Looking forward to today's 3rd adventure with seaweed as much as I did yesterday......... BUT HEY -- I turned down a couple of slices of a friends delicious..... ahhh...... pizza-place pizza. Not too many regrets. I sorta figured that if I'm suffering to do right eating seaweed .... excuse me, if I'm helping my body by eating seaweed... then I may as not well make the "sacrifice" null by eating pizza. And no, I'm not changing the word "sacrifice" !!!
It seems to be a "GOD THING" that God led me into conversations with not just one but TWO people yesterday who go to church 99.5% of Sundays (their honoring of the LORD on Sabbath). And I ended up encouraging both to go to church anyway tomorrow --
Even though they + family have "valid" reasons to "rest".
Honoring God by honoring His sabbath is obedience to the basic set of 10 Commandments from Him. Exodus 20.
But it also GREATLY helps us in the long term....
as we each expect some of the health things we do -- like eating seaweed -- to help later even if not seen immediately.Why: #1. It's our GIFT from God, as explained yesterday.
Why #2. If we do NOT obey God, He
SHALL bring natural consequences
of disobedience. Not to be mean -- but
to be our FATHER who disciplines
despite His love for us -- as any loving parent disciplines (word means "teaches with unpleasant methods") a child so the child will end up with a happier life,
such as learning to deal with selfish desires -- or with hurtful people and not re-act in hurtful revenge.
God's Supporting Word
Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king, and he reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, [and] did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, [who spoke] from the mouth of the LORD.....
And the LORD God of their fathers sent [warnings] to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending [them], because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till [there was] no remedy. Diana's interpretation: What else could God do to get their attention but to punish them?
END OF THE STORY -- God brought the king of the Chaldeans and his soldiers to punish them and force them to go to Babylon. God even let the enemy destroy HIS TEMPLE.
Key point of this concept of Sabbath ::showing that God is SERIOUS. We Must Obey
or expect some consequences.
Including poorer health. Natural consequences.
God had established the LORD's SABBATH not just for the good of us people, but also for His land.... showing God knows more than we presumptiously assume we do.
A Land Sabbath every 7th year-- In other words, God taught us about Ecology and Rotation Crop Farming long before we figured it out to be necessary.
A Land Sabbath every 7th year-- In other words, God taught us about Ecology and Rotation Crop Farming long before we figured it out to be necessary.
2nd Chronicles 36: 21--- God had warned His people the Jews to HONOR His Sabbath for the Land. But they disobeyed Him WITHOUT SORROW for exactly 490 years before God QUIT warning them-- and gave the promised punishment.
God sent His people the Jews into Babylon for 70 years --
giving HIS Land the 70 years of Sabbath Rest they had refused to obey God for.
God is serious when He tells us to honor
HIS (not our) Sabbath. And even though
the day of the week may not be when we
want to "assemble" (God's definition also,
incl. Hebrews 10:35).... it WILL bring us
both rest and renewed relationship with Him.
Just as my seaweed will -- though not my personal preference -- quite likely bring some personal health benefits
if I set aside my little self and follow doctor's orders.
even when it's not what my little self would choose to do. Help me to not only know AND follow through on knowing that NOT ONLY are YOU God always right,
always loving me and wanting what is best for me ---
but that my JOY and PEACE will grow beyond understanding (Galatians 5:22)
when I simply TRUST and OBEY You.
©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website. But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment