Tag: know God

145. How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world

1 Kings 12:16  And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.

When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 25:8     But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.”

Hosea 8:4    They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

Matthew 25:12    But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Luke 13:25     When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

Luke 13:27     But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

John 10:14     I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Galatians 4:9     But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Do we think that we are any different than those of history where the Lord says; “They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not”?  We see that Rehoboam listened when he heard “for this thing is from Me”.  How many then and now do not even come close to listening, they do not seek God in their decision, nor do they seek to honor Him with what they are doing.  When God’s word is present in our lives it is used by the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.  Herein lies the problem.  We think we can neglect God’s word in our life and make a decision based on experience, circumstance, and what is acceptable by the norm, culture, society.

Luke what Jesus said to those who played the part of being wholly for God but whose heart and mind was not close to Him or have a desire to honor, serve, follow and obey Him; ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’, “‘I do not know where you come from.’, “I do not know where you come from. Depart from me”, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”.  There is a way that seems right to man but ends in death and separation from God.  It is a path that is easy to follow because many are on it and if we just look and compare ourselves to them we assume we are good enough for heaven.

Let’s get this straight – NO ONE IS GOOD ENOUGH – EVER!!!!  All fall short, all need to be redeemed, all need a savior, all need their sins forgiven.  When our eyes are comparing ourselves with others we will always find a way to be good enough in the eyes of Jesus.  Our eyes deceive us and we easily believe that lie.  Soon we are no longer being led by the word of God but the ways of the world, culture, and society.

Commit to being in His word every day for the purposes of honoring, serving, following, glorifying, obeying, and trusting Him.  Allow it to reach the depths of your heart, mind, and soul and guide you.

Good old age

Genesis 15:15  As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

Genesis 25:8     Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years,

Acts 13:36  For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers

Judges 2:10     And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.

Job 21:14     They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

Exodus 5:2    But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

1 Samuel 2:12    Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

1 Chronicles 28:9    “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Isaiah 5:12     They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

Galatians 4:8-9     Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.  But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Titus 1:16    They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

We know one thing for sure – we do not get out of this life alive.  How blessed to live to a ripe old age in peace.  There is a peace that passes all understanding that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit and can only be understood when experienced first hand.  Though life may throw trials and trouble our way, peace is found in trusting God and putting it in His hands.

How sad would it be to go to your grave knowing that the next generation would not know God or that if they did know Him they would choose not to regard Him or righteous living to honor Him.  Sadder yet would be to know of Him and choose to disregard and neglect Him.

We are called to be a light – be that light, used by God, to encourage others to walk a life worthy of honor and glory to God.  Let it be on our head should we choose to neglect this calling from God of proclaiming salvation and the wondrous works of God.

Choices of others are not our responsibility but the choices we make are.  Complacently is a choice to lukewarmly follow God.  Be on guard of being so busy that God is but a second thought and  the peace, joy, power, strength and hope found in serving Him are not experienced, proclaimed and cherished.

Claiming to be wise

Romans 1:22   Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

1Corintians 1:20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Job 12:24     He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.

Isaiah 44:25     who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,

1 Corinthians 3:19-20    For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”  and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Psalms 33:10   The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

You alone are God.  There is no other God but You.  You are worth of all praise, honor, and glory forever.  O God, keep the wisdom of man far from my heart.  Open my eyes to your grace, mercy, love, wonders, power and strength.  Keep my feet on the solid ground of your plans and purposes.  Comfort my soul and do not allow the confusion of today make me lose sight of humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying You.