2 Chronicles 20:35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
We are bound to make mistakes during our life. They seem to be right at our doorstep knocking and enticing us to open up that door. These door-knocking guests are either our sinful natured self or some other friend, colleague, or new acquaintance. We have the choice to make once we open the door.
Do we let them in? When it comes to self we are told to take every thought captive and recognize it for what it is against the word of God. We can only do this if our heart, mind, and soul seek and desire to intentionally humbly serve, honor, follow, obey, and trust God. We spend time in His word with a hunger to know Him more and more so that we can honor Him more and more in every part of our life.
When it comes to a friend, colleague, or new acquaintance knocking we also have a choice to make. We open the door and their intention is made known to us. This is where we compare what is being said with and against the word of God. This is where we need leading from and through the Holy Spirit to discern what we are thinking about doing or what is being asked of us. This is where we lean not unto our own understanding but seek Jesus Christ to make it know to our heart and mind. Many of Christians have gone down paths apart from God because they were blind, neglectful, or complacent with the word of God.
There is no substitute for time in God’s word. Time in His word feeds us, directs us, gives us hope, strength, peace, rest, love, and courage.
We were bought with a great price, the price of our sin, with the payment of whipping, beating, and nailing to a cross of God’s only beloved Son. We read where “for the joy set before Him he gladly went to the cross” This was the price that was paid for us while we were yet sinners. He did this to call to Himself those who would believe in sacrifice for our sin as full payment. Though we know this I wonder if somehow we have forgotten the great cost that was paid. Are we living as though we have been purchased? Are we living in constant remembrance of the cost? Are we living in such a way that honors and glorifies the one who paid the price? This is nothing to take lightly or half-heartedly. Christ deserves all honor and glory from His redeemed. Anything short of this does not reflect the price that was paid.
If we keep this in mind then we surely would spend more time in His word so that we grow in understanding and knowledge of Him and how to humbly live in service, honor, glory, to Him at all times.