ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

Disobedience: A Lack of Relationship?

Romans 11:30-31
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

 

 

I have a Labrador Retriever named Abby. Abby is typically a very well behaved dog. However, for the last month I haven't spent much time with her. With mission trips, a back injury (I haven't been able to run), and lots of other things to do -- I just haven't made time for her. As a result she has become a little restless and unruly. In my experience, dogs left on their own will soon become destructive. Want to test my theory? Lock your dog in the house (with plenty of food and water) and come back in a week. You can be pretty sure the house will be a wreck. Why? Because dogs need structure, guidance, and relationship.
Human beings are not too dissimilar. Want to test the theory? Look at every society throughout history where God is not present. What is the result of human beings left to our own devises? Unruliness. Disobedience. Destruction. Why? Because of our inherent sinful nature. We too need structure, guidance and most importantly a personal relationship with our Lord.
In our passage today, Paul contrasts the Gentiles and the Jews. Both left to their own devises were disobedient to God. Paul lays out the one principle by which both are saved: God's mercy. And just as God showed mercy to the Gentiles He will also show mercy once again to the Jews.

 

 

When we get off course it is because we have let sin take hold in our lives. How does it happen? For the Christian, it is typically when we have allowed our relationship with Jesus to wither and grow stale. When we have permitted other interests or priorities to interfere. When was the last time you opened and read your Bible? Sought God in prayer? If it has been awhile, stop and seek Him now.

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