I remember when I was in high school, my Dad told me not to go to a certain movie with my friends. I thought that I knew better and I didn't want to let my friends down, so I stupidly snuck into the movie with some friends. Sorry Dad!
It is frightening to think of all of the times that I have done the same thing with God. It is terrifying when I think about the times that the LORD has spoken to me or impressed something on my heart, and I have not responded favorably.
The following verse arrested me today,
Now we know why in verse 2 it says, "The LORD was very angry with your fathers." Yes he was angry because of their disobedience. But even more than that, he was angry because they would not stop, listen, and turn to God. The second part of the verse says that "they did not hear or pay attention" to God. He was desperately crying out to them through the prophets (see the first part of the verse). He was seeking to get their attention so that they would turn to him and away from the other things that they elevated above God.
So grace helps us when we say "Yes" and disobey. But it also trains us to say "No" so that we won't disobey. May we trust Christ today for grace in our disobedience and allow his grace to train us so that we won't disobey.
[Zec 1:4 ESV] "Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.' But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD."
I know that no one can obey perfectly and I am infinitely thankful that Christ has obeyed and died for me. However we are still called to obey. In fact grace teaches or trains us to say no. In Titus 2:11-14 Paul writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." In verse eleven Paul claims that grace is from God, has now come, and brings salvation for all people. But he continues in verse twelve when he says that this grace trains us to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions."
