We’d agreed to meet at our local Community Center, which is a lovely place.
While sitting, waiting for our daughter, I was looking at this wisteria.
“I’ve always wanted one and never been able to.have one”
The thought was tinged in envy and I was shocked by my own selfishness.
Covetousness not only ignores the blessings God has given me, but it’s also unloving, because it doesn’t rejoice in the blessings God has bestowed upon others.
“Lord, forgive me! That was wrong. I’m so thankful for my blessings. Thank You for this beautiful plant which is here for so many to enjoy, including me.”
I went on to thank God for moving us here and then began to pray for our community and the people who work at the center.
It was an opportunity to both turn from my sin and lift up others.
Romans 12:9 NKJV — Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
I knew my envy was not love, and I wanted to cut that off as quickly as possible.
As I sat praying, my attitude was completely refreshed.
Gratitude and joy had come along with love, filling my heart with a new perspective.
Now when I see a wisteria I’ll have the sweet reminder to love without hypocrisy.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for giving us such practical instruction. Thank You for showing us, through Your example what love without hypocrisy is. Thank You for living a life free from sin and granting us forgiveness for ours through Your sacrifice. Lord Jesus, please help me to love as You do. Teach me how to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Lord, please teach me how to put Your Word into practice and how to live giving no place to the flesh. Lord, thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for Your incredible love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for this lesson through a flowering plant. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
It’s a matter of personal preference when most people choose one over the other.
At times the choice bears more weight than preference, if someone has a reaction to coffee, for example.
There are also those who don’t feel either is a good choice and would refrain from both.
Yet all of this is seen in the light of the individual and not to be taken too seriously.
There are those who love coffee and others who love tea, but their lives are not segregated from one another.
Coffee drinkers don’t judge tea drinkers and visa versa.
Why?
Because there’s really no importance to which a person chooses over the other.
In the book of Romans, Paul spends a good deal of time communicating to the church, in Rome, those things which are important and should be attended to and those things which are not.
Romans 12:9 NKJV — Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Romans 13:7 NKJV — Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:14 NKJV — But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
These instructions are clear and to the point; these are things to attend to.
Romans 14:1-4 — Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Coffee or tea? To eat or not to eat?
Believers are not supposed to dispute or judge one another based on “doubtful things” or as the ASV states “decisions of scruples”.
Romans 14:1 ASV — But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.
The body of Christ shouldn’t be arguing or disputing with one another over trivial issues.
When it comes to right and wrong, we should base our convictions firmly upon God’s Word.
There are plenty of clearly stated dos and don’ts within the Old and New Testaments for a follower to meditate, study, and apply daily without ever dabbling in those things which have been interpreted in different ways from different people.
Jesus’s words teach us those things which are worthy of our attention and time:
Mark 12:30-31 NKJV —”‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Surely, if we are seeking these two commandments daily, there should be no room left for disputes among the brethren over trivial issues.
Personal conviction shouldn’t become a wedge between the members of Christ’s body as long as the issue does not warp , twist, or contort the Word of God nor places man’s traditions as more valuable than God’s Commands.
Matthew 15:3-6 NKJV — He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
The Lord is the One who reads the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Lord is the One who calls us to live a life of sacrifice, dieing to self and living to Christ.
The Lord is the One who will judge each individual.
Romans 14:12 NKJV — So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Let us then, be warned into attendance upon those things which are God’s direct instruction, being faithful to follow Christ Jesus in His example to us, and filled with love for one another.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your love and understanding which helps us to better love and understand each other. Lord, thank You for Your people and the ability to acknowledge that we may not always see something the same, but we can agree on Your life, Your death, Your resurrection, and Your deity. Thank You that You are God’s Son and our high priest. Thank You that we have Your Word to teach us, train is, and convict is of sin. Lord, thank You for the hope of salvation and the gift of forgiveness through Your sacrifice. Thank You, Lord for Your Word. It is wonderful, indeed. I love You. Amen.
Acts 4:8-11 KJV —8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Peter’s words cut like a knife, for those listening knew the scriptures.
Psalm 118:22 KJV — The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
It’s the stone which all the rest of the foundation and the building was aligned to and Peter was not the first one who called them on this.
Matthew 21:42-45 KJV —42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
The religious leaders recognized they were the builders who rejected the stone.
God has made Jesus the head or chief corner stone and history has shown that those who fall on the Lord Jesus are broken, but the results are glorious.
For once those who fall on Christ are broken, repentant, humble, their made new through the grace of God and the new birth into the family of God as heirs with Jesus through His sacrifice.
Ephesians 2:20-22 KJV — And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
As part of the family their lives become the beautiful workmanship of God’s sanctification and their lives a testimony to the goodness and holiness of God Almighty.
Changed from a life of selfish ambition, worthless pursuits, and bondage to sin into a life filled with the gifts of God, namely:
Galatians 5:22-25 KJV — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. :24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
This chief corner stone becomes the One which we align ourselves by and the foundation we rest on.
2 Timothy 2:19 KJV — Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for being the stone which despite so many rejecting You is indeed the only solid foundation anyone can have. Lord, I look upon Your Word and I am humbled. Lord, please continue to teach me how to seek You first and Your kingdom before anything else. Please continue to bring Your Word to my heart that I might be aligned with You continually. Lord, it is through Your precious sacrifice that I am made clean from sin and I’m so thankful! Please never allow me to grow apathetic to Your great gift. For it is through my brokenness that I am made whole. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
A contractor who simply disregards the engineer’s blueprints would soon be out of a job.
In all likelihood, they’d be facing some severe consequences.
The threat of being sued for damages, the fines incurred from breaking building codes, and the loss of reputation which would mar future employment opportunities are compelling reasons to follow the standards set.
Do we apply this truth to ourselves?
Have we taken the time to consider God is the Master Craftsman who not only designed, but created the Universe?
As Creator, He deserves our respect, and His Word should be held in the place of honor.
We should come to God’s Word with a heart ready to receive the design and a mind for applying it’s truths.
We also need to come humble and repentant for the past in which we regarded our own plans as better or our fellow mankind’s instruction as more knowledgeable, more up-to-date.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 KJV
May we, each one place God’s Word at the center of our pursuits that we might build lives according to the plans set down by the Master.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for being the Creator of all and for Your Word. Thank You for Your patience and guidance. Please continue to grant me understanding through Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. I want to engrave Your truths upon my heart. I want my mind to be opened to the scriptures that I might apply them daily to my life, my perspectives, and my thoughts. Lord, I want to bring You glory. I want other people to see You and know You and find the joy of living in the confident expectation through the gift of Your grace. I love You, Jesus. May the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of You. Amen.
1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV — but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
It’s a difficult concept, but we are called to holiness
Yet, it’s imperative that we keep this instruction within the context of the rest of the scripture.
The Bible is clear we are sinful and cannot attain holiness through our own efforts.
Romans 3:10 NKJV — As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;”
As sinful creatures, our first step is not to be holy, but instead to be humble, for it is through humility we recognize our desperate need to be saved.
Each person must begin the journey to holiness through the door of salvation.
Romans 3:23 NKJV — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Humility leads us to repentance which leads us to grace.
Romans 5:17 KJV — For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Grace, God’s precious gift, brings us to a new relationship with Jesus Christ and a new way of living, and it is through that we begin the journey of holiness.
1 Peter 1:3-7NKJV — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
This is the context of the command to be holy.
It is a natural fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work within the heart surrendered and filled with gratitude for the gift of salvation.
My fellow blogger wrote a great post on this same topic.
Ephesians 1:1-2:10 ‘By grace you have been saved through faith… for good works’ (2:8-10). God calls us to live a ‘holy’ life. We cannot make ourselves holy. We are spiritually ‘dead’. We need to be ‘made alive’ – by God. Holiness does not come from ourselves. It comes from the Lord. Long before we ever […]
Through the indwelling of God’s Spirit, in a new relationship of the redeemed and reborn child of God, our lives should be distinctly different from our former lives as well as those of others around us who have yet to be saved.
It’s not a fabrication of one’s efforts to live a “good life”.
No, it is the natural fruit of a life filled by Jesus Christ.
Romans 13:14 NKJV — But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your gift of grace which brings us salvation. Lord, thank You that You call us to be holy and You work in our hearts to make us new. Lord, thank You that this is a journey and that we can look forward to the destination of Heaven, where we will be free from sin forever and in Your holy presence! Praise the Lord!! Thank You! Lord Jesus, please continue to teach me how to live holy unto You, walking in Your Word, being guided by Your instructions, and daily surrendered to Your lordship. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 24:1 KJV — A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
How should this truth impact the individual?
By bringing each to an understanding of ourselves and the world we live in: it’s all God’s.
Wealthy or poor, prestigious or obscure, elite or common, every person belongs to God.
Job 34:19 KJV — How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
All of creation belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV — For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
Our very breath, is a gift from God.
Genesis 2:7 NKJV — And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Our entire existence should be founded upon our understanding that we are not our own to live life as we choose.
Nor are those around us anymore belonging or not belonging to us, but all are God’s.
And if each person was fashioned by the will of God, He must have a purpose.
Surely, God has a reason to create this incredibly intricate and complex creation we call mankind.
He does.
He wrote an entire book to expound to our finite selves the wonders of our infinite, holy, loving, merciful, Creator.
Psalm 24:1 KJV — A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
How will you live this truth today?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for reminding me, again that I belong to You and all that I see and know about in creation is Yours. Lord, thank You for teaching me to change my perspective to one of awe and appreciation for the very breath in my lungs, the flowers, the grass, the birds,… Lord, thank You for giving me life and loving me so completely. Thank You for sustaining me each day and walking me through both the joy and the sorrow. Lord, thank You for giving me Your Word and the blessings of learning more about You each day. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
When I rolled out of bed this morning, it was with the realization that I have a lot to do.
My husband had just been talking about how busy he was last night and after his morning meeting he told me each of the others said they were so busy, just now they’d each forgotten the meeting.
All of this made me wonder who else might be feeling overwhelmed by too long of a list or a schedule too bloated to accomplish.
How are we, as followers of Christ to handle life when things are too busy and stress seems to be a given?
1st We need to be humble and repent of any worry we have fallen into.
God tells us throughout scripture not to be afraid and worry is fear.
Even if our very lives were at stake, we can and should trust the Lord, refusing to act upon the emotions of either fear or worry.
Psalm 4:5 KJV — Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Psalm 9:10 KJV — And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psalm 62:8 KJV — Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
2nd We need to seek God’s Word for wisdom and direction.
James 1:5 NKJV — If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Psalm 32:8 KJV — I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
3rd We need to praise the Lord, for His joy gives us strength and His salvation brings us hope.
Lamentations 3:26 KJV — It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Psalm 21:1 KJV — To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:8 KJV — But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
4th We need to persevere in the tasks at hand, for scripture is clear, life of a Christ follower will not be easy, but it is our privilege and leads to eternal reward.
Luke 14:27 KJV — And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV — Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Revelation 3:10 KJV — Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
I’m working to apply these things to my heart today and I’m lifting up those others who are also struggling with busy.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You for showing me my error and giving me the opportunity to repent from worry, to turn from rash decisions based on emotion, and to find both help and peace in You. Lord I lift up those of Your body who are also struggling with busy. Please help them to find security, wisdom, joy, and patience in You, our Lord and Savior. Lord, please bring comfort to those who have fallen passed the worry and bogged down into depression. Let the light of truth show them the hope and the promises You have given. Let them be brought to a realization of the truth that this life is temporary and will pass away, that for those who have hope of salvation through Your sacrifice are citizens of a far great kingdom and heirs to a much greater blessing than anything this world offers. Lord, let the truth of Who You are shine into the hearts and minds of Your people, let them live so differently from the world around them that they shine like stars in the night, bringing the beauty of Your salvation to those who have yet to know You. Thank You, Jesus. I love You. Amen.
Years ago, I was listening to our local Christian Radio station and heard a man talk about how his parents came to Christ.
He’d been the first member of his family to believe on the Lord Jesus.
As a teen he had gotten involved in all kinds of sin which brought his family a great deal of grief, but he came to the Lord which made a complete reversal of his life.
He had a younger sister who has been a model of good: good grades, good behavior, she graduated highschool and married her highschool steady.
Her life was good.
Yet, she too saw her need for the Lord and accepted Jesus as her Savior not long after her brother.
And it was through her testimony that their father was saved.
The man related his father’s words on the subject: “Your acceptance of Jesus didn’t impact me personally, you obviously needed something, but your sister was perfect. What did she need? It was her conversion which led me to the Lord.”
We may never know how our testimony will touch others, but we must never feel ours isn’t good enough to be used by God.
Nor should we see our testimony as being limited to the day we accepted Jesus’s gift of salvation.
Instead, let us, each one, live our testimony daily.
1 John 2:6 KJV — He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Philippians 1:21 KJV — For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Revelation 12:11 NKJV — “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
What a great gift we have to be called to live before mankind as a continual witness to God’s gift of salvation!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for living on this Earth and teaching us about the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Yourself. Lord, I am humbled by the privilege and responsibility of living my testimony daily before You. I know You are walking me forward through the truth and guiding me in Your paths. I know You love me and You are so very patient with me. Thank You for all You are doing, have done, and will do on my behalf. You are great and worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. Amen.
I was listening to my Bible app this morning and this verse struck me.
Isaiah 7:15 NKJV — “Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.”
Fully realizing this verse is part of a prophecy to the children of Israel, this line made me ponder.
The child in this prophecy is clearly pointing to Jesus, yet there was an application here I’d never seen before.
The good food, curds and honey, are given as the reason the child, in these verses (Isaiah 7:10-16) will know to choose the good and refuse the evil.
As a child of God, I too can learn to choose good over evil.
It’s vital to my spiritual growth that I feed on good.
As is true for all those who follow the Lord.
It is through daily feeding upon God’s Word that brings my soul the substance it needs and teaches my heart discernment.
Only in God can we find that which is totally good.
Mark 10:18 KJV — And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
James 1:17 KJV — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
1 Samuel 2:2 KJV — There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
May we, each one, look to the Lord for the curds and honey found in His Word, daily feeding ourselves upon His goodness and learning to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Matthew 6:11 NKJV — Give us this day our daily bread.
Psalm 119:68 KJV — Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for the fullness of good I can find in Your scriptures and the blessings that come to feeding my soul upon Your precepts. Lord, I am so thankful for Your truth which guides me and teaches me to discern right from wrong, good from evil. Lord, I do not trust my own understanding of circumstances, for I’m easily deceived by the lies of the enemy. Rather, I look to You for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Lord, open my eyes to Your truths, open my heart to Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Let nothing be able to hide underneath the guise of truth, but please reveal what is in the depths of the soul. Lord, I want nothing of evil to be allowed within my heart. Please let the truth be seen. Thank You. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your patient endurance with me, such a slow learner. Thank You for Your miraculous ways, which make each day a beautiful gift. Thank You for today. May my life bring glory to Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.
“I used to be really thoughtful of your feelings, trying to be careful not to hurt you with my words…What happened?”
His expression was a mixture of conviction and surprise, as he spoke in a tone of apology to his wife.
Her response was lovingly kind as she casually admitted things can happen due to time and busyness.
It’s not uncommon for one or both people in a couple to begin to treat the other with less sensitivity than when they first joined their lives together at the altar.
Sometimes a sense of security in the relationship leads to the attention being drawn elsewhere.
Familiarity can breed apathy.
But it’s not only in marriage that this can occur.
A child defending their poor behavior to a sibling with words such as “it’s only my sister” or “it’s no big deal, he’s my brother” reveals an almost cold-heartedness towards their sibling.
Somewhere, in the child’s heart, they assumed being born into the same family meant nullification of proper behavior towards them.
When, in truth, those born into the same family should love, support, and protect one another.
This apathy; the lack of sincere care, concern, and respect, can also found in one’s relationship with God.
We must be on guard against growing callous to God’s holiness.
Uzza is a startling example of this.
His father’s house was where the ark of the LORD was sent after it was returned by the Philistines.
1 Samuel 7:1-2 KJV — And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
The ark of God had been captured by the Philistines and after being plagued for some time by tumors and rats, the Philistines sent it back to Israel on a new cart drawn by two oxen.
The oxen took the ark of God back without any person guiding them and the children of Israel rejoiced, but it was not taken to where they had kept it previously, instead it went to the house of Abinadab.
Twenty years later and King David decided it should be brought to Jerusalem.
Instead of consulting God’s Word as to how to move the ark of the LORD, they transported it the same way it was returned; on a cart drawn by oxen.
2 Samuel 6:3 KJV — And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
The ark of the LORD was in the house of Uzza’s father.
His familiarity to this holy item God had told Moses to build, brought about a terrifying consequence.
1 Chronicles 13:9-10 KJV — And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
Uzza should never have been the person to escort the ark of the Lord anywhere, but scripture doesn’t record Uzza being punished for his ignorance.
Rather, the punishment came from his putting his hand on the ark of the LORD.
Did Uzza really think God couldn’t keep His ark on the cart without his help?
Or was it simply the lack of reverence due God’s ark that caused him to reach out and touch it.
Whatever was happening in Uzza’s heart at that moment, God judged him for it.
Twenty years of having the ark of God in his father’s house should have brought a great deal of respect and reverence due to the ark of the Lord, for he would have known what happened to the men who looked in the ark when it was returned.
1 Samuel 6:19 NKJV — Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
Yet, Uzza allowed his familiarity with this holy ark of God to dampen his fear of Almighty God.
We must not follow in his example, but instead be purposeful about our relationship with God and humble in our hearts before Him.
Psalm 89:7 KJV — God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the warning we see in the story of Uzza. Lord, please help me to be mindful of all my relationships, not allowing apathy to grow my heart cold towards anyone, but especially not towards You. For it is from my religion with You that I am given the ability to love others well. Lord Jesus, thank You for never growing apathetic towards me nor to anyone. Thank You for being so full of genuine concern that You freely sacrificed Yourself for us. Thank You! How great You are and Your wonders are beyond my comprehension. Lord, thank You that You are holy and just, loving and merciful. Your name is great and greatly to be praised! Amen.
patientlyhopeful 