Not long ago I was reading first Samuel chapter 8. I know these verses well. They have spoken to me in the past and continue to speak truth and warnings about going our own way. Israel demands a King so they could be like all the other nations around them. Samuel, the prophet warns them that is not the Lord’s plan, but they continue. He even tells them all the bad things that are going to happen if they pursue what they want. Israel does not relent. Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
Don’t we do that at times? I know I do. I set my mind on something I want. What I think would be best. I lay out my plans before God and ask Him to bless them. He warns, but I do not listen, until finally He says, give them what they want. Kind of like, Ok they will not listen so they will have to learn the hard way.
It not only happens in big things, but also in the small. We just know God wants us to purchase so and so. Everyone else has one. We have to be like them. We play tricks with ourselves. We know we cannot afford something, but we say well if it is still there tomorrow, it was meant to be. Pleeeese, most things are there tomorrow because they have three more in the back room.
I have seen it happen in teenage and even adult relationships as well. The Word says to not be unequally yoked, do not date or marry an unbeliever. He does not say this because He is trying to punish us, but is trying to protect us from years of frustration and heartache. Yet, they pursue the relationship anyway just knowing that must really be what God would want because I am attracted to them. Maybe God said, I tried to warn them, but give them what they want.
We plan, we contemplate, and we act and ask God to bless what is fixing to be a mess. Then only a short time later we are crying out for God to deliver us from the consequences we created with our bad choices.
Let us make it a habit to heed God’s warnings and commands. They are not there to keep us from having fun, but to help us have a full life filled with His blessings and protection.
So true. We think “wow, Israel really messed up.” But in reality, we aren’t much different. I think a pretty good rule of thumb is that if you feel a need to justify it, it isn’t from God.
I agree with both of you. That is a very good rule of thumb, Kendra. If you have to justify it, you know deep inside that is wrong, in your heart. That’s why we are supposed to listen to our hearts-because our hearts are supposed to be full of the Lord, full of his love, and belong to him.
Amen, sister! “It not only happens in big things, but also in the small.” – as Kendra said, sometimes easier to justify in the small things. If only we’d listen to God in His loving warnings.
WoW!! Good word!! A great reminder we (the BODY) all need to pay attention to!!