Spoken Ignored

Spoken Ignored

2 Peter 3: ⁵ They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created. The earth was formed out of water and by water, ⁶ and it was also by water, the water of the flood, that the old world was destroyed. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God, in order to be destroyed by fire. They are being kept for the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.

 

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“It is officially Spring” said the news. I had gotten a windbreaker for Christmas and wanted to test what it could do. “Can I please wear my windbreaker” I asked. “No, it’s too cold outside” was the reply. “But it’s Spring” was my counter. “Okay, but wear some warm clothes” was the final statement. I put my windbreaker on top of a long sleeve shirt and walked outside and froze all the way to and from school!

 

• I ignored the warning because I wanted something else to happen.
• I paid the consequence because I was not willing to listen to the warning.
• I wanted my way so badly that I was willing to suffer.

 

Peter continued to give a warning about people who scoff at GOD and HIS commands. He said in the last days, people would make fun of believers of JESUS. He now states that there would be people who will ignore the fact that GOD spoke the world into existence and that same GOD will destroy it because HE cursed it.

 

My Observations:

• GOD keeps all of HIS promises and HE promised that this world is cursed by HIS own mouth and that it will be destroyed.
• GOD also promised that only those who believe in HIS SON for salvation, will be saved from HIS wrath.
• GOD revealed that HE would create a new heaven and a new earth, one with no suffering or tears.

 

GOD has spoken and it’s up to me to listen. But sometimes this is hard for me to do. I mean, when catastrophe happens to me or my family or my neighbors, It is difficult to hear, GOD has a promise for you. That is where the COMFORTER steps in.

 

The HOLY SPIRIT reminds me of how often HE has rescued me from danger and carried me though troubled times. HE increases my awareness that GOD is in control of the situation. People who do not believe will question, scoff and even try to do things with their own power. I am glad GOD has already seen my deliverance into HIS spoken greatness.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer point out the creation and the destruction of the world?
• Have you ever been told something and ignored it because you wanted something different to happen, but it did not happen the way you wanted?
• Wil you turn to GOD and listen to HIS spoken words of love by believing in JESUS as your Savior so HE can use your life as a blessing today?

Ignorant

Luke 9: ⁴⁶ Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

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While talking to a “helper”, in the middle of my sentence one of the higher-ups walked into the room. Without finishing my sentence, I immediately turned around to greet the “noble” person and walked away from the “help.”

• There were times when I treated people differently.
• There were times when I viewed those with a title as being greater than those who did not have one.
• There were times when I placed a higher value on the “wisdom” of those in higher positions than those without positions.

After a dispute over who would be “greatest” JESUS looked into their heart at the root of their desires. HE may have seen arrogance and the ability to ignore the words people they did not value. JESUS may have known their ability to devalue the words of children so HIS illustration was clear.

• GOD wants me to value “everyone” because HE does.
• GOD wants me to seek to server everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
• GOD wants me to stop looking to be the greatest and allow HIM to have that classification.

Whenever I think I am greater than someone else, things go horribly wrong. My arrogance is increased followed by ignorant words that blow off those I thought were beneath me. JESUS wants me to be a servant and receive everyone HE sends to me or sends me to. GOD is the only one who is great.

• Do you chase those who have titles?
• Do you think someone is greater than another person?
• Will you seek to serve those who you feel do not deserve your servanthood?

Not knowing is worse

2 Kings 22: ⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹ Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. ¹² He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: ¹³ “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

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Finally I was on my own.  No more tyranny from my parents, no more schedules to go to class! I had my own apartment and I was free to live as I pleased. After visiting my fourth club, I soon realized this dinky town has no “fun.” I longed for the big city but settled on trying to build my night life where I was.

For some reason I started to feel empty. Even when I went to clubs and bars full of people I felt something missing. A person I ran into said I should read the Bible and go to church. “If I go to church, they will tell me how to live my life. I’ll pass.” I said reluctantly.

• Ignorance of GOD is not an excuse for me.
• Ignoring what GOD has written through humans is not an excuse for me.
• Avoiding GOD so I can do what I want is not an excuse for me.

Josiah was eight when he took the thrown. His predecessors did not follow GOD even to the point where they sacrificed their own children. The Bible was lost and people didn’t have instruction on how to live. I tried to do the same by plotting my own course without GOD. I wouldn’t read, serve or learn. BUT GOD wanted more.

• GOD wants me to take HIS yoke upon me and learn of HIM.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to HIS glory daily.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face rather than hide from HIM.

The more I seek GOD the more I do the things HE wants me to do. This brings a radical change in me.

• Are you trying to do things without GOD?
• Are you tired of doing things under your own power?
• Will you take GOD’s hand and accept HIS might, HIS power, and HIS strength?

If I don’t know then am I accountable?

Judges 14: ⁸ Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. ⁹ He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

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Standing in line in one of my frequent eatery joints a man approached me with the ultimate cliché… “you want to buy a watch?” This was easy for me to resist because I knew it was stolen and besides the watch was way too big for my scrawny arms.

As I proceeded outside another guy approached me. “You want to buy a DVD?” the movie was still in the theater and I really wanted to see it. “Hmmm” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I ignore what is wrong so I can have what I want.
• Sometimes I fool myself into thinking “if I don’t know something wrong happened then maybe it’s alright.”
• Sometimes I conveniently forget to tell others if I have done wrong and they don’t know why consequence has fallen on them.

Consequence of sin is usually not what I want to hear when it comes to GOD. I mean isn’t HE all love and no wrath? On the contrary, GOD is all powerful, full of love and wrath. GOD despises when I categorize my sin into large and small so I can get away with the “small.”

• GOD wants me to confess my sins so HE will be faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
• GOD wants me to take HIS yoke upon me and learn about HIM so I can allow HIM to steer my path.
• GOD wants me to allow HIM to lead me beside still water which means I have to be on HIS path.

Allowing GOD to be in my life means GOD has the right to say “NO” or “Not now” or “yes, but with a different outcome.” I should not hide ‘what I’m doing’ from HIM so HE can guide my path.

• Are you ignoring what’s going on around you so you can get your way?
• Are you caught up in something that you feel is not right?
• Are you blind to the fact that you may be off GOD’s path?
• Can you learn of GOD and confess what you are doing so HE can put you on HIS path?

Ask and believe

James 1: ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

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“What should we do next” were the horrifying words from my team.  This was the first time I had led a project and I had micro-managed us into a corner where we had to make some difficult decisions. “I know” I said to myself. “I will listen to everyone and get all the opinions on how to fix the problem.”

When I opened the opinion box I unveiled a storm of differing views and I looked crazy trying to agree with everything. Now my team started doubting if we were going in the right direction.

• When I get confused I seem double minded.
• When I get lost I feel unstable.
• When I get disorganized my thoughts race and I grapple with the issue.

When a challenge appears I tend to “think” my way out of the issue but this sometimes gets me deeper into hot water. Now what should I do?

• GOD says “ask ME for wisdom and I will give it abundantly.”
• GOD says “no matter how lost you get I will be there for you.”
• GOD says “I am not looking for fault in you rather I am looking for you to believe.”

GOD only wants faith from me.  HE desires that I believe HE has the answers and I can ask HIM for as much wisdom as I can handle.  HE will heap a generous portion on me when I believe solely on HIM. If I seek other crutches I can be blown and tossed by the wind.

I’m not saying avoid seeking wise counsel, what I am saying is let GOD be my guide.

• Are you confused?
• Do you lack wisdom in something?
• Won’t you ask GOD for wisdom?
• Can you let HIM guide your words and actions today?