“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Ph’p 2:13
One difference between religion and a relationship with God is that religion makes it a chore to do God’s good pleasure while a relationship with God results in God working in you the will or willingness to do His good pleasure. Religion says I have to, relationship says I want to. Relationship says I am willing to do His good pleasure.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Mt. 7:21
One of the reasons some who say Lord, Lord will not make it into heaven is because they have believed a lie that is embraced by a large portion of the Christian church that teaches that you don’t have to obey the Lord and you can still go to heaven.
“And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; 4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” Eze. 9:3-4
God is still marking those today who not only refrain from sin, but those who sigh over those who fall from the Lord and cry out for them.
“And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.” Eze. 8:16-17
Too often we think the greatest abominations are committed in the bar or a house of prostitution, but the greatest of abominations are committed in the house of the Lord when the people turn their back on God for their idols.
“So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.” Eze. 6:14
It is not global warming nor climate change that makes a land desolate, it is man’s rebellion against God. It is when a nation humbles themselves and calls on the Lord and seeks His face that the land gets healed, not by controlling emissions.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Pro. 3:5-6
Why would anyone lean on their own understanding, when there is an Almighty God who made the heavens and the earth, calling us to trust Him? “Trust in the Lord,” and “own understanding,” are in conflict with each other.
“Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face. 24Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.” Eze. 3:23-24
The Spirit will never set us upon our feet until we humble ourselves before God.
“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” Eze. 3:1-3
To those that are willing to eat (spiritually) the word of God, they will always find it sweet. It is those that resist it that find it bitter.
“And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.” Eze. 2:7
The word of God is for those that will hear it as well as those that won’t. Being a rebel does not excuse anyone from having the word preached to them.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” I Sam. 8:7
Whenever you stand unwavering for the truth you will face rejection. The rejection that will be the hardest to deal with is when that rejection comes from those who consider themselves Christians. It is hard for any Christian to have to face this kind of rejection. It often leads to hurt feelings that can fester into bitterness. However, if you always remember that when other believers reject you for holding to the truth, they are not rejecting you, but God. I pray that we don’t consider our own hurt feelings, but instead get a burden for our brethren and go before the Lord in prayer for them.
