DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS CONSEQUENCES So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.  He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. —I Chronicles 10:13-14             There are consequences for disobedience and the Lord will raise someone else up to take our place if we prove unfaithful.  Saul not only was disobedient, but he went further and sought out a medium to seek guidance and not the Lord!             How about us? …

SERVING GOD GIVES EVIDENCE OF FAITH Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. —Malachi 3:18             How do you know if a person truly knows the Lord or not?  How do you know that you truly know the Lord… or not?  According to the passage above the righteous serve God and the wicked do not.  So the question is— “Are you and I serving God or not?”              This theme can be seen through God’s Word.  Those who know Him serve Him and those who do not know Him do not…

OFFER HIM YOUR BEST! When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. —Malachi 1:8             Would what I present to our Lord in time, treasure and talent be acceptable to our governor if I presented the same to him?  Would the governor’s favor be upon me because of what I offered to him?  Now there are a couple questions to think about.             Does my Lord get the best time or the left over time?  Does…

NOTHING ESCAPES HIS NOTICE! For the LORD has an eye on mankind…—Zechariah 9:1  For you will render to a man according to his work. —Psalm 62:12 From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. —Psalm 33:13-15             The Lord is watching.  Nothing at all escapes His notice.  Nobody is getting away with anything.  The Lord knows the ones who do not know Him and hate Him.  He also knows all those who love Him and serve Him.  All will appear before God to give an account— “For God…

OBEY! And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. —Zechariah 6:15             Obedience is better than sacrifice.  Are you obeying the voice of the Lord your God (John 14:21)?  Are you seeking to be the person He desires you to be (Galatians 5:22-26)?  Are you involved in the “good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)?  Are you being obedient to our Lord God Almighty?  “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwiw4UMK7Us             The little boy was told to stand in the corner because of something…

YOU ARE THE APPLE OF GOD’S EYE! …for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. —Zechariah 2:8 …he guarded him as the apple of his eye. —Deuteronomy 32:10 Keep me as the apple of your eye. —Psalm 17:8             The “apple of the eye” is precious.  It is also the center of the eye.  You are precious to our Lord God Almighty!  You are central to Him and just as you would protect your eye from any danger so He protects you— “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one…

NOT ALONE! Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts. —Haggai 2:4             What is the work our Lord God Almighty has prepared for you? —“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).  Fellow follower of Jesus, He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).  Let me ask you again, what is the work our Lord has prepared for you to do and are you being “zealous” in it?…

SHINE! And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. —Daniel 12:3             Is it your desire to shine, to be like a star?  Years ago I was out for a walk in the early morning.  It was a beautiful morning.  The moon had set and the sky was crisp and clear.  The stars were shining in all their glory.  As I gazed at the stars I said, “Lord, I don’t have to be like one of those big, bright stars, but may I shine at least like one of those little stars…