(I am continuing to deal with physical issues in regard to my throat and eyes – and now I’ve added another, with all the coughing, I’ve strained a muscle in my abdomen. Coughing, and blowing my nose, amongst other things have become quite painful. So…here’s another post from a few years back. Please pray that I will be back at it soon. God’s blessings on you!)
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Matthew 12:41-42 (<<click here to read the passage)
In recent years, Lord, I have prayed, in certain situations, that if a wayward follower of Yours would just get a glimpse of You that it would cause them to straighten up and fly right. Coming face to face with their Creator, I thought, would certainly alter their course. But in reading further into this passage this morning, I’m not so sure.
You give two very clear examples of people who knew nothing of You but were quick to respond to Your representatives in their lives – Jonah and Solomon. But in Your time here amongst us, those who should have known and understood who You were – those aware and immersed in Your word – refused to repent and refused to listen!
There they stood, face to face with God Almighty and they rejected You! They deliberately sought to eliminate You from their lives!
But we are no less guilty, Lord! Our egos and lust for power and pleasure cause us to hold off on repentance. It stops up our ears. In recent years – and it is by no means a rarity in the church – I have known of pastors who are so full of themselves that they have hurt and maimed many because they were driven to accomplish their own agendas. Humility was in total absence. They were right! People would do as they said – with expediency and without question!
If they had come face to face with You, Lord Jesus, I don’t know if anything would have changed. Regardless of the fact that their Lord and Creator desired otherwise, they, in their self-righteousness – were determined to do what they wanted to do.
Lord, help us! …Lord, help me… I may not be tempted to be so belligerent on so big of a scale but how often in my own small realm of life do I do what I want with no regard for Your will. I don’t listen and I am slow to repent.
Lord, I am grateful beyond words that Your love is longsuffering… I am grateful for Your patience and mercy. Thank You for Your work in my life. Thank You for not giving up on me. All glory goes to You.
(Apr 20th, 2018, Fri, 4:54 am)
Apr 19th, 2022, Tues, 8:38 pm
