.   Ask God to lead and guide you and obey His instructions as quickly as you can.

Obedience is key to keeping God first in your life.
Heidirn