Daily Devotional for Wednesday, July 12

Israel's Choice

“But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers,”1 Samuel 12:15.

Yes! You still have a rebel heart.  It would be wise to follow Him and that begins with the fear of the Lord.  It some respects this means to reverence His Holy name. Most of the time it is working out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). He is, after all, a consuming fire and a jealous God (Hebrews 12:29, Exodus 34:14). This jealous God bought you with the very blood of His only begotten son. Sin has owned you since you first came to know it.  You will serve some master in this life.  You will either be a slave to sin or slave to God, but you are not free to do as you please. As the master said, “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

Desiring to commune with you, God’s great desire is that you would obey his voice.  After he disobeyed, Adam heard the voice of God calling, “Where art thou?” Even as Adam rebelled, God wanted him to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.  Soon after being forced out of the Garden, the first couple obeyed the command to be fruitful and multiply.  That commandment has never been rescinded.  Jesus reinforced it at His ascension saying, “Go,” “Baptize” and “Teach;” as surely a command to reproduce as the original.  We must take up the banner of our Lord Jesus and evangelize the nations.  If we do not, his hand will be against us.

THOUGHT: Lord, consume my rebel parts, give me opportunities to serve and a heart to obey.

David Thompson