Receiving What You Asked For

We are going to receive what we are due. When we do something wrong in this world, we are accountable to the consequences of our actions. Yes, we may be forgiven for our sin by God, but we are still accountable to punishment according to man. It is about our choice though that leads to our forgiveness by God. We choose Him over man and He continues to provide for and bless us as heirs to heaven.

“19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” – Romans 1:19 (ESV)

We know God because He has revealed Himself to us. He has shown us who He is and what He does and gives us love that we do not deserve. And yet…

“21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” and “29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” – Romans 1:21 & 29-32 (ESV)

Even as we/they know/knew God, the choice is to go against Him. The choice to follow the world and not the LORD runs rampant in the world, even today as before. We are slaves to the instant gratification of the now and continue to do and approve others to do those things that are destructive to ourselves and the relationship we have with the Father.

“28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” – Romans 1:28 (ESV)

As such, The LORD gives us up to our desires and allows for our destruction. We make the choice to follow ourselves and God allows us to follow our choice. Our choice is asking for the consequences and as such we receive just what we ask for. The LORD will be right there with us waiting for our turn to Him and away from the destructive things, but He will allow us to take on the destructive things and the consequences of them until we choose Him.

What are you choosing? Are you choosing today those things that are giving you instant gratification without thought of the consequences? What if you were to choose the LORD and His ways instead, knowing that we will receive what we ask for?

God Does Leave Us to Destruction

I am in the midst of a study of the word “abandon/abandoned” and have found that God will not abandon us. Yes, He will allow us to be in distress and disaster will befall us, but He will not abandon us.

This morning I am continuing that study and have been brought to the Psalms, where David is declaring that God will not abandon him. He speaks of all the places where he will continue showing allegiance to God. Whether in God Himself, or the people of God, or His provision, or His counsel, David finds joy in the LORD.

David also recognizes that the LORD is a just God and will all distress and disaster to come upon him. He knows that it is up to him to follow the LORD and when not, the LORD will allow the path to become a bit more challenging. We choose that path thanks to the free will He has given to us, and God will allow us to explore that path. But, David also knows that the LORD will not be far away and will work to protect and guide him back.

“7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

8I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.”

— Psalm 16:7-9 (ESV)

Yes, there may be some thought to the idea that we can do whatever we want since we have the LORD as our savior. Where there is a deeper discussion there, I will not get into, David shows here that he knows that no matter how bad things get, he is secure in the love and care of the LORD. He know that God is always with him.

“10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.”

— Psalm 16:10 (ESV)

When things get bad, we can be secure in that God will not allow us to stay in that distress. He will not leave us to our destruction. God will provide the way for us to climb out of despair and into His arms of comfort and protection. He will send us help and as we are under His care, we will recognize that help at some point and find our way back. God will not leave us to our destruction, He will be with us as we experience what it is like to be away from Him.

How are you secure? Are you relying on yourself for security from destruction? What if you were to rely on the LORD, knowing that where you may be feeling the disaster in your life, He is with you and will not leave you to it as your security is in Him?