“Your own conduct and actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!”
Hosea 7:2
But they do not consider
that I remember all their evil.
Now their deeds surround them;
they are before my face.
Jeremiah 2:19
Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
Jeremiah 4:18
“Your own conduct and actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!”
Jeremiah 14:10
This is what the Lord says about this people:
“They greatly love to wander;
they do not restrain their feet.
So the Lord does not accept them;
he will now remember their wickedness
and punish them for their sins.”
Micah 7:3
Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.
The best of them is like a brier,
the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
God has been speaking to my heart about the importance of growing knowledge and understanding of Him. He has been leading me through various scriptures that speak of the natural way of man who, for but a season, seem to follow Him with their whole heart, mind and soul but then, for some reason, they choose to think they have gained enough knowledge and understanding. Their lives reflect a form of godliness but the depth of their walk with Him is very shallow. This shallowness is reflected in pretending they are ok and they perform as though there is no need. Lost on an ocean. Scripture is very clear on what is in store for those who willing choose this path of little commitment. Verses like this one in Revelation; “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” God’s word is sharper than a two edged sword and able to divide the thoughts and intents of our heart and mind. How are we to reflect the light of Christ (the word in us) when there is no time spend in it, no time thinking about what it says, no ability to hear God speaking His truth into our lives???? My wife and I recently went on a mission trip with 15 other believers. It was our first. I was so humbled by the commitment of each of them and how God was speaking into their lives. Leaders of CTSP (Cross Training Sports Camps) have continued multiple mission trips to Roatan for 13 years with many trials along the way. People being saved, sick people close to death getting emergency medical attention and lived, morning and noon food programs for the hungry, bible classes, guidance for fatherless young men and women, love for those who see no love, building a youth center, and many more God inspired actions. Another person had been on over 25 trips and others less. Some of us it was our first but what amazed me was the depth of each of their walks with God, how He was speaking into their lives, and their commitment to follow His leading. Not all are called to lead a foreign mission but for sure we are all called to walk humbly before God with a servant heart growing in understanding and knowledge of Him, and able to discern that quiet small voice of the Holy Spirits leading and finding our purpose in honoring and glorifying Him.