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In Christ, Mark
In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Come, all you beasts of the field, come
and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough.
Isaiah 56:9,
10a, 11a
This ends this
reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Lacking God’s vision, knowledge,
and understanding. Complacency, lethargy, and laziness.
All indicators of wicked living, of
one opting for sin over righteousness.
Today we will add another symptom of
this kind of lifestyle that neither pleases God nor earns His favor. Rather, it’s
this kind of life attitude that will only lead to God’s consequences for He
will not tolerate anyone disrespecting and disregarding Him, the One who made
them and reigns as Master over them.
Look again at today’s scripture:
Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of
the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. Isaiah 56:9, 10a, 11a
I continue to repeat the premise to
these indicators just as a reminder of how much God despises wickedness. Here
He calls on judgment on the wicked using the illustration of beasts of the
field and forest summoned to devour the person blatantly choosing to sin in His
sight.
This is followed by the indicator
we are covering today. Were you able to pick it out?
It’s pretty easy, right?
A person who adopts an attitude
where they are never satisfied with anything is a person who has not yet fully
grasped the concept of gratitude, appreciation, thanksgiving, and blessing.
Never content with what they have, this kind of person adopts a gluttonous
approach to living. They want and want and want until their wanting becomes an
addiction and rebellion comes if their needs are not met. Nothing seems to please
their insatiable appetite for things of the world.
It’s a sad state and so many people
are trapped within it today. The world never stops pressing people to gain more
and more possessions. Sometimes the pull is to go after items more expensive
that can be afforded because status seems to be everything. We want to wear the
nicest clothes and drive the fanciest car, and live in a home that is stately
and regal. Our drive for prestige through our possessions drags us well beyond
the boundaries of sensibility and often we don’t wake up until our bills start
piling up and we’re left to figure out how to pay for all the things we attained.
Friends, wouldn’t it be more
advantageous if we would devote all this desire and drive toward our
relationship with the Lord who blesses us with what we have. Instead of seeking
more, perhaps we would be better off being thankful for what God already have
been given, instituting and practicing an attitude of gratitude unto the great
Giver who is always working things out for the good of those who love Him
(Romans 8:28).
If we did this and did it
consistently, I believe there would be a further shift in the way we live. For
when we take the focus away from ourselves and what we want, we are more able
to open our eyes to the needs of others and instead of yearning to receive, we find
ourselves compelled to give and return a portion of what the Lord has given us
to make a difference in the life of another.
I don’t know about you but I have always
felt great when I have done something selflessly for another. I think it’s God’s
way of lifting our spirits and saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.
With you, I am well pleased.”
That’s what happens when we model
the life of Jesus and live in righteousness. We turn our focus from receiving
and we freely give to help someone else. I’ll take that any day over being
devoured by beasts of the field and forest or any other judgment God would
bring.
I think you would too.
Amen.
In
Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
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