Being about the Father’s business is OUR business. The Spirit leads us–are we following?
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
Under the Old Covenant, people trembled before a “stern” God. Under the New Covenant, we revel in the care of a loving God. He is love and He loves us!
1 John 4:15-16 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Knowing this, why do we live our lives as if He is not IN US? In today’s chapter, we find several character flaws that are still around today:
v17 Murder-Solomon was talking about physical murder, but Jesus internalized it to mean character assassination and attitude.
v18 Perverse living is something that goes on all the time. It happens every time we do according to the world rather than according to the Spirit. Satan is always distorting the truth and twisting God’s preset and natural order. When we walk in His truth, we are safe.
v19-20 Whatever the fantasy, it will lead to poverty of the soul and most likely literal poverty. We must run all of our ideas and plans by the Holy Spirit if we are to have any true and eternal success.
v21-22 We are all God’s children, so why do we treat some one way and others another way? We are His family, so even blood family takes a backseat. Let us not be stingy with our fellowship. It’s important to Him.
Last one: v23 Flattery is deceiving, even if we are afraid of hurting someone’s feelings. Speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) is important if we are to hold each other accountable in this life. We ALL need accountability. Loving reproof is, indeed, a kindness (Psalm 141:5).
Let’s meet together today with the idea of loving God through fellowshipping with His children and encouraging each other, spurring each other on to good works, and experiencing the unity that comes through His Spirit as we worship Him together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another –and all the more as you see the Day [of His return] approaching.
