rebellion

---

Deuteronomy 31:27      for I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are.  If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!

1 Samuel 12:14-15     If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God—good!   But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

Psalms 106:43     Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion, and they wasted away in their sin.

Proverbs 17:11     Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Isaiah 30:1     “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not in my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.”

Isaiah 63:10     Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.  So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.

Romans 8:7     The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Hebrews 3:15     As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

2 Peter 2:4-10     You should read this for yourselves.  A great verse!

 

How we rebel!  How we are so into doing what we want to do first, then conferring with God, or seeking His will for what we are doing.  We are so into our wants, and often think we are “good people” and therefore we try to justify our choices.   And our choices are not always what God would choose for us.

For instance, I used to shop a lot and bought many things I truly did not NEED. ‘I want that shirt, those slacks made me look a little thinner than actual, that sweater would be warm and almost looked like an Irish knit…’  but did I need the shirt, the sweater, the slacks?  How many pairs of black slacks does one need?  How many shirts does one woman need…tops you can only really wear maybe ten in one week IF you start off with one in the morning then have somewhere else to go in the evening.  But I’m betting mostly, you need only one per day. 

As much as I love Irish knit sweaters and the intricacy of the knit patterns, wool makes me itch always.  So why did I purchase it?  Only to donate? 

In actuality, there is a nudge, a slight warning, hesitation to purchase, yet, instead of heeding it, I disregard and purchased anyway.  Later, I wondered, with shame and disappointment, why had I done this?  Why did I purchase these things I truly do not NEED?  That’s a rebellion.  No matter how one looks at it, it is still rebellion.   Therefore, sin.  It is doing what I want to do instead of what He is directing me to do.

Rebellion is anything we do that goes against God’s directives, the ten commandments, and the love and forgiveness that Jesus preached, taught, and demonstrated while on earth.  And His teaching and way of life so touched many of His closest followers that they were willing to be martyred to continue getting His word and message out to all.  Per His command, ‘Spread the Word to the ends of the earth, so all may know and be saved.’

We are rebellious when we participate in gossip, unforgiveness, anger that we hold onto, maligning a co-worker, over-eating, over drinking, doing things that are negative in any area against His temple—our bodies, and so much more. . . that is all rebellion, and rebellion is sin.  Sin prevents fellowship with God. (1 John 1:6).

Sin is a barrier for both Christians and non-Christians.  Sin keeps us all from experiencing God’s love. . . what is sin?  It’s more than cheating, lying, immoral behavior, and so forth.  These actions are only the results of an attitude of sin.  A simple definition of sin is doing what we want to do instead of doing what God wants us to do, both in actions and attitudes.  It is our attitude that first leads us into sin. . . wanting what we want instead of what He wants us to do.   

I admit I still have periods of rebellion and feel the urge to buy things I don’t need, BUT I am more aware of His message of warning, and I heed it more often.  (No claims to be a saint. . . but I am working more with budget than spontaneity!)

Lord, it is a growing process walking with You—and I feel like I remained a toddler Christian for a long time, but I am heeding better, and growing more in our relationship and therefore, my obedience.  Thank You, Lord, for leading, guiding and remaining with me even when I rebel, You continue to reach for me and guide me in Your paths.  Thank You for all you have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’