What Do I Do When I Have Been Disobedient? - Day 2

Alright so yesterday I left you to think all day about maybe some of the things that we let take the place of God in our love relationship with Him.  We said that allowing something to replace God in our lives is an act of disobedience.  So let's look at the first step of what we need to do when we have disobeyed

Realize your disobedience.

Read Revelation 2:1-5 again....

Revelation 2:4 warns us, "you have abandoned the love you had at first."

I used to work with disobedient students all the time when I was a coach/teacher back in Knoxville.  It didn't matter what I asked some kids to do, even if it was the simplest thing in the world, it would turn into a circus of disobedience and disrespect!  I remember telling a kid one time that he was gonna have to wait like 10 minutes before he could go to the water fountain because we were right in the middle of a test....simple to understand right?  I mean I didn't even tell him no....I just told him he had to be patient for another 10 minutes.  Well this kid went on a rampage....he shoved all his books in the floor, screamed out some "fun" school words, and made the biggest scene ever!  It ended up with him going to the office and spending the rest of the day in in-school suspension....all for a drink of water!

We are disobedient to God everyday.  Does it sometimes come off looking like the kid I just mentioned?

Ephesus was one of the most important (if not the most important) cities in Asia Minor.  It was located at the mouth of a river and was an important commercial and trade city.  The church at Ephesus was a very important and prosperous church.  Paul planted the church and it grew quickly.  It had been challenged by false prophets and the church had risen up and removed those men from the congregation.  The church had done many great things for the kingdom of God.  But, along the way, their priorities had shifted and their love for God had diminished.

It's really tough for us to admit when we have done something wrong.  We try to blame everybody except ourselves.  It is hard for us to take responsibility for our actions.  Disobedience surfaces in a person's life in a lot of different ways.  For many folks it's through actions, words, or how we behave ourselves.  God has the ability to look into a person's life and see areas of selfishness and rebellion.  It is important for us to realize our disobedience and stop trying to hide it.

What would be some positive things God would say in regard to your obedience to Him?  What about negative comments?

So the first step for us to take is really the toughest....to realize that we're in the wrong.  The challenge today is for you to try to step up and admit where you are in the wrong with God and admit it to him today!

Alright we'll see all our Bridge Ministry folks tonight at the church at 4:45!  Gonna be a blessed time tonight!  Check out Facebook for more info on the rest of the Take Back the City event this week!  Later.

Heffe