Challenges We Bring Ourselves

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, September 18, 2015
Chapters: Hosea 7-14 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-261.html
Message Title: Challenges We Bring Ourselves

Hello My Friend,

Challenges, as Christians we have our fair share of challenges, sometimes from God, sometimes the devil, and sometimes we create them ourselves. Challenges can bring us closer to God, but if we are not careful they can separate us, and rather quickly too. It takes approximately twenty-one days to form a new habit, yet only days to fall back into an old one. It is said, and I can relate, that when God is no where to be found, He is right there in the midst of us, and doing His best work in us. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13.

Sometimes challenges get the best of us, it is as if we are just hanging by a thread. Let me tell you, we all have a little backsliding in us, yet by the strength of Christ we can hold on to that thread and endure them until the end. However, loosen our grip on Him for a second, we are in a mess of trouble, and God is not even in the picture anymore. This is what happened to Israel, they had great faith in God when things were going well, but as soon as they were faced with challenges they were quick to find help everywhere else, but God. Through Hosea, God addresses Israel as a whole (Ephraim or Samaria, the ten tribes) and Judah, frequently distinguishing them from Judah. God upbraids them for rebelling against Him and yet crying about their afflictions.

“When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.” - Hosea 7:12-15.

Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me, we are redeemed, yet so many of us live as though God's Word does not matter, as long as we know who Christ is we're good. Let me tell you, knowing of Christ is not the same as knowing Christ, and if you claim Him and do not follow the Gospel it is the same as lying to Him. Judgment of any kind does not come from God our disobedience to His Word. If we are saved and live in a way that even the world questions, we have only ourselves to blame for the challenges we face for them. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” - 1 Peter 4:17,18.

In the midst of their troubles as a nation, they never thought of seeking help solely from God, they put their trust in men promoting false gods instead of the One True God. However, God did not give up on them.
“It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” - Hosea 10:10-13.

Break up your fallow ground, stop neglecting God, admit your sin to Him, repent of it, and start seeking His help to overcome it. Perhaps the reason we face challenges is because we feel neglected by God, when we lust for something that we are not getting it can be really easy to feel neglected. God never neglects us, yes, if we are continually living in sin, He is going to step back and it may seem like He is neglecting us, but He never does. In reality, we neglected Him first, and let me tell you, being neglected leaves you feeling brokenhearted, unwanted, and down right angry with them. This is how God feels when we neglect Him, all He wants is for us to love Him. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30,31.

Any challenge we go through God can help us through it, even if we are the cause of it. We must realize where we were before we had Christ in our lives and where we would be if He was not. Think about this, many that get saved never do anything apart from getting saved to let Christ in their lives, and they suffer greatly for that. Yes, we have to face some challenges when we walk with Christ too, but He gives us the strength to endure them, if we leave it up to our own strength we will fall. Now, God addresses all of Israel, including Judah, He reminds them that He was their strength from the beginning, and is still there if they call on Him. “The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” - Hosea 12:2-6.

The LORD is his memorial, we must never forget what Christ did for us, He died for us, He redeemed us from our sins, He saved us from a burning fiery hell. We will face challenges, but if we walk with Him and wait for Him, His mercy and grace will endure. “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.” - Psalms 25:5-7,21.

In order to show us that we need to be dependent only on Him, God is going to allow some challenges in our lives. Satan will constantly entice Christian's with false religion and false hopes, and if our eyes are not on Christ we are going to fall right into it. I had Jehovah's Witness come to my door yesterday, normally I just tell them not interested, but this woman provoked me, among other things she said they read and follow the Bible, and that is when I went off on her. They might talk about the same God, but they do not follow the same God or know the same Christ. This is what God was dealing with with Israel, and He gives us the same message as them.

“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” - Hosea 14:1-4,9.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? God uses the wisdom of this world to blind His truth from those who are set against it. It takes a humble and willing heart to accept the simplicity of the Gospel and God's mercy and grace upon the soul that has received Christ. Many will try and claim Christ, but He knows who are His, and He will not hesitate to put them in their place. “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” - Luke 13:25-27.

Today's Prayer: God, We come to you seeking Your direction in our lives. We ask for a humble and willing heart so that we can effectively endure the challenges we face. Lord, As we pray, absorb Your Word into our hearts so we walk uprightly and do justly. Let Your wisdom and Spirit that abides within us, guide us as we choose to walk in Your ways. Be our vision during the light of days and darkness of nights, whether we are waking or sleeping let us yield our all to You and wait patiently for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Subscribe To Our Devotions: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Do You Know For Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.