WEDNESDAY 20 July, 2016
Doing the Dirty Deed Yourself
Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. - 2 Samuel 18:14-15
Joab, frustrated at the man’s immovability was not going to waste any more time. He hated Absalom and had waited for the perfect time to be rid of him. He took three spears and went ahead to do the dirty deed himself––he killed Absalom. Joab disobeyed a direct order from the king; he did not listen and his armor bearers followed his bad example. Everyone heard the king’s command; they were all without excuse.
Jesus is our King––yet how many times do we disobey a direct order from Him? We read His Word but do we obey its instructions? Jeff O’Hara wrote a poem called ‘Thy Will Be Done’. As you read this poem, ask yourself, “Do I have any of these same areas of disobedience in my life?”
You call me Master, and obey me not; you call me Light, and see me not; you call me the Way, and walk me not; you call me the Life, and live me not; you call me Wise, and follow me not;
you call me Fair, and love me not; you call me Rich, and ask me not; you call me Eternal and seek me not. If I condemn thee, blame me not!
Jesus wants us to live a life of obedience, He warns us: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21). In fact, He will tell people: ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:23).Take God’s Word seriously and do what it instructs.
But why do you call Me [Jesus] ‘Lord, Lord,’
and not do the things which I say?
~Luke 6:46~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!