"'Do you not fear Me?' declares the LORD. 'Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.'But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed. 'They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest. 'Your iniquities have turned these away, And your sins have withheld good from you." Jeremiah 6:22-25 (NASB)
As I was reading this morning, it occurred to me that I had asked God "If times are getting considerably worse, why aren't you actively speaking to your children about what is going on?" Of course I know he always IS speaking to us, but I was questioning all the new ministries and visions for the family and so on. I asked God, why he was giving us desires to start new ministries if times REALLY are rapidly worsening.
Well...I have been lead to read warning passages over the last few days. I guess you have to be careful what you ask for, huh?
You know, we could have it ALL! God wants so much for his children to be prosperous and healthy and free to worship him. He placed us in a beautiful garden, and gave us everything we could ever want or need, yet we rebelled, wanting to do things our way. We are still rebelling.
I see that the ministries God is placing on peoples hearts is a means to an end. They are trying to stop the rebellion. I see family ministries popping up, new ministries to help moms, children are being encouraged in an array of ministries. All of these are pointing us to The Way...God's way, out of our rebellion. They try to bring the order back to the chaos we have made OK over the years. Teaching us about authority, and roles is all a refocusing on what God intended our lives to look like.
The reason...is simple. Verse 25 says "Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you." We have tied His hands. Just think, when our children are being rebellious, do we shower them with blessing? If we do, we have little monsters running around! But when our children are kind and obedient, how much we want to lavish goodness to them. More hugs, maybe a special treat. Our Heavenly Father is the same. We are made in His image, we are like Him in our ways.
We need the Fear Of God! We need to turn to Him and tremble for how we as a church and as a society have acted in rebellion. If you have been rebellious, even in the little, ask God to convict you and then ask his forgiveness. He WILL.
Katie
