The Right Thing To Fear
God judged Moab because she had grown accustomed to her ease and “settled on her lees“. Jeremiah used an illustration from wine production to explain what would happen to Moab. Over time, the lees (dregs) would settle and begin to change the smell of the wine. So as part of the purification process, the vessels would be poured and the wine filtered, and then the wine would retain it’s proper aroma. Amos said “Woe to them that are at ease…“. Because of the damaging affects of Original Sin, we don’t fully love the things we should love, we don’t fully hate the things we should hate. We fear the wrong things, our perception is off because of our sin nature. One of the things we should learn to both fear and hate is ease and comfort and complacency. Our flesh loves it, it loves to be coddled, pampered. It’s so easy, to “settle on our lees” in our Christian walk. But it is insidious, it creeps and when it begins to take over what happens? Our worship stinks, our prayers stink, our devotions stink just like the wine. In Romans 9.22, 23 we’re told there are two types of vessels, vessels of wrath fit for destruction (like Moab), and vessels of mercy (Believers). How does Jesus handle vessels of mercy? In his mercy, to keep us from complacency, he will tip our vessels over, mix things up, disturb us. Our reaction, is to think it’s not normal, but it’s good for us. We want to draw near to God, but so many times there things that hinder it. So when he tips me over and pours me out he filters some of those things out of my heart. Difficulty is SO good for us, our prayers are more focused, our worship is more full, devotion more rich and it no longer stinks. It is a sweet smelling fragrance before the Lord. Like Job said “…the Almighty troubleth me and makes my heart soft…“. Christian, complacency can be the death of you, it’s the right thing to fear, it’s the right thing to hate. I’d much rather be like Caleb, than Demas. I’d much rather our Church look like Smyrna than Laodicia. Do you hate it? Maranatha!
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