A few years ago I was looking for a part-time job. I came across a job opportunity for a reading teacher at the local community college. Since I am a former reading teacher, and have a master’s degree in reading education, I was qualified for the position. There was no reason to not go on the interview and accept the position. Except that God told me not to.
No, He didn’t audibly tell me not to take the position, but as I prayed for the opportunity and prayed through the interview process, there was still this uneasiness in my spirit. You see, even though I was definitely qualified for the position, it did not line up with where God was leading me. And due to the fact that my past proved I disliked teaching in an academic setting, it did not seem to be the position I should take.
But I took the job anyway only to resign a month later.
That is just one story of many I could tell you about me refusing God’s warnings. I am beginning to listen to His voice quicker, but I am also still a work in progress.
How often do you ignore God’s warnings?
In Matthew 26, Matthew tells us the story of Jesus sitting with His disciples and eating a last supper with them. After they eat, Jesus takes a walk with them to the Mount of Olives. Here Jesus gives His disciples a warning. He tells them that every one of them will fall away from Him that night.
Peter, as brash and passionate as he is, tells Jesus that the other guys may fall away, he will never fall away. Jesus then warns Peter again and tells him that he will, in fact, deny Him three times before the rooster crows.
Later Jesus gave Peter and two other disciples the honored privilege to step aside with Him and keep watch and pray. But even though Peter was warned that temptation was on the way, he arrogantly did not believe Jesus’ warning, and he fell asleep. When Jesus came back and saw Peter asleep He even questioned him. Jesus asked Peter why he couldn’t just stay awake and pray so that he wouldn’t fall into temptation.
It’s fascinating to me that Peter, having Jesus in the flesh right beside him, still did not listen to Jesus’ warning. I hope that if Jesus gave me a warning I would spend time fasting and praying to prepare for what was to come. But if I’m truthful, my past actions tell me I would be no more diligent in preparing than Peter.
What warnings is God giving you today? We do not have Jesus in the flesh beside us, but as Christians we do have the Holy Spirit. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. He warns us all the time of what is coming. Do you listen to Him? Do you spend your time preparing for the temptations and trials to come by praying and reading His Word and even fasting?
How are you going to begin now preparing for the warnings God is giving you?
The Summer Online Bible Study is staring soon, and I want you to join us! You don’t even need to buy a book!
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