Why did the people lack knowledge? Because they rejected it.
Many people wait for God, but maybe the fact is that God is waiting for them? Do we read the Bible as we enjoy the candy-shop? We pick out our favourites, and leave the rest to others?
You do not grow muscles if you go to the gym only once or twice a year.
You do not get healthy from eating vegetables once a week, while the rest of the week offers junk-food on the menu.
Why do we think that our faith will grow and our Christianity life will prosper, if we do not pray, read the Bible nor go to church?
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”
Sometimes we think that our lives here are difficult. We cannot seem to find out what is right and what is wrong – and then sometimes it is neither right nor wrong, but left (?!). If we want to succeed and prosper, it is therefore so wonderful that we have got the instructions on what a human-life should be like. The Bible tells us Gods’ standard. He reminds us that we have to look forward, not just stop right here and now. If we start looking on our presence and the circumstances we are in, we might get lost. We really need to look up and forward, and put our lives in an eternal perspective.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”
Yes – maybe God said that lying, steeling and fornicating is bad – and that sex should connect two people only – in a lifetime connection (=marriage). Some of the stuff we read about in the Bible is very serious. We observe that people that failed in those areas really had to pay for it (and sometimes we experience it ourselves too). Moses was rejected to enter the Promised Land.
He did one mistake and his chance was gone. God let him look into the land, but took him home to Glory before the Israelites entered Ka’anan. He got saved, but he never fullfilled the whole plan that was ment for him. We see Ananias and Sapphira. They did their mistake – and God took them home immediately.
Yes – we are saved by grace – and grace alone (Eph 2:8). There is nothing we can rejoice more about, than this: God showed us His unfailing Love, so that we could get saved by grace! Someone took our condemnation. Therefore there is no condemnation for the children of God (Rom 8). We are children of God, because of what Jesus did for us! And as children of God, we are given opportunities more than we could ever dream of. God has given us the chance to look further than our time-limits here. He said that we will be rewarded for our lives (1Co 3:9-15).
Sometimes we feel that our life is difficult. Things interfere in our plans and it feels uncomfortable. Sometimes God changes our directions and sometimes we or other people change it. No matter what, it doesn’t always feel that great. Sometimes our mistakes limit our choices for the future. We do mistakes and we make choices – that is far away from the will of God. Some of them are reversible, some are not. Some of the consequences are lifetime commitments.
Oh – so depressing – he? No – not at all. God – by grace through faith, can manage to turn the bad stuff into something good. All things work together for good – to those who love God! (Rom 8:28) Don’t think like everyone else – be the original God made you!
So – even if you have to change your plans, do not worry! Stay close to God, study His Word and pray without ceasing! (1Th 5:17)
Rom 12:1-21
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the ministry; or he who teaches, in the teaching; or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in simplicity; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy, shrinking from evil, cleaving to good; in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor. As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, steadfastly continuing in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. Rejoice with rejoicing ones, and weep with weeping ones; minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly.
Do not be wise within yourselves. Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
