Neglected Blessings
When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.
Hosea 13:6
Why is that when times are good? When there’s food on the table. A job, money coming in , Bills are paid. Your life seems to be the best it has ever been, we forget the Lord?
It is a strange and horrible part of human nature that when times are good, we often forget the God who blessed us. We are good in those times. Not many want to hear about the Kingdom of Heaven, “No I’m good”. Those are the times we are more likely to turn our hearts away from God.
But when times are hard, things are dropping on your shoulders. The weight and the pressure are so heavy. And nothing is going right. Those are the times we will look for an answer. We will go from place to place trying to fill the hole in our hearts. God is saying I was with you in the wilderness. I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought. And He provided. God didn’t change we did!
Jesus is still the one and only Savior. Israel was far from Him. Like a Good Shepherd, He is trying to bring back His called, His people back to Him before the great destruction.
He is still doing that today, are you listening?
People will come to the Altar, they will say a prayer and think they are good to go. Now they leave, and the emotion wears off. Then they live their lives like Hell but expect Heaven!
This is not a game.
Anything that is not of God, any that don’t put their trust and faith in Jesus . Those that have confessed but have walked away will be left desolate.
“So I will be to them like a lion; Like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.
Hosea 13:7-8 NKJV
When we neglect and forget God and all His Blessings in our lives we will often face the chastening ,the correcting hand of God. It’s not because God hates us, but because WE have demonstrated and shown Him that we will only turn to Him when times are bad.
When Israel rejected the LORD as King, He gave them the kings and rulers their hearts wanted and deserved. Israel wanted to be under the protection of man instead of God!
As soon as you take God out of life things become chaotic. It may seem good for a time. But times change, Rulers and kings change. Society changes, what’s acceptable by man’s eyes changes.
God never does! That’s the pain of free will. Israel had the opportunity to make the conscious decision to follow. Instead of seeking first the Kingdom they sought after what the World had to offer. It led them to destruction.
This is a question we often hear.
How can a loving God do such horrible things to nations and people? How can He just watch them suffer?
Let me say this. It’s never a Father’s intention to see His children suffer. He wants the best for us. He continues to give us the breath of life even in our most disobedient acts we perform directly to His face!
Jesus says His Kingdom is not here. And that in this world we would have trouble. Then He says to take cheer, have joy, take comfort, because He has overcome the World and where He is going that’s where we will be. And the loving Father is calling His children back to free them from the chains of this world and to have freedom in His Son for an Eternity!
But we, like Israel, get caught up in the things of this World!
The wages for sin is death.
Yes, all of us will die. It’s appointed for all to take a last breath. The Lord’s main concern is not having an easy life here. His concern is having His son His daughter back with Him for an eternity.
Is that an evil and mean God? He is begging to be restored to us!
God will always give you a way out, even when we take His Blessings for granted. Even though we are still sinners.
The whole reason He sent His only begotten Son was to give the ones created in His image to become a son and daughter.
We all have stumbled. We all get tripped up. That’s OK.
We all stumble at some point. We momentarily lose our balance. That’s not the issue, the issue is falling face first and staying there.
But the Father calls His children, return. How?
Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.
Hosea 14:2 NKJV
The Lord says :Take words with you, and return to the LORD”
In returning we have to come back to Him on His terms, not our own.
He wants you to return to Him not with a silent feeling or emotion in your heart, but with a proper spoken word of repentance and then trust that His promise to forgive you and restore you is true! That He will make you whole again. That when you confess your sin that He will Remember it no more.
How? We get caught up thinking that it has to be some long speech. We make it much harder than it should be! Fancy words are not necessary to make sure God is listening.
This what God tells Israel to say
Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.
Hosea 14:2 NKJV
God commands us to communicate with Him in words, not only ideas or feelings.
Never neglect the Blessing the Lord has given you. Even the breath in your lungs is His gift. If you have taken Him for granted, return to Him. Humbly confess to Him and acknowledge that you have neglected Him. When you stumble, get back up with His stretched out Mighty hand to help you back up.
He is faithful to receive us graciously!
When we come in total surrender. In total Humility to the Throne of God by the Blood of His Son Jesus ,then we realize ;
Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.
Hosea 14:9 NKJV
Remember this. The righteous and wise never neglect the Blessing the Father of all creation gives, even the very breath you just took in!
Pastor Ed
