Woe to them that strive....

GOOD MORNING!

 Isa 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

1) to strive, contend a) physically b) with words 2) to conduct a case or suit (legal), sue 3) to make complaint 4) to quarrel b) to contend against

 

Today...as we do life...may we take a look into our worlds from a distance. Do we seem to argue, clash, buck heads with a lot of people? Many of us would think we are pretty good people, right!?

 

When we seem to always debate our cause, constantly feel like we are contending to prove our points, leaving others feeling like we have beat them up...we are striving. May I point out something that may be difficult for us to hear and see in this verse?

 

Woe unto us that strives with our Maker! Some of us may think, "Well I don't strive with God, just people that frustrate me and don't understand me." Right!? If we strive with others, we are first striving with God, our Maker!

 

You say, "How can that be?" Because, God is in charge, overseeing all things! The very things we may be striving about, may be our training to show the love of Jesus! May be an opportunity to extend grace, to offer mercy, to give forgiveness without it being asked for!

 

We live in a world that is full of hate, envy, jealousy, disappointments...and the list goes on. The world doesn't need more fuel to the fire, it needs an giant extinguisher! The world needs to see JESUS!

 

Many of us have come from backgrounds that we have grown up, not seeing JESUS work and therefore we just do what naturally comes to us because its all we have ever known. Right?!

 

Even so, we are without excuse if we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says not to make friends with an angry man. God forbid, the children of God be angry and look no different than the world. The children of God bear the name of Jesus...we are Christ followers...Are we showing others who Jesus really is? We bear his name!

 

Its one thing to not identify striving and then as it is exposed dealing with it, its another thing to continue there in, constantly returning to the vomit. We are not only accountable, but responsible to be obedient to the scriptures.

 

Those that follow Jesus, MUST be INTENTIONAL to show Jesus at all cost...in all humility...in obedience to glorify His Name! Amen! Now some of us are taken off guard at times, and we can easily loose self control...however...I bet most of us are quick to ask for forgiveness and realize the bad timing and lack of patience, right! When we don't recognize it and think we are right, is when we are in big trouble...woe unto us!

 

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:14-17 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
 2Ti 2:24-6 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Today if we were honest with ourselves, is there anyone we are striving with? Have we given God and others the benefit of the doubt? Are we trusting God with the outcomes of our issues? Have we embraced that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood?  Are we fully persuade to follow Ephesians chapter 4?

What can we do today that will be different from yesterday and bring blessings for tomorrow?!!!

YOU ARE POSITIONED BY GOD AND HIGHLY FAVORED!!! LOVE OTHERS AS GOD HAS LOVED YOU!!! TRUST GOD FOR THE OUTCOME AND LET LOVE AND GRACE FLOW OUT TO OTHERS!!! GOD WILL DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND. AS MUCH AS LIES WITHIN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLE WITH OTHERS :)...