Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7 NLT
As I was pumping gas the other day, I felt the Lord ask me a question. “Why do you think you are “the exception?” I was continuing to ponder the connection between wisdom and discipline (last week’s blog post: Faith and Wisdom). I must admit, it stopped me in my tracks. I mumbled, “I guess it’s pride”. It made me think about areas in my life (and others) where I can/could fool myself into thinking I am the exception.
Areas like diet. I can eat what I want, when I want to and I won’t get overweight, get diabetes or other health issues because “I am the exception”. Even when these things occur, people don’t really believe it could really be “that” bad and then they discover it can be. I can be a couch potato and not exercise, because “I am the exception”. I hurt my knee area (lateral collateral ligament). The doctor told me to use the RICE method: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. I tried a few days, bought a brace and decided doing 1/4 of the prescription would be good enough. When I went back again, he yelled at me. I told you to use the RICE. With hanging head, I apologized and said, I guess I don’t hear the word “rest” very well. Who was to blame? Me. Who suffered because of it. Me, and those I could have spent time with! It made me realize, I am not the exception. Maybe I think, I can ignore my financial situation because “I am the exception”, but that too, comes home to roost. As I’ve gotten older, and my body is starting to show signs of how I have treated it over the years, I am finding out I am not the exception. Then there is the area of spirituality.
The biggest area of “I am the exception” is probably in believing what the Word of God says. Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Galatians 6:7 NLT Do we really believe we will reap what we sow? So many live their life ignoring any tugs by the Holy Spirit to surrender to the Lord, because they do not want to consider this truth: and it was appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:17. People don’t really want to believe that we will die and then face God’s judgment.
I think the sooner we swallow our pride and understand that we are not the exception to the Laws of Nature or the Laws of the Spirit we will be better off. I started physical therapy for my knee this week. I chose to leave certain items at the grocery store so I wouldn’t be tempted to consume the entire container of miniature cinnamon rolls. I’ve started paying more attention to my Fitbit, too. But the biggest thing, I have been journaling God’s instruction from His Word. As I read the seven things God hates in Proverbs, I took better note. I prayed for His wisdom and grace to actively listen and avoid the things He hates. We are encouraged to avoid gossip, to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, to cast our cares upon Him. There are no exceptions to these guidelines. If we submit to these and others like them, our lives will prosper much more than if we don’t. I know it is hard to admit we are not the exception….but God already knows it! Just agree with Him.
Father, I thank you that you don’t make exceptions to your mercy, your love and your gracious actions toward your people. I thank you for helping us all learn to submit to your will and your ways. If we do you promise we will prosper, and for that I am very grateful. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 