You Think Too Much!

I’m sure this is not the first time you’ve heard this, but I was reading and was struck by the condition the Israelites were in because the Philistines produced all their tools for them. The same thing happens when we allow the world to produce all our weapon. It gives us dull, blunt-edged swords and lots of other tools that look like they should work but are not the real thing.

Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his colter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the colters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
(1 Samuel 13:19-22)

AND

In Proverbs these two are brothers.  It must be really bad if these traits are in the same person.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.  Proverbs 18:9

It sometimes amazes me what you can learn from truth that is not even the main point of the passage you read in the Bible.  Here’s a truth that goes against the common conservative wisdom, but it’s right there in the Scriptures.  So, I wonder…  common conservative wisdom OR Scripture?  What should you follow?  How will you have to change your thoughts or actions to obey the Bible?

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (2 Corinthians 12:14)

 

Think of the Corinthians Christians.  Remember what scathing letters Paul wrote to them.  Now, without looking, what is the topic of the last thing Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians?

Read the rest of And the greatest of these… »

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22)

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:23)

Today I read the first verse listed and it sent my mind on a recently familiar exercise.  God works in our lives to bring us to repentance.  Until we repent, everything that happens to us is to bring us to repentance — the good things (Romans 2:4) and the hard things (Jude 1:23).

When we deal with people, we are sometimes good (soft) and other times “mean” (hard), but our goal is to bring them to repentance.

Even when God is good to you, it is so that you will come to repentance.

God calls all men everywhere to repentance.

You may have experienced the goodness of God and you may think that you are in the family of God, but if you’ve never come to repentance, that goodness is calling you to Him and soon it may become severity trying to drive you to Him.  But you must come to Jesus, the Lord of all to finally have God’s goodness.

As long as you insist on doing your own thing, you will never end up with God’s goodness.  He will cut you off from Himself altogether.

Turn from your pride and yourself and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ!

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

This verse came up in a recent sermon I preached.  It has particular application to someone I’m trying to work with right now.  I didn’t even notice the direct application until I was actually delivering the message.

Many of our problems would go away, if we would not live for ourselves.

Here’s another thing to remember and ponder while we try to please the Lord:

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalm 147:11

A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

(Psalm 130:1-8)