Here is a common theme that is stated throughout the Bible. It is clearly written where it cannot be misunderstood. 1 Samuel 12:14,15 "If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king." Doesn't these two verses make it easy to understand, what God wants from us? He wants from us and from those who rule over us, our obedience and not our rebellion. In verse 14 it said that if we and the people who have authority over us obey God, it will be well for us. However, in verse 15 it said if we do not obey the voice of God and rebel against his word, the LORD we be against us. I could not explain the will of God more simply than that.
I believe that those two verses 14 and 15 in 1 Samuel chapter 12 could summarize a lot of sermons and writings about God. They tell us exactly without any parables to what God wants us to do and what will happen if we do not. It is put in a very basic way that anybody can understand.
The prophet Samuel goes on to tell the people in verse 20 that they have done evil against the LORD but yet there is still hope for them if they would just turn around and serve God with their whole heart. He tells them in verse 22 that the LORD will not forsake them and that God wants them to be his people.
Even though the people had committed sins against God, Samuel told them in verse 23 that he would continue to pray for them. 1 Samuel 12:23 "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way." Samuel did not let the people's evil ways discourage him from carrying out his duties as their prophet, to him that would have been a sin against the LORD.
Samuel instructed the people in what to do, in first Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." But he also goes on to warn them what would happen if they do not in verse 25 "But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." Again in simple language, he said, if you and those who rule over you do evil things, God will punish you both. Samuel is saying that the national authority with all of their might cannot not save you or themselves from the judgement of God.
First Samuel chapter 12 verses 14 and 15 states things so simply, that you do not need hours of Bible study to understand them. The verses simply say to us, to respect, serve and obey God.They also say do not rebel against his words but accept them and do them and you will do well. However, the verses said if you do not obey the voice of God and rebel against his commandments, the LORD will be against you. Samuel even made it clear that if those who rule over us, do evil things, God will punish them, as well. God wants us to know his will and I think he made it very clear to us in first Samuel chapter 12 verses 14 and 15. (ESV)
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
The Tears of God
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Luke 19:41,43,44 "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 43For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44and tear you down to the ground...." Jesus Christ foresaw this destruction happening at 70 A.D. by the Roman army. It saddened his heart because he so loved the people of Israel.
God tried so hard and went to great lengths to bring Israel back to him and yet they still rejected him. Jesus said in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" God told the people of Israel that they were his treasured possession in Exodus 19:5 "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine." God loved them but they did not return his love by keeping his commandments. They rebelled against him leaving God with no other choice but to punish them for their wicked deeds.
How hard this must have been for God to punish the ones that he loved most of all. He loved them and watch over them, he sent many of his beloved prophets to them, so to turn them back from their sins and bring them back into his favor. In the same way, we were out of God's favor and to bring us back into his favor, God out of his great love for us, sent his own son to die for our sins upon the cross. Jesus, just like the prophets of old brought God's word to us and sad to say, just like the prophets of old he was killed for doing so.
The people upon this world has brought much heartbreak to God and only by God's grace we are still here. We should thank God for not giving up on us. He still looks down upon us as his precious children. He has plans for us and in his eyes (sometimes tearful), God has decided we are still worth his effort.
The tender heart of God can be hurt by the wicked things that we do, just like a parent would be hurt by their child's destructive behavior. Even though a child may hurt a parent, a parent out of love will still reach out to them and forgive them, so to bring them back, just like our heavenly Father reaches out to us, for our return. Most parents want the best for their children and God wants only the best for us as well.
I never want to bring tears of sadness to my parent's eyes, neither do I want to bring tears of sadness to my heavenly Father's eyes. Those who I love and those who love me I only want to make them happy. I only hope that I am doing well in my heavenly Father's eyes, so that any tears of sadness can be turn into tears of joy.
God tried so hard and went to great lengths to bring Israel back to him and yet they still rejected him. Jesus said in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" God told the people of Israel that they were his treasured possession in Exodus 19:5 "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine." God loved them but they did not return his love by keeping his commandments. They rebelled against him leaving God with no other choice but to punish them for their wicked deeds.
How hard this must have been for God to punish the ones that he loved most of all. He loved them and watch over them, he sent many of his beloved prophets to them, so to turn them back from their sins and bring them back into his favor. In the same way, we were out of God's favor and to bring us back into his favor, God out of his great love for us, sent his own son to die for our sins upon the cross. Jesus, just like the prophets of old brought God's word to us and sad to say, just like the prophets of old he was killed for doing so.
The people upon this world has brought much heartbreak to God and only by God's grace we are still here. We should thank God for not giving up on us. He still looks down upon us as his precious children. He has plans for us and in his eyes (sometimes tearful), God has decided we are still worth his effort.
The tender heart of God can be hurt by the wicked things that we do, just like a parent would be hurt by their child's destructive behavior. Even though a child may hurt a parent, a parent out of love will still reach out to them and forgive them, so to bring them back, just like our heavenly Father reaches out to us, for our return. Most parents want the best for their children and God wants only the best for us as well.
I never want to bring tears of sadness to my parent's eyes, neither do I want to bring tears of sadness to my heavenly Father's eyes. Those who I love and those who love me I only want to make them happy. I only hope that I am doing well in my heavenly Father's eyes, so that any tears of sadness can be turn into tears of joy.
Monday, October 5, 2015
I Will not Give Up
I will not give up on my belief of a better world. I will not say to myself that all is lost. I believe we can change if we really want to. The darkness that is around us can be conquer by the light that is within us. All we have to do is to nurture it and make it grow.
Surrendering to the darkness is not an option for me, I will not let it win and I will fight against it. I will not let my hope slip away, nor will I give up on my faith, for without faith there is no hope. If we live without a light source, how can we see? We are beings who need light to live.
When one is lost, he can also be found. When one is hurting, he can also be healed. There is hope and a solution to our problems, if we do not give up. We do not have to settle for darkness and hopelessness. We can see in our daily lives there is a night and there is a day. When there is light there is no darkness and if we are surrounded by darkness and we turn on a light, darkness is no more. Living in the hopefulness of light is better than living in the hopelessness of darkness. John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Ephesians 5:8,9 "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),"
My hope is in God and his salvation for us. Darkness shall never dominate my soul. Jesus Christ lights my way and gives me hope for my future, even beyond this mortal life on Earth. Trials and tribulations are apart of life but we can get past them relying on the words of God and holding strong to our faith in him. God will never abandon us, if we do not push him away. If we do not give up and we carry the love of God within our hearts, we can get past our troubles and help the world around us to change.
Surrendering to the darkness is not an option for me, I will not let it win and I will fight against it. I will not let my hope slip away, nor will I give up on my faith, for without faith there is no hope. If we live without a light source, how can we see? We are beings who need light to live.
When one is lost, he can also be found. When one is hurting, he can also be healed. There is hope and a solution to our problems, if we do not give up. We do not have to settle for darkness and hopelessness. We can see in our daily lives there is a night and there is a day. When there is light there is no darkness and if we are surrounded by darkness and we turn on a light, darkness is no more. Living in the hopefulness of light is better than living in the hopelessness of darkness. John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Ephesians 5:8,9 "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),"
My hope is in God and his salvation for us. Darkness shall never dominate my soul. Jesus Christ lights my way and gives me hope for my future, even beyond this mortal life on Earth. Trials and tribulations are apart of life but we can get past them relying on the words of God and holding strong to our faith in him. God will never abandon us, if we do not push him away. If we do not give up and we carry the love of God within our hearts, we can get past our troubles and help the world around us to change.
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