God’s ‘Suddenlies’

If you get off course, expect God to move suddenly in your life to correct you.

 

In a previous devotional entitled “Microwave Christians and a Crockpot God” I lamented that God seldom moves as quickly as we like and as we do. “Why can’t He keep up?”

Indeed.

However, once we’ve determined that God’s timetable is actually better than our own, we can turn to the other side of God’s timing – his “suddenlies.” This is the first of two parts on this subject. We begin by observing how fast He responds to our waywardness and disobedience.

 When God warned Israel against picking up the lifestyle of the people they were to destroy, He says,  “Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.” Deuteronomy 7:3,4 NLT  God moves quickly to let us know He doesn’t approve of our indifference to his instructions. He, however, is never indifferent to his investment in our lives and He will do what is necessary to get our attention.

And when God attempts to correct bad behavior and we persistently resist … well, here is what happens next: “Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1 NIV  “Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly—like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down.” Isaiah 30:13 NLT  There’s so much at stake in our obedience to him, that He doesn’t ‘ease in’ to the matter. He moves quickly!

 God also warns us about the uncertainty of life. He knows life can turn on us but assures us that He will be with us when it does. “People can never predict when hard times might come …  people are caught by sudden tragedy.” Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT

 He is not an absentee Dad! He stays aware and involved.

When we wander, lose focus, stop up our ears and close our eyes to his instructions, we can depend on him taking whatever steps He feels are necessary to keep us from destroying ourselves. And it’s to his advantage and certainly for ours, that He comes to save us from ourselves suddenly.

Gladly receive his ‘sudden’ correction to bad behavior. He loves you too much to let go of you!

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.” Provers 3:11,12 NIV

 Next week: Part 2 God’s Good Suddenlies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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