RPG Adults
MORE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECT OF DOCTRINE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10
Hebrews 2:1-4
Psalm 51:1-19
“Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.”
MORE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECT OF DOCTRINE
There is no escape from God’s justice. The text says that such neglect receives a just recompense of reward. The reward of God’s justice can be very painful when one is in the wrong. King David was taught a lesson on this matter: he was negligent in his walk with God and in fulfilling the duties of his office. This led him to deviate from God’s Word and subsequently he ended up in the sin of adultery and murder. The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront him. Hearing Nathan’s story, David sentenced the man to death (that was the justice the man deserved for his sin). But when the truth dawned on David that he was that man, David confessed his sins and begged for forgiveness from the Lord. His repentance is recorded in Psalm 51. He was forgiven but justice demanded that he pay a penalty. The Lord told David that because he did it intentionally, the sword would not depart from his house. David had killed Uriah, therefore he would lose four sons in his lifetime. In the Mosaic Law, when a person steals one sheep, he has to pay back four times. Everyone must learn this lesson and not be negligent.
Negligence may mean missing out on God’s great salvation. Salvation can only come after the realization that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jesus came to fulfil that manifestation of God’s love. The Lord Himself spoke of it at first and it was confirmed by the Apostles. The knowledge of God’s plan of salvation was known all along in the Old Testament. It was fully realized at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel that He preached was very clear, but it was new even to the Jews who were familiar with the Old Testament.
The Apostles were selected to go out and teach people of all nations. They did not have any specific plan for their outreach, but the Holy Spirit guided them so that they reached out to every place possible. Here is where a concerned Christian must follow and serve with great diligence. He must walk with God and faithfully attend to his duty of reaching out. All who obey will escape the consequences of neglect.
THOUGHT: Diligence is a fruitful mindset for a believer.
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 51:12.)