The real issue is....
We can sometimes get ourselves into trouble without even knowing it because we try to make God's Word 'fit' our perceptions or lifestyle rather than the other way around. Our lifestyle is to 'fit' what he lays out for us in his Word, but we find it too hard to conform to the lifestyle sometimes and choose to 'bend the rules' a little to make it easier on ourselves. Any opportunity to bend the rules is really not an opportunity - it is a pitfall!
Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
If we would just keep in mind what God tells us about his Word, we might not resist following it so badly. EVERY word of God proves TRUE. Plain and simple - nothing discounted or left out. ALL of it proves TRUE each and every time we count on it and apply it to our lives. It is there for our safety - providing a 'hedge' of protection around us when we adopt it, live by it, and rely upon it.
I cannot say how many times I have neglected to apply some principle the Word teaches in my life, but let me just say I don't always do as God says. Sometimes I do as I say and that usually gets me into a little bit of trouble. I am inclined to adopt his Word, but there are just times when I selectively do so! Let's be honest with each other on this one - we all do it from time to time. None of us intentionally sets out to be disobedient to what God wants, but we allow ourselves some 'latitude' in when and if we will obey!
God's intent is that we stop allowing this 'latitude' in our lives because it gets us into areas of compromise that will eventually prove harmful if we pursue them. The frequency at which we allow 'latitude' is the same frequency as we will dig a little deeper into whatever compromise it is we are making. That was a hard one for me to learn - because I began to believe that one little compromise didn't really amount to much. I forgot that one adds to the other and then to another until eventually 'one little compromise' added up to a whole lot of issues!
I know most of us would like to live 'issue free' in this lifetime. Maybe it is time we examine how it is we are treating God's Word in our lives. Are we being 'selective' in our obedience, adopting only those things that 'fit' our lifestyle and leaving out the rest? Are we stepping into areas of compromise we believe to be only 'little ones', but that will eventually 'add up' to bigger issues? It isn't that we cannot trust his Word - it is often more that we choose not to obey it that is the real issue! Just sayin!
Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
If we would just keep in mind what God tells us about his Word, we might not resist following it so badly. EVERY word of God proves TRUE. Plain and simple - nothing discounted or left out. ALL of it proves TRUE each and every time we count on it and apply it to our lives. It is there for our safety - providing a 'hedge' of protection around us when we adopt it, live by it, and rely upon it.
I cannot say how many times I have neglected to apply some principle the Word teaches in my life, but let me just say I don't always do as God says. Sometimes I do as I say and that usually gets me into a little bit of trouble. I am inclined to adopt his Word, but there are just times when I selectively do so! Let's be honest with each other on this one - we all do it from time to time. None of us intentionally sets out to be disobedient to what God wants, but we allow ourselves some 'latitude' in when and if we will obey!
God's intent is that we stop allowing this 'latitude' in our lives because it gets us into areas of compromise that will eventually prove harmful if we pursue them. The frequency at which we allow 'latitude' is the same frequency as we will dig a little deeper into whatever compromise it is we are making. That was a hard one for me to learn - because I began to believe that one little compromise didn't really amount to much. I forgot that one adds to the other and then to another until eventually 'one little compromise' added up to a whole lot of issues!
I know most of us would like to live 'issue free' in this lifetime. Maybe it is time we examine how it is we are treating God's Word in our lives. Are we being 'selective' in our obedience, adopting only those things that 'fit' our lifestyle and leaving out the rest? Are we stepping into areas of compromise we believe to be only 'little ones', but that will eventually 'add up' to bigger issues? It isn't that we cannot trust his Word - it is often more that we choose not to obey it that is the real issue! Just sayin!
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