Literature Ministries International


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March 9, 2019

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They Have Left Off to Take Heed

"For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD." Hosea 4:10

The eternal measure of our life must be the standard of His Word, no other. God's Word makes it very clear how we should live, the attitude that should govern our disposition, and the focus that will determine the path that we follow. Satan has many ways to divert the attention of our hearts from being steadfastly fixed on God.

Unless we find God in our quiet times, in reading His Word, in relating every part of our lives to His principles and truth, in desiring and seeking His will, walking in His way, opening up our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit, and responding with a willing spirit, our lives will become recipients of Satan's insidious ways. If we omit any of these spiritual virtues from our daily life, it isn't long until our life begins to manifest the very things that are contrary to the will of God. We unknowingly become vulnerable and responsive to attitudes and actions against the very truth and life we once held as the standard of truth by which we lived.

You say, "Oh, that won't happen to me." The Scriptures say, "Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). We undermine our lives with self-confidence and independence, we lean on fleshly resources rather than recognize our inability to stand against the resources of Satan, and we fail to lean upon the eternal strength of God.

It happens constantly among believers, Christian workers, and pastors. It all begins when we take our eyes off of the "fixed position of our faith," Jesus Christ. Often times, our focus is diverted to secondary carnal pursuits that not only damage our testimony but also destroy our spiritual lives. We fill our lives with things, which may be good in themselves in many cases, but which become destructive when they crowd out other things. We need to spend time and energy on things that will encourage our growth in grace, build up our faith, and cause our lives to be an encouragement, a strength, a challenge, and a blessing to others.

Let me ask you to consider prayerfully these questions: If we knew in a measure God's power and majesty, would we dare to provoke Him by our evil thoughts and sinful ways? If we could behold God's holiness, would we consider sin so passively and give no thought to the gross evil of our actions? If we could appraise God's justice, would we think that God in the Day of Judgment would simply overlook our sins and iniquities? If we knew God's mercy to us in Christ Jesus, would we give so little thought and consideration to His infinite provision for us? If we knew God's matchless grace, would we gloat in our pride and arrogance, concerned only with our own interests and our self-centered lives?

To KNOW HIM is to spend time with Him, letting Him reveal His love afresh and anew unto us, and to spend time reading the Word to know His will and way. Oh that we might cry out with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23,24).

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://www.litmin.org/dare.php?date=2019-03-09


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