Sinning Against God

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Psalm 78:32 Some Just Won’t Believe

In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works. Psalm 78:32

There is an old saying that many people say that seeing is believing. In today’s society, so many things have been falsified or faked that many people see, but do not believe. Movies are made to look real, but everyone knows that they are fake, no matter how realistic they appear to be. People are often found out to be not who they appear to be on the outside. With these kinds of experiences, many people do not always believe what they are seeing.

Asaph had just talked about all the miracles God had performed among the people. Despite all of those miracles the people had seen, they still sinned against God, not believing what wonders He had performed.

The world strives to get everyone to believe that God does not exist. Everything that occurs in the world is explained away by some scientific method, that often defies the truth or logic, rather than believing that God was behind the occurrence. As a result of this unbelief in what God has done, the world strives to sin more and more.

Inside the church, there are many who claim to have a belief in God, but often deny what He is doing. They are not believing the work that God has done in their lives, often claiming that they did it themselves or was lucky. In this process, they will then choose to live in some sinful way, explaining away their sin as good, rather than believing God’s word.

Unbelief should not be allowed in the heart and mind of a believer. Standing back and looking at all of creation and what God has done, should raise the belief in God to the highest levels. Along with belief, should cause a believer to turn from all sin and follow God.

If you are honest with yourself, you will know that you have seen God do some wonderful works in your life and in the world around you. Open your eyes to see what God has done and give Him praise for those things. Then allow that belief in what God has done to push you to turn away from all sinful practices. Believe in what God has done and so believe in His commands on how to live your life. Don’t live in unbelief and sin.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see what wonderful things God has done in your life; that you will turn away from all sin against God; and that you will believe in what God has done and is doing in your life.

Picture by Benjamin Van Der Merwe on Unsplash

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Psalm 50:21 Rebuke Is Coming

These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes. Psalm 50:21

People will try to get away with something that they should not do, hoping no one sees or cares. Criminals are the most common to do this in extreme ways, but many others do the same, although things done not judgeable by the court system. When they get seen and nothing is done immediately, people feel as if they are ok and that the one who saw is doing the same.

Asaph wrote how God said some ways that the people were not living for Him. Now He says that as they did those things, He kept silent and they thought He was like them, but God says He will rebuke them and set things in order.

It is easy for people to do sinful things and feel that they are getting away with what they are doing. Unless God strikes immediately, and He rarely does, it is as though God does not care. Some may even feel as if God supports their actions or thoughts.

The temporary silence of God does not mean acceptance. If a person chooses to not repent or turn to Him, there will come a day when He will speak out and rebuke that person. Judgement will come where there is no repentance.

Instead of being impatient as most people are, God is patient. He does not want to judge and strike people who sin against Him. Out of perfect love, God is kind and remains silent, waiting for the person to repent and change one’s ways. This is the entire reason why God sent Jesus to die upon the cross to take away the sins of all people.

Everything that you do, say or think is seen or heard by God. There is nothing you have done that is hidden from God. During those times you have chosen to sin, God most likely remained silent, though He speaks loudly through His word–the Bible.

Do not allow yourself to think that God accepts that sinful behavior because He is being silent. He is waiting for you to turn to Him in repentance. He is ready to forgive you and give you a full life. If you choose to not repent, there will come a day of rebuke and ultimately punishment.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will repent of all sins against God; that you will know God knows all that you have done; that you will know God’s love and patience; and that you will live for God in every area of your life.

Picture by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

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2 Chronicles 19:10 Warn To Not Sin

In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities–whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations–you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. 2 Chronicles 19:10

Rules and regulations abound anywhere a person may live or be, regardless of what nation he lives in. This goes from the national level all the way down to the individual homes. Along with the rules there are always those who judge whether someone is doing right or wrong in many situations.

Jehoshaphat appointed leaders to be judges throughout the land. He told them to judge every case and warn the people to not sin against God or else His wrath would come upon them.

No one really likes to be judged in anything. People like their absolute freedom and the world will quickly state that the bible says not to judge. Yet, the even the world has judges throughout the land.

Courts are not the only place that hold people who judge. Supervisors at a workplace judge how a person is doing his work. Teachers judge the child’s schoolwork. Parents judge their child’s actions.

Believers are also to judge themselves and others. This judging is in pointing people back to God and to not sin. Part of the gospel message is for people to recognize what sin is and the consequences of sin. In order for a believer to point out sin, there must be a judgment. This is not a condemnation, but just a warning of what is wrong and God’s judgment of it.

Immediately afterwards believers need to point people to Jesus for His love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation.

God has placed His Holy Spirit in you to point out sin in your own life. Be willing to judge yourself as to sin and repent before God.

He is also there to help you be a witness to the world of their sin and coming death. Working in His love and gentleness, be willing to show where people may be living in sin and show them the mercy and love of God, that He is willing to forgive and save them.

Gently guide other believers to turn away from sin and get back onto the path with God in righteousness and holiness.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow the Holy Spirit to judge your thoughts, actions and words; that you will allow God to guide you in warning others of sin and its consequences; that you will point everyone to forgiveness and salvation in Jesus.

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1 Chronicles 2:7 How Will You Be Remembered?

The son of Karmi: Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things. 1 Chronicles 2:7

Tombstones often have some words on it saying something about the person. Often, they are just child or spouse of someone else. Some will state something about the person or some common saying of the person.

People are usually remembered for something that they did great or did on a regular basis. Things that impacted others in some great way. While most people do not impact hundreds of thousands of people, some people have that level of impact.

In the genealogical records in Chronicles, Achar is listed as sone of Karmi and the one who brought trouble upon Israel by taken something that was to be destroyed according to God’s command.

Everyone is remembered for something by at least a few people. Some are remembered by many people, depending on the level of their impact. Most people feel as if their little acts will not impact a lot of people, but just themselves and maybe a few others.

A ‘small’ sinful act does not appear to impact anyone else but can have a great impact on others down the road. That sinful act tells others that maybe it is acceptable to sin, thus leading others to sin in the same way or even greater ways.

Believers are to be holy, set apart, different from the rest of the world. Every action of a believer is supposed to be a reflection on who God is and what He is like. Holding onto sin or sinful things does not represent God or lead others to God, but away from God and into sin and death.

When a believer dies, he must think about how he will be remembered–as one who was devoted to God? Or one who sinned against God and brought on trouble to others?

If you are reading this, you are still alive and can live for God. Examine your life and see if you are taking or doing things that God has banned. Jesus paid for your sins and took them away, not so you can take them back, but so that you can live completely devoted to God.

Everything you say or do will have an impact on others. Will that impact be to lead people towards God? Or away from God?

How will you be remembered–leading to or from God?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will live your whole life for God; that you will lead others to God; that God will strengthen you to reject anything He bans; and that people will be able to remember you as one who fully loved, served and obeyed God.

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2 Kings 17:7 Results Of Sin

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 2 Kings 17:7

There is an old saying that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Everyday people do many different things, both good and bad. Due to whatever action that one does, there is another reaction to it, sometimes good, sometimes negative. Often people do not expect anything negative to come from their actions, so they do the actions anyways.

God had destroyed Judah and sent them into exile because they had sinned against Him and worshiped other gods.

As finite human beings living in the here and now, many people do not think about the end results of their actions. The only thing on their minds is immediate pleasure.

Many nations around the world have some history of being predominantly Christian at some point in their history. Even though they had been delivered from the bondage and slavery of sin, the people of those nations have chosen to reject God and worship false gods.

Although some of these nations worship physical false gods, all work on worshiping self, self-pleasure and things. As a result, God has brought about disaster on nations and people.

Some believers have chosen to walk away from God partially or fully to live in sin and follow false gods in their lives. God works to draw them back but will allow them to suffer for their choices. Full joy, satisfaction, purpose, peace and love will elude them in worshiping the false gods. Ultimately death, eternal death awaits them.

God brings on disaster in the hopes of drawing people back to Him. As long as there is breath, there is a chance to repent and turn to Him.

You may or may not be drifting away from God following false gods in your life. If you are following any false god in your life, repent and turn back to God. He is waiting, ready and willing to forgive you of any sins you have committed against Him in following false gods and take you back as His child.

Make God the one and only God in your life. Leave the life of sin and do not go back to a life of sin and death.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal any false gods in your life; that God will give you strength to leave the false gods; that you will follow and worship God alone; and that you will never go back to your old life of sin.