Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, April 13, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-04-13-2018

This is devotional thought number 68 in our devotional series titled, “Wisdom for the Ages.”

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9).

Let me tell you, it is so disrespectful to disengage when people are talking. This has happened to me more times that I would like. I have been sharing my thoughts and people have started thumbing through whatever on their smart devices, interrupted me with random thoughts unrelated to what I have to say, allowed others to interrupt and take them away mid sentence, etc. This is so disrespectful. Worse, I have been talking to my son, who being a small child who thinks he knows everything (most children do) will tell me that whatever I am saying is not so, even though he has no experience or prior knowledge of whatever we are discussing. I suppose it’s no big thing when it happens a few times, at random, but when it’s a habit that I check on a regular basis, then it rises to the level of disrespect; not because he’s technically incorrect, but because he refuses instruction.

Now that I have made a debatable case regarding disrespect, maybe this will come a little closer to home. So, God knows absolutely everything and He is absolutely holy. He created us and when we chose to sin, Jesus gave His life so we could be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. Unfortunately, some of us are disrespectful. God will be impressing our minds with the direction He wants us to go on a particular issue, and some of us interrupt Him with our entertainment choices, relationship pursuits, habits, aspirations, etc., that do not align with what He has already revealed to us. Unfortunately, some of us disregard the Ten Commandments Law like they are ten suggestions that we can take or leave, without consequence. Some of us would rather have darling sin habits, with no regard for God’s love and power to give us victory over them. The Bible says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13).

If you desire to be heard by God and transformed by His love, submit to Him. Turn toward Him. Don’t refuse to agree with Him regarding any sin habits you may have. Ask Him to give you a clean heart and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and know that you will have mercy, peace, and rest.

A word to the foolish is wasteful. A word to the wise is sufficient.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)