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Daily Inspirational Devotionals
When God Scolds There is so much more we would like to say about this. But you don’t seem to listen, so it’s hard to make you understand. (Hebrews 5:11) Have you ever sat in church behind a couple of bratty kids? I did, just a couple of weeks ago. I was out of town and sitting in on a Sunday morning service, and two rows ahead of me were a couple of boys who were bouncing off the ceiling. Every person in the vicinity was distracted by their antics. I lost count of how many times their father told them to sit still and be quiet, but they refused to listen. Throughout the service they continued to jump and squirm and pinch each other. And they were old enough to know better—that’s what was most irritating. At one point the father was scolding the older of the two, and the boy simply closed his eyes and pressed his hands tightly over his ears. Though he knew he was wrong, he didn’t want to hear about it. He refused to listen. Aren’t we a lot like that sometimes? Aren’t there times when we know God is telling us to straighten up and act like Christians, and we respond by closing our eyes and covering our ears? We read a Scripture that convicts our spirit, yet we choose to simply keep reading and shut out the convicting thoughts. A pastor gives a word that seems as if it were meant just for us, and we nod introspectively but forget about it by the time we get home. God’s Spirit whispers a word of caution into ours, and we shrug it off and go our merry way. The writer of Hebrews faced this same attitude among the first century Jewish Christians and addressed it head-on in his letter. “There is so much more we would like to say to you about this. But you don’t seem to listen, so it’s hard to make you understand. You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food” (Hebrews 5:11-12). They were acting like bratty children, so that’s how the writer of Hebrews chooses to treat them. They refused to listen like adults, so he doesn’t talk to them like adults. At times I wonder what a letter to us might sound like. When God scolds his people, he means business. When he speaks, it’s our responsibility to listen—and to respond accordingly. Anything less is an insult to our heavenly Father.
Today’s Reading Hebrews 5:11-13 Reflection How do you respond when God convicts your spirit? Is there anything in your life that he is scolding you about today?
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The best-selling Left Behind series has captured the attention of millions of readers, and it has changed lives. It has brought millions of believers the motivation to examine their hearts. Are you ready to embrace eternity? Live each moment as if it could be your last? Your future is more important than your past. Where you are going matters more than where you have been. What you do from this day forward means much more than what you have already done. You may be affected by your past, but you are not defined by it. Not in the eyes of God. What does it mean to embrace eternity? It means grasping each breath as if it could be your last, living life moment by precious moment with your feet planted firmly on earth but your heart aimed squarely at heaven. It means learning to embrace the role of dual citizenship—living in one world while belonging to another. It is a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow and then dying so that your real life can finally begin! This 365-day devotional explores the themes introduced in the Left Behind series—themes of salvation, grace, obedience, and faith. New believers as well as mature believers will find a message of faith that will inspire and motivate daily.
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