Disobedient

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Ephesians 5:6 Don’t Be Deceived

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Ephesians 5:6

One of the most deceptive things are advertisements. Nearly every advertisement tells a person that what is being sold is the very best on the market and that everyone needs it right now, even though there may be better products out there and not every one needs it.

Deception often comes in how things are worded and said. When things are worded a certain way, people will believe it, even when it is false.

After listing some specific sins that a believer should not even think on, Paul tells the people to not be deceived with empty words. It is on those empty words of those disobedient that God brings His wrath upon.

In the same way that advertisements deceive people into thinking that they need something that they don’t, people also deceive others into believing that sinful acts are acceptable to God.

Sexual immorality is just as popular in the church as it is outside the church. Using bad language is common among believers. Along with these, there are many others sins that believers continually commit on a regular basis.

It is not that believers are perfect, but that many of these believers claim these sinful acts are acceptable to God. With deceptive words they claim that they do not need to change, because God still loves them and will save them.

Living in this way is deceptive and is being led by Satan. It is false living and will incur the wrath of God.

Believers are called to live a pure and holy life unto God. As the believer is led by the Holy Spirit, he will not be misled by deceptive lies, empty words of this world and false believers into sinful acts.

The moment you chose to repent and believe in Jesus for your salvation, God had called you to a new way of living. You are to step away from sinful acts to live a righteous life.

All around you the world will continue to try to deceive you into believing that sin is good and acceptable to God. Keep yourself immersed in God’s word and filled with His Holy Spirit. Know what God expects of you and then live that way.

Do not allow yourself to be deceived by the lies of this world and false believers.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know how God expects you to live your life; that you will live a holy and righteous life as Jesus did; that you will not be deceived by false and empty words; and that you will speak God’s words, not empty words.

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Titus 1:16 What Do Your Actions Show?

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16

People will often claim many different things. They will have claims on what they believe or don’t believe. However, actions often show what they truly believe.

It is easy for a person to claim to believe something, but it is much more difficult to prove that believe by actions. Actions will always expose what is in the heart of a person. It often overrides what is being claimed.

As Paul talks to Timothy, he points out a group of people that claim to know God, but really deny Him by their actions. Everything they do is wrong.

In every church the majority of people will openly proclaim that they believe in God. At the same time, many of those same people will live sinful lives just as openly as they claim in church to believe in God.

They will disobey God’s commands without regret. They will participate in sinful activities of the world without repentance. They refuse to repent and live holy lives unto God and before the world.

It is common to hear of unbelievers refusing to go to church because of the hypocrisy in the the church. While it is true that every believer still sins, one should be repentant and strive to change, not purposefully continue to live in a sinful way.

When one chooses to purposefully live in sin, they are unfit for doing anything good and are detestable in the eyes of God.

God has called every believer to live a holy, pure life before Him and the world. Living the life God has called one to live will show up in his actions that everyone can see. Holy actions will show that one actually does know who God is.

If someone was to watch your life and see your actions, what will those actions tell about your knowledge of God? Every action that you do reveals what is in your heart and who you know and are following.

Actions that are pure and holy reveal that you do actually know and follow God. Actions that are sinful and of this world, reveal that you really don’t know God and are not actually following God.

Each day your actions should match what you believe and who you know and follow. What are they saying today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will live the holy life God has called you to live; that you will obey God’s commands for your life; and that the world will know by your actions that you know God.

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Ephesians 2:1-2 Originally The Walking Dead

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-2

The world loves to watch movies about the living dead, zombies, without realizing that they are living just like the zombies. Most people in the world are living in a sinful way thinking that they are really living life, when in reality they are dead.

Paul points out to the believers that they were dead at one time, when they were living in sin following the sinful ways of this world.

Sin appears to be fun and exciting, full of life at the time of one doing it. However, all sin brings about death. It is immediate death to one’s relationship with God. Later it can and will bring about death to relationships with other people, and ultimately death to one’s own self, both physically and spiritually.

Every person who has chosen to believe in Jesus is no longer dead, but now made alive. He has been made alive, because he has been forgiven of the past sins that caused him to be dead.

Sadly, many believers go back to being dead. They choose to live in sin and follow the sinful practices and beliefs of this fallen world. Jesus did not save a person to allow him to go back to sin and become dead again. He is saved to be alive for all eternity.

Each believer has a choice to make each and every day. He can choose to be alive and remain alive, or he can choose to go back to being dead in sin. No true believer will go back to being dead.

As a believer you, also, were once dead in sin. You used to follow the sinful ways of the world. At some point you chose to believe in Jesus, repent of your sins and were made alive.

Do not allow yourself to go back to being the living dead. Do not succumb to the sinful ways and practices of this fallen, sinful world.

Live the life that Jesus purchased for you. Live a life of obedience to God and His ways. Only in doing this, will you know what true life is while walking in this dead world.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be alive in Jesus; that you will obey God’s word; that God will guide you in fleeing the sinful ways of this world; and that you will be an example of the life of Jesus to this dead world.

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Nehemiah 9:17 God Never Walks Away

Sunset crosses

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, Nehemiah 9:17 

Rebellious people are very difficult to work with. Most people will work with them for a while, but will often give up on the person. They see a rebellious person as hopeless and of no value.

People choose to be rebellious for many different reasons, but often it is out of selfishness. There is something that they are not getting or is not going their way, so they choose to rebel. They can rebel against just a few people or against many, but there is rebellion.

The Israelites had rebelled against God many times. They would get into trouble, then cry out to God for help. He would help them, then they would rebel again. Over and over, and yet, God would help them each time. God was loving and forgiving. He never walked away.

God and people are still the same to this day. People rebel against God. The majority of the world refuses to even acknowledge Jesus. Those that do, often rebel against His desires.

It is common to see believers refuse to forgive someone, or step back into some sinful lifestyle. They choose to disobey God’s commands for their lives. Yet, God does not give up on them. He still chases after their hearts.

As long as a person is alive and has a breath, God is chasing after them. He does not want to lose any one. He is ready and willing to forgive them and bring them back into His family.

You may have slipped back into some sin. You may be feeling as if God no longer wants you, that you have committed too many sins and God cannot forgive you. This is not true. God still loves you. He may not be happy with what you have done, but He is right there willing to take you back.

Turn from your sins and return to God. He is waiting with open arms. He is compassionate, loving, and forgiving. His love knows no end. Seek His forgiveness and love and He will give them to you.

God has not given up on you, don’t give up on yourself. Return to Him.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God’s love; that you will know God’s forgiveness; that you will know God will never leave you; and that you will know God’s presence in your life. 

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Titus 1:16 Claiming To Know God

 

Beach with rock cliff

They claim to know God but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16

Although the numbers have dropped over the years, there are many people who claim to know God. Some will attend some type of church, while others will never set foot in a church, yet still claim to know God.

Very few people who attend a church will state that they do not know God. Every one of them will claim to know God, at least to some degree or more. Yet, when a person looks at their actions, one would not know that they know who God is.

There are many people who attend churches, claiming to know and love God, yet hate a relative and refuse to speak to that person. Others will curse others and condemn them to hell. And this is just how they treat a relative or one that should be loved–family. When it comes to how they treat non-family members, it can even get worse.

Then some of these same people will cheat and lie in the workplace. They refuse to work hard for their paycheck. They break the laws of the nation all the time with no regard to the laws.

Many of these people will just say that is just who they are. Others will claim the grace of God in their lives. Yet, their actions are denying God. They are not attempting to really live for God.

Every believer is to show changes in his life. There should be an attempt to living for God more and more all the time, becoming more like Jesus everyday.

If the believer is not showing any changes or fruit in his life, then is He really believing in God? Does he really know God?

Your actions will show louder than your words will. You may claim to know God, but do your actions say the same?

Strive to line up your actions with your words. Allow God’s love to fill you so much that you want to do what He wants you to do. That His love will push out all sin out of your life.

Do not allow any of your words or actions deny God in any way. Live your whole life for God to be used by God as He wants to use you. Act upon your claims.

I pray today that you will never deny God; that your words and actions will not deny God; that the world will see you believe in God; and that you will be used by God as He needs to use you.