"He protects all those who love Him, but destroys the wicked" (Psalm 145:20).
Throughout Scripture one is reminded over and over again that when a person obeys Him, God blesses that person. And when a person - or a nation - disobeys Him, God disciplines, just as a loving father disciplines his disobedient child because he loves him, not because of his wrath or any evil intent.
The Israelites, though warned many times that if they disobeyed God He would destroy them, finally had to be destroyed - after numerous warnings and disciplinings (including grievous plagues) - because of their disobedience (Deuteronomy, chapters 8 and 28; Amos, chapter 4). God still disciplines men and nations. It is a sobering thing to disobey God.
Someone has said, "We do not break God's laws, but God's laws break us." If we obey them, we are blessed. If we disobey them, we must suffer the consequences.
Scripture suggests that what applies to individuals and to nations also applies to Christian movements or organizations such as the one with which I have the privilege of serving our Lord. So long as I and the now more than 16,000 full-time and associate staff members continue to obey God, His hand of blessing will remain upon our worldwide efforts. If we disobey Him, He will not only withhold His blessings, but will discipline us as individuals and as a movement.
I pray daily that each one of us may determine to obey God implicitly.
Recognizing that the laws of God in the spiritual realm are just as inviolate as the laws of the physical realm, and that God blesses those who obey Him and disciplines those who are disobedient, with the enabling of the Holy Spirit I will seek to express my love for God by living a life of faith and obedience for His glory.
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