Disobeying . . .Can’t even Guess how often I Have Disobeye
Deuteronomy 28:13-15 If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them. But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you…
Joshua 1:7-8 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Judges 2:11-15 The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them and they angered the LORD. They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to the their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than offering the fat of the rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
2 Kings 17:7, 12-13 This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Yes, they worshiped idols, despite the LORD’s specific and repeated warnings. Again and again the LORD had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees–the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”
Proverbs 1:24-25 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.
Proverbs 19:3, 16, 23 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD. . . Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. . . .Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
Isaiah 1:18-19 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.
Isaiah 59:1-2 Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Jeremiah 7:23 This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’
Ezekiel 18:28, 30 They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. . . “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?
Matthew 7:26-27 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
John 3:36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who d0esn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment
Acts 5:29-32 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed hi by hanging him on a cross. The God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.
Romans 2:8-9 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil–for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
Romans 6:20-21 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.
Human beings are pretty selfish beings, initially crying their frustration, hunger, and discomfort, and getting accustomed to having their needs met, and the frustrations relieved. With caring, giving people the babies receive what they need–dry diapers over clean genitalia, if a reddened area a protective, healing ointment applied; given food in loving arms, encouraging words to show and express love, food, both nutritional and emotional giving the child needs.
As the infants grow and develop. they learn different methods of getting their wants known. As infants, babies cry to have needs met. If the caretaker does not answer those needs regularly and with sincere care, the infant can develop a syndrome called “failure to thrive” and the baby learns not to interact with others. It is sad to see–the eyes are blank, there is no interest shown to surroundings, not glances with another person–no smiles, no following a colorful mobile–just an emptiness.
But a child who has been shown love, encouragement, direction, guidance and interaction with others–parents, grandparents, siblings, other children in social events those children usually blossom. However, along the way they have learned some manipulative ways to try and get what they want IMMEDIATELY. This is not necessarily a need being fulfilled, but a new toy, a new cereal or other food, or some other bauble they have spotted. Often times they have learned that crying, whining, screeching what they want in a piercing voice will have a caretaker capitulating–more out of embarrassment and harassment than wanting the child to have whatever, and certainly not fulfilling a need.
Score one for the child–a desire filled by screeching and being a brat; and more groundwork laid for the parents or caretakers to learn how to save themselves from embarrassing misbehavior by giving in to the whiny, crying misbehavior. The child quickly learns that this bad behavior gets him/her what is wanted–for the moment. It is the parents/caregivers/ who have to learn to teach methods of how to change this bad behavior. Until they recognize the child is being a misbehaving, manipulative young one, they cannot correct first, their behavior and rule setting, and then give the rules and expectations to the child with follow-through.
This is what God did while Adam and Eve lived within the Garden. ‘Enjoy all, BUT do NOT eat of this tree.’ And for a while they obeyed that, but with the help of Satan tempting, Eve tasted of the forbidden fruit and then shared with her husband. Feeding the first bit of sin, that underlying selfishness that humans are born with, and if circumstances are amicable, the selfishness and greater sins flourish. I imagine it is harder for children in Third World environments are able to fine tune selfishness and other sinful behaviors. Other higher level needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) such as water, food, clothing must be met first, before more desires and wants should be met.
We are all capable of sin–lying to protect self from punishment when you and sibling have done something wrong and parents are honing in to dish out discipline, one sees a piece of ‘bling’ and covets it. Does it get picked up and pocketed, or is it left? Has one stopped, realizing one of God’s commands is to not covet and to not steal. Getting used to disobeying and sinning, then stuffing the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit down, makes continued sinning appealing. And then one gets pulled further, tempted with more sin, deeper, harming self and others. And then often, one is unable to ditch the sin and sinful ways, even without family and friends love and support. Oh, the desire might be there. But, too easy to follow the selfish desires, the sin(s), and often without God one is NOT able to break out of the slavery of the sins.
Having idols, other than only God is a sin. God demands that we are to only desire him and He will supply all our needs. Our selfish desires are idols we want–and we are commanded and repeatedly told that God demands our complete obedience, that we should only desire Him–no ‘bling’, no desire for lots of electronics, clothing, shoes, money, working too many hours, over-eating, sexual appetites, and so much more. These are other idols humans crave and desire.
Lord, even though I have been a sinner, still commit some and have the blessing of being able to repent and be forgiven, and yet, with all sins, You chose me. Thank You for guarding and guiding me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Rewards come with obedience, God’s word is clear on this. It is not a life without stress and difficulties. God’s Word promises He will be with us through all of life’s ups and downs.
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