If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: but if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1 Samuel 12:14-15
God is unbelievably gracious. He says, “If you choose to obey Me, I’ll reign over you. But if you rebel, My hand will be against you.”
The Bible says whom the Lord loves, He chastens (Hebrews 12:6). Therefore, God’s chastening hand is a sign of His love. In one way or another, all of us have rebelled. But the great news is that, on the basis of this text, God says, “Even though you’ve rebelled against Me or ignored Me, if you’ll obey what I say and fear again today, I’ll be with you. If you don’t, I’ll chasten you because I am still your Father, and I still love you.”
Many people who know they married the wrong person, made a wrong move or took a wrong turn feel that there’s no hope from that point on. God, however, says otherwise. “You wanted him. You got him. You wanted that job. It’s yours. But I’m still here, and I always will be. If you choose to turn to Me today, and if you choose to once again obey, I’ll reign over you.”
That’s grace, gang. God doesn’t give up on Israel – and He won’t give up on you.
This devotion from Jon Courson reminds us that our God does not discipline the neighbor’s kids but his own. There is always an abundance of grace for those who will come to Him in genuine repentance. His arms are open wide. Remember, the same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. May THE SON, and His activity in your life not lead you to harden your heart, but lead you to melt like wax and turn to Him.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill