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Haggai 1:5-7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earned wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. (KJV)
Our Lord’s realm is one of abundance, complete, good measure pressed down shaken together to the point that the cup runs over. The example we see illustrated above doesn’t sound like the Lord is in charge anymore, rather, it sounds like the people decided they could do better. If you are in that category it is time you try something else, something that will satisfy your spiritual thirst and clothe you in our Lord’s righteousness so that you don’t die of exposure to the elements. Luke 12:24-26 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (KJV) There’s something else to consider, how about looking out the window at the ravens? The ravens didn’t wake up worrying about their 401-k retirement plan did they? Having said that, God fed them and was watching over them wasn’t He? With all the things you took thought for today, how much farther did you really advance in your walk? Well from what I suspect, nothing, in fact if anything you probably went backward. If you can’t get to the point of allowing the Lord to be your total source, then there is no point taking thought for anything else concerning His kingdom because you are dead in the water, so to speak. Luke 16:9-11 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (KJV) Luke 16:9 [They may receive you]-- That is, the "friends" ye make by the mammon of unrighteousness. [Into everlasting habitations]-- Into "mansions" more durable than this steward was welcomed into when turned out of doors. But how are these friends to receive us into everlasting habitations? By rising up as witnesses of what we did in their behalf for Jesus Christ’s sake. (From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) We are surrounded by a fallen world whose love for the Lord has become cold by their love of money or mammon. If you cannot be faithful in what our Lord says should be the least of our concerns, then how could He ever entrust you with spiritual things? This is a cross road where many have fallen away and are trying to serve two masters which is one too many. Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. (KJV) So what do you have a hold of today, or should I say what has a hold of you? Are you truly in possession of salvation or did the thief enter in and rob you blind? God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Haggai 1:5-7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. (KJV)
Our Lord is specific throughout the Word that anything outside of ‘One’ is too many. So consider the way you are heading today and ask yourself honestly, am I headed in the only way, truth, and life that will get me home? Proverbs 14:11-12 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 12 There is a way which seemed right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (KJV) Many today begin in the Spirit, and then think they can perfect their walk by the flesh. They try to mix and match the things of God with the things of the world thinking they have the perfect formula. Instead they end up with the perfect storm that is drowning many in destruction and perdition. What began as one direction above ended up going in many other directions; and what may have looked and sounded so good to the outward man, inwardly was a total abomination to the Spirit. The Lord is very specific about what happens to double minded, unstable people; they can expect to receive nothing from Him. Mark 4:18-19 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (KJV) When you choke someone long enough eventually it leads to death; just like a branch without water will wither and fall away, ready to be burned. The Word of God is able to do above and beyond what we could ever ask or think, but only when you stay the course. If you are out and about chasing a mirage of the enemy it will only lead to a dead end. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (KJV) Our Lord came so that we would have life and have it in abundance. The life He brought to mankind was a spiritual one, because the carnal man was heading the wrong way right into a death trap. The more you consider how useless your ways are, the more you will experience a better way that will get results and last for eternity. Are you ready to let go and try something different? Philippians 4:6-8 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV) Are you chasing a blessing, or in a place of contentment where you let them overtake you? To be careful means to be anxious, which is not the place that we should be in or pursuing after. Instead we should cast our care upon Him. So today stop and take some time and consider your ways until you have the peace of God assuring you that you are in agreement with the one Lord, by one faith. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV)
This week take a time out and consider your ways. Are they in line with what our Lord is speaking concerning your walk or have you veered off the path a bit and become caught up again in the cares of this life? Recently, while watching a documentary about retirement plans I couldn’t help but notice how the people were being left in fear and doubt. A retirement system that was working just fine was being replaced with something that was more self serving to others and leaving the employees holding the bag. The same thing has been done by the devil to many of God’s people who at one time may have cast their cares upon the Lord, but now are taking them back again; trying to manufacture a result instead of waiting for the Lord’s. Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (KJV) The same Word that created the heavens and the earth is the same one our Lord would like to send your way today. His word says we should be instant, or ready, in season and out of season, and the Lord would like nothing better than to bless His people, which you became when you accepted salvation. Now you need to trust more in him and less in yourself. Haggai 1:5-7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earned wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. (KJV) The previously mentioned documentary dealt with people who had been working all their lives, saving for retirement, only to find out they didn’t have much to show for it. Somehow their retirement was pilfered and they realized too late they were duped. Does this sound familiar? Are you exerting much effort and getting little in the way of results? It may be time to consider your ways because obviously they are not working anymore, are they? Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (KJV) Today consider your ways and ask yourself what is getting most of your attention, the carnal or the spiritual? If you are left holding an empty bag then it is quite obvious that somewhere along the line you left the Lord for a cheap imitation. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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