Disobedience

God’s grace is amazing! He gives us what we don’t deserve. He offers the free gift of grace without conditions or strings attached. And it all started with his grace in the garden.

Temptation appeals to our senses—our spiritual, emotional, and physical senses. That was the lure for Eve in the garden, and we have followed the pattern ever since.

Where does temptation come from? The world? The flesh? The devil? Well, one thing we know for sure is that it doesn’t come from God.

Let’s face it. We are most troubled when we act in disobedience. When we’ve decided that our way is best, chaos reigns, and anxiety is amplified! On any road trip away from God, our personal fear rides shotgun. But the fear of the Lord is different. The fear of the Lord is clean and clear, like a mountain spring flowing from a life that demonstrates refreshing obedience. The unpolluted life follows God’s Word. There is no getting around it. Storms will come, and sometimes they are unleashed in our lives. Personal storms come through unmet expectations and unfulfilled dreams. Sometimes clouds of darkness from illness and grief build in our hearts: disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, and depression rain in our souls. But amid the storm—God is our stronghold!

The true believer has eternal security. No one can snatch us out of God’s hand (John 10:27-30). Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39). Our imperishable inheritance is kept in heaven for us “who through faith are shielded by God’s power” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV). But the assurance of our salvation does not allow us to live a sloppy spiritual life.

Have you ever heard a person say, “That terrible thing should have never happened to her. She is such a godly person.” Or have you heard a person say, “He got what he deserved. He was a wicked man.” I’ll admit to thinking and saying both. Today’s passage deals with those thoughts. Let’s read it and then unpack it. 

Whether the source is the world, the flesh, or the devil, at the end of the day we own our disobedience.

True repentance experiences the guilt of disobeying God and the desire for his forgiveness.

Here’s the hard truth. Whether the source is the world, the flesh, or the devil, at the end of the day we own our disobedience.