The 78th Psalm mentions the very serious problem of ungodly
people who limited the Holy One of Israel. In Mark 5, we learn that,
because of indifference toward Jesus in Nazareth, "There He could do not
work..." When sinners "laughed Him to scorn..." (Mark 5:40), Christ
determined that He must go to regions that would not resist the truth. One
of the saddest scenes in the entire Bible is found in Acts 13:51, where Paul and
Barnabas shook the dust of an unfriendly place off their shoes and left because
the citizens of that area refused to listen to God's word.
As we consider the actions of those mentioned in Mark 5 and Acts
13, we should also consider our own actions and attitudes as we listen to the
Word being preached. Could it be that some of us are like those at
Nazareth whose attitude made Jesus move on to Capernaum? Are we guilty of
limiting the awesome power of Jehovah because of our neglect and self-pride?
Christ came to give YOU and ME "...life more abundantly..."
(John 10:10), but some will not come to Him for that life (John 5:40). To
have a lack of faith, a lack of devotion, or a lack of commitment will certainly
restrict the blessings that God has promised us. The only life that counts
is one that surrenders to the Master (Luke 9:23). Until, and unless, one
is ready to "...forsake all that he has..." (Luke 14:33) to follow Jesus, one
can never be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He tells us that
loving anyone or anything more than Him causes certain spiritual disaster
(Matthew 10:37).
We must have the wisdom to empty ourselves of vanity, hypocrisy,
and selfishness lest our lives become so shallow that only Satan could use us.
Somewhere along the years, I picked up the following thoughts. I
know not who wrote them, but they certainly fit our thoughts for this article.
Let us never limit God by:
1. Failing to pray for wisdom (James 1:5).
2. Ceasing to deeply study the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15).
3. Forgetting to tell others the Gospel story (Mark 16:15-16).
4. Leaning on our own strength (John 15:47).
5. Following the ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2)
6. Trusting in earthly riches and wisdom (Matthew 6:19-20).
7.Forsaking the worship assemblies (Hebrews 10:22-25)
8. Giving less than we should to God's cause (I Corinthians 16:2, II Corinthians
9:6-7)
Charles R. Rose (CRRose@iland.net)
Lincoln, MO church of Christ