DO YOU HATE GOD?
MEMORISE: There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30
READ: 2 Chronicles 13:9 -12
9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.
12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
MESSAGE
Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Apostle Paul said that because Christ loves Him, He gave Himself for him. We can infer a theorem from this - that when God loves you, He will give you His life. In mathematics, whenever we establish a theorem, there always has to be the corollary - something that follows as such a result of what just established. The corollary to our new establishment theorem is in Proverbs 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Herod was a man who hated God; he did everything he could to hinder the work of the Lord and he died a shameful death. After his death, the Bible says, "But the word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24). Anyone who tries to stand in the way of the Most High God hates Him and is calling for death.
Some time ago, in another country, we wanted to dedicate a new parish, but in the process of trying to get the necessary approvals, a government official swore to prevent it. My children called me to report the incident and, believe me honestly, l didn't even bother to pray about it. On the day of the meeting at which this government official was planning to have our application rejected, he put both feet into one trouser leg. While struggling with the trouser, he fell, hurt himself and was rushed to the hospital. He died with both legs still in one of the trouser.
You may claim not to oppose the work of God as directly as that. Do you discourage other people from submitting to the authority of your Pastor and the Heads of Departments? Do you steal money from the Church's purse, thereby making it more difficult for God's work to be done? You are hindering the work of God and anyone who does so is toying with death. A word is enough for the wise.
REFLECTION
Is there anything you are doing to hinder the work of God in your local church or environment? Desist from it now to avoid sudden death.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 39-41
HYMN 6: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAV'N
1 I am so glad that our Father in heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see:
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.
2 Though I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me whenever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.
3 Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me.”
