Tuesday, May 3, 2011

According to the benefit done

But Hezekiah did not make return [to the Lord] according to the benefit done to him, for his heart became proud [at such a spectacular response to his prayer]; therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 32:25 (AMP)

How do we handle the many faceted blessings of God who loved us while we were lost and estranged from Him?

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Romans 5:8 (Amp)

Do we "return {to the Lord] according to the benefit done to" us? In other words: Do we give Him our all or just a portion of our love, attention, energy and substance? Can we honestly say,

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (Amp)

To consider ourselves more highly than we should, to get puffed up and prideful about our accomplishments and achievements, forgetting the working of God in our lives, is a sure road to destruction.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (Amp)

Hezekiah showed himself to be a fool by not taking note of the Lord's spectacular response to his prayer and humbly proclaiming the greatness of God. Beloved, you and I must keep watch over, and guard, our hearts lest we find ourselves in the same situation as Hezekiah. God will not be mocked.

Let us always rejoice and be glad in our God who answers our prayers spectacularly.

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