Safety Instructions

Safety Instructions

Genesis 19: ¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

 

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Morning dawned and the day of destruction had arrived. The angels seemed to already set in motion the destruction of the city and its people. They urged Lot to leave with his wife and two daughters. But Lot lingered. He may have been thinking of ways to take all their stuff with them because he was extremely wealthy. While Lot lingered, the angels grabbed his hand and his family’s hands, pulling them out of the city in haste.

 

My Observations:

• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would have come whether Lot left or not.
• GOD wanted to keep Lot safe, so HE sent angels to provide urgent instructions.
• Lot could have ignored the instructions and would have been destroyed with the city.

 

Having no time to ask question, Lot and his family were pulled out of the city. All of their possessions, comforts and animals were left behind. One angel said “Escape for your life!” Lot’s short-term decision caused him to lose all of his possessions.

 

This is the first mention of Lot’s wife. She and her daughters had been captured and rescued by Abraham, along with Lot and the rest of the Sodomites. Lot’s wife may have been raised in the ways of the Sodomites. This group of people were against GOD ways and wanted to do the opposite of HIS desires. GOD graciously rescued Lot’s wife. The angels held her hand tightly, leaving the city.

 

Even though the instructions were given with urgency, Lot lingered. I can understand this. Sometimes it depends on how many other urgent, life-threatening things have popped up with no time to think. GOD sent angels for the first time, to help Lot out of his bad decision. GOD’s grace and patience was shown in extreme measures.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the dire instructions the angels gave Lot and his family?
• Has GOD ever told you to do something urgent?
• When GOD gives you an instruction to keep you safe, do you act with immediacy?

 

Instructions Not for Everyone

 

Instructions Not for Everyone

Revelation 1: This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Christ made these things known to his servant John by sending his angel to him, ² and John has told all that he has seen. This is his report concerning the message from God and the truth revealed by Jesus Christ. ³ Happy is the one who reads this book, and happy are those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and obey what is written in this book! For the time is near when all these things will happen.

 

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Reading the note left on the desk, I was confused. It had instructions that did not make sense to me. When I asked about the note, the response was “Oh, that note was not for you.”

 

• The note had instructions that were meant for a specific person.
• I was not the person who the note was written for.
• The instructions on the note probably made sense to the intended recipient.

 

John, the disciple who JESUS loved, was given a revelation of things to come by JESUS. HE told John that the origin of the revelation came from GOD and that it is true. This message was intended to “bless” those who believe they need to be saved by JESUS. John knew the message would be difficult so he probable did not want to trouble the reader, rather provide comfort.

 

My Observations:

• GOD revealed what “must happen”, so it is not up to debate or question.
• GOD is preparing HIS followers to get ready for the events HE has already seen.
• GOD wants us to be obedient to HIS revelation by reporting visions of what will take place.

 

The book of Revelation can be scary to those who do not believe in JESUS. I mean, it is filled with judgment and some very harsh times ahead for humanity. Many people will question GOD’s intent, BUT HE revealed that those who read and obey the revelation would be blessed.

 

GOD shows us HIS grace by telling us what will happen. HE did not have to do this. BUT HE wanted believers to be prepared. Knowing the events that “must happen” changes my mindset to be focused on what GOD wants.

 

Challenge

• What level of urgency is the writer expressing?
• Have you ever received a message intended only for you?
• Will you read what GOD has revealed about JESUS and take the prophetic words as a message of love today?

Obedience School

Obedience School

Ephesians 6: Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Respect your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise added: ³ “so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.”

 

⁴ Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction.

 

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“Get up and finish the work I told you to do” were the words both of my parents had to use on several occasions. I wants to sit around and take it easy, but they ‘always” seemed to have something to pick up, clean up or tear up.

 

• I grumbled.
• I murmured.
• I tried to convince them that I did not feel like doing whatever work they wanted me to do but had no other reason than, “I don’t feel like it.”

 

Family dynamics was a difficult topic that GOD wanted Paul to address. Honor, respect and obedience seemed like words of control to those who wanted to be wild and free. Dishonor, disrespect and disobedience had become the norm and needed a remedy.

 

My Observations

• GOD wanted me to learn how to obey as a child so I would later obey HIS strange, yet powerful ways.
• GOD wanted me to learn how to respect as a child so I would later respect HIS variety of creations that do not look or act like me.
• GOD wanted me to learn discipline from HIS word so I would have a basis from which I could make decisions.

 

Obedience, honor, respect, discipline and learning about GOD seem weak to those who want to be wild and free. I mean, I thought my parents just wanted workers versus children. I tried to manipulate the circumstance by thinking they weren’t expressing love by having me do chores. BUT GOD showed me my immaturity.

 

Looking back I can see how blessed I was to have parents who loved me enough to attempt to care for me, clothe me and feed me, all while trying to teach me about who GOD was to them. They also knew when to step back and allow me to with walk with GOD or choose “my” own way, even if it were destructive. I am grateful for my parents and understand more of what GOD is doing because of them.

 

Challenge

• What problems do you think the writer was trying to address?
• How can imperfect people provide instruction that works?
• Will you look at this passage from being a child or a parent so you can make adjustments that are pleasing to the LORD today?

Follow the Instructions

Luke 24: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

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“After you build it, then use sand paper on it, put finish on it and then use sand paper on it again” were the counter-intuitive words from my uncle, who was a master carpenter. I heeded his words, bot did not understand how all of this would work. When I finished building my custom furniture, it turned out just as he said.

• There have been times I have been skeptical because I did not understand.
• There have been times when the instructor has given me a message and I did not receive it wholeheartedly.
• There have been times when I did not quite believe the message that was given to me by someone who knows the information.

The women went to the tomb and found it empty. They were shocked until two “men” or angels, told them JESUS had risen, just as HE had said. They remembered HIS words and put it all together.

• JESUS told me “HE loves me with all HIS heart.”
• JESUS told me “I died for you and ALL of your sins are forgiven.”
• JESUS told me “I have taken care of every one of your needs.”

“Do not be afraid” is another message JESUS told me, but sometimes I forget HIS instructions and try to fix things on my own. When I look at the future with my sinful eyes, I can only see a fearful future. BUT GOD wants me to adjust where I am looking and focus on HIM.

GOD has made so many promises to protect me, grow me and love me, that I cannot ignore HIS wonderful plan for me. HE guides me to places I never would have thought and HE brings people to me that needs an encouraging word. JESUS did as HE said and I put my faith in HIM.

• Are you fighting GOD?
• Do you believe HE has take care of your problem?
• Will you put your faith in JESUS today and allow HIM to guide you?