Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7 KJV)

 

 

 

People, and/or friends, may at times become exasperated with “talk of God“–which they might term excessive.  There may be some that pick or choose when to follow God, or even go so far as to alter the words of God to suit their purposes.

There may be talk that suggest that “one might be legalistic” or “too religious” for today.  Or, that “thinking like the Old Testament is from the stone ages” and certainly doesn’t apply to today.  While in fact, Jesus Christ’s blood, and sacrifice did do away with the “ordiances” which pertain to the blood sacrifices and rituals, the laws are still in place. There are great differences between the two. 

Laws of God are still in place…”Thou shall not commit murder” –still pertains to today.  “Thou shall not steal”–still pertains to today.  “Honor thy mother and father” still petains to today. (Although the way some of the new generation act that seems to be an arguable point.) 

The laws are there to protect us and are part of the “civil codes” of society. When we break them, there are prices to pay here on earth.  But, most important, there are prices to pay when we stand in front of God on the white throne of judgement day.

Getting back to people and their “disparaging remarks” when speaking of and to individuals that choose to stay true to God…it’s happening more and more. The society in which we live is permitting things of “the world” to slip in, thereby taking God out of the equation, and it’s glaringly apparent as evidenced by the news and the violence in the world all around us.

How do we expect God to keep blessing us when we push Him out of the equation of all aspects in which we live? Out of schools, out of courtrooms, out of holiday displays…out of moral conduct pertaining to life itself?  Yet through this all… His hand is still extended, and He is always there with unconditional love. However, if we keep shunning Him and turning away from Him, what do you think will happen eventually? The blessings will stop.  Bless God, and He will always bless you.  Turn to God and He will always turn toward you.  Honor and worship Him and He will pour out so many blessings that you will hardly keep up with the repetitive joy you’ll recieve from His mighty hands of grace.

There are people who might think that we’re excessive in our love toward God…to that I say “We can never be too excessive in love, devotion, or attitude toward God.”  There are people who might think, that God accepts us as we are and there is no reason to play by His rules..”to that I say, “He will always love us…it’s the sin that He doesn’t like. And, in order to stay in His good graces, there are RULES to follow, but the rewards are undeniable.

There are rules in life for everything we do.  At work, there are rules to follow and we have “job descriptions” to ensure that we are within the guidlines and adhering to the bylaws.  If we go our own way or follow a different “level of comittment” we’re essentially in trouble, and eventually we’ll either be let-go, or get a demotion (if we’re lucky).  There are laws pertaining to marriage, as God so clearly describes it in “His law.”   There are sign on the road telling us the speed limit, if we speed…a ticket is forthcoming.  There are signs to show us where we’re going on a highway…if they weren’t there, a lot of people (without a navigational system!) would be in trouble. There are signs to tell us “one way do not enter.”  That obviously is self-explanatory, it’s there to PROTECT US.   Guess what?  So is GOD, and His laws, and His doctrine and His ways.  All for our protection, all for us to keep our eyes on the prize…eternal salvation.

So, when people laugh or think nothing of “listening to mediums” on television, or playing with “supernatural wordly things” and mock us because when we adhere to God’s laws and run from  the subtle, yet clear signs of “evil” –let them laugh. I assure you, God’s not laughing.  The enemy is subtle, and will try any trick or persuasion to get us hooked while trying to get a foothold on us. But, those of us who know God and His word, and are equipped with the Gospel armor and helmet of salvation and gird ourselves with the truth…he’ll flee and know he can’t touch us.

Draw nigh to God and He’ll draw nigh to you. James 4:8 KJV    Resist the “enemy” and he will flee from you. This comes in all forms, wordly things, and things that seem innocent can turn into a pathway that leads us down primrose lane and destruction.

So, when people refer to me as “being overly religious” I smile really wide and feel truly blessed knowing I’m in that category of the ones who embrace the truth and the light and the WORD, and most important GOD.

Has anyone made fun of you today? If so, smile and say…Amen!

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Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4 KJV)

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6 KJV)

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picture courtesy of Scott Birge~