If being obedient requires listening, believing and obeying, most of us aren't.

Live it
The people of Israel are examples of most every kind of sin. In Deuteronomy 9:24, Moses said they were rebellious against God from the first day he met them. But for one generation, their disobedience reached the end of his tolerance and they all died, walking in circles in the desert until they were all dead. Most hearing this today will accept it as factual, but those same people falsely believe God held the Israelites more accountable for sin than he does them. In fact, before this day is over, most claiming to be God's child will ignore his instruction, believing he wouldn't do to them what he did to those wilderness walkers.

So here's a question for all you circle-walkers out there. Is God's presence and blessing obviously apparent in your life today? If not, think about this: The Israelites heard what Moses said, but didn't believe it. They thought it was acceptable to talk negatively about God and his leaders, or ignore them all together. They followed the group, died a slow death and daily endured the passing of close friends and family. They never realized their life is less than God planned, even as they enjoyed his promised provision. It seems appropriate then, that judgment for continued neglect take a long time and require a lot of energy, but ends up only six feet from where we started.

Pray it
Were it not for the presence of the Holy Spirit and Your work in me, I'm not so sure I'd have any evidence upon which to base my salvation. If there is anything in my life that represents rebellion or disrespect, show me. If I've neglected Your word or failed to obey, I ask for forgiveness and help to learn from it. Deliever me from self-righteousness and create within me a spirit of calm assurance, I pray in Jesus Name. Amen

Resources
Many of our bad situations are actually the result of our own failure to believe God (2000)
God never slumbers and He is never apathetic toward those who ignore Him. (2002)
Everyone who has been saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus is a minister. (2003)
Devotional (2006)
Fear is an emotion that acts like an alarm warning us that something is wrong. (2007)
Will we go where we know God is going? (2008)

1. One-minute Devotionals began on January 2, 2006 and are the original creation of James R. Green, Prayertower Webservant Content is derived from his alternating and sequential survey of both the Old and New Testament to offer insight on Scripture.
2. Resources are derived from daily devotions of James R. Green called, Just Thinkin'... (2000-2003), Read the Bible Thru in 365 Days (2004), Pray Thru the Word in 365 Days (2005) and One Minute Devotional (2006-2008).
3. Scripture: God's Word Translation (c)1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright ©2008 James R. Green, Webservant - Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved