Sunday 23 Mar 2014

Sunday Reading: Psalm 95:8-11

Key Verse: Psalm 95:11
So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’

Devotion:
When I was a young lad I used to try and see how far I could push my brother until he hit me, and probably did the same to my parents and a few other people too! I like to think that I don’t go there much nowadays but then I read this passage which made me think a bit more… How much do we do unintentionally to God and overlook it because it does not seem to affect anyone else in our lives?

When the Israelites were walking through the desert, God made sure that the generation of people who had hardened their hearts toward Him did not get to benefit fully from the Promised Land. God had lead them there but was not about to give in and allow the unrepentant people to take on this new land. If we try to brush things under the carpet then we are acting in just the same manner as they did in the desert, we are hardening our heart toward God! We have got this entire history written down for us so that we can know that God was not pleased with them; let us never ignore it!

Jesus has paid an awesome price for us and He continues to stand by and watch us as we live our lives. Don’t allow what you have done wrong in your life to pull you down with guilt and shame, rather give it to God and allow Him to separate your from that part of your life. Jesus came to give His life so that we could live a new life in Him, not so that we would be ridden with guilt and go hide in a box for the rest of our lives. Reach out to God and allow Him to grab you tight so that you can live for Him!

It may seem like a very ‘British’ or ‘proper’ thing to do to keep a stiff upper lip or to keep things hidden from your friends but the only thing you are achieving is sinking yourself deeper in the mire. When we do that it is harder for us to come back out again and don’t be surprised when God turns round and reminds you how dirty you have become. God loves you and wants you to live your life toward and with Him, don’t go and spoil it all by driving a wedge between you and Him now…

Points to Ponder:
Do you keep things private?

Do you end up trying to hide them from God too?