What Hurts God? (Nov 2)

Verses for the day

Ezek 6:9-10 Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the LORD and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.

Ps 141:3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

Ps 141:8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD. You are my refuge;

Thoughts

Have you ever pictured how sin hurts our Father? As earthly fathers, we can feel frustrated, and hurt when our children don’t obey, but often it’s a selfish hurt. Our children reflect us, and so we want them to obey so we look good… or don’t look bad in front of others. But, for our heavenly Father, the hurt is so much deeper.

As I have been teaching through the chronological teaching with my security guards I have been really struck this time just thinking about and talking about how much care and thought our Father put into preparing the world for us, and preparing a garden where all our needs could be met. Even the one rule he made was not to keep something good from us as Satan suggested, but it was to keep us from evil and things that would hurt us and be painful. When Adam and Eve ate that fruit, they received the knowledge of evil and it brought pain, and hurt and shame. Our Father knew we did not need that, and in His love He didn’t want us to experience that. He loves us so much.

So, when Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan and to believe his lie over the clear display of love God had shown, it must have grieved his heart deeply! And every time we sin, it does the same! When the Father’s grace could no longer continue because of the rebellion of his people, how it must have grieved him to have to allow the hurt, the pain, and even death by their enemies. But, even in that the Father’s desire was still reconciliation

“They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the LORD and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.” (Ezek 9:9-10)

May He never have to follow through in that way with us

Prayer

Father, may it never come to this in our lives! Please don’t allow myself, or those who read this, to be so taken up with our own sinful desires that you have to follow through with your convicting and chastening work (John 16:8-10) Father, help us to respond to your work in us, to guide us into truth, to remind us of the things you have said. Father may the Spirit bring you glory by His work in our lives (John 16:13-14)

Father, I am looking to you for help. (Ps 141:8) You are my refuge. You are that high tower of safety (Ps 61:2-3). Father, take control of what I say and guard my lips (Ps 141:3) May you be the source for everything I do. I am simply your instrument. Use my hands and feet, ears eyes and mouth as a blessing in the lives of these new missionaries. May you enable me to draw them out, and invite them to open up. God, I don’t want to get to the end of the program and have any of these guys feeling like I don’t know them well enough to give input in their lives.

May those who read this be depending on you today. May they be available and responsive to be your instruments today as well.