Splinter Literature|Sep
“Consider Your Ways”—Self-examination Begins NOW!
By David C. Pack
In previous announcements, we covered the big elements of the “Church of God” landscape that will change in light of the Haggai prophecy. We saw reunification of God’s people will explode the size and scope of God’s Work and that brethren will be together for the Feast of Tabernacles, Sabbath services, socials, Spokesman/Graduate Clubs, youth camps, Ministerial Conferences, college and more. Obviously, these changes will be BIG, but in a sense not as big as those that must occur in the lives of individual Christians. YOU must be ready to give up doctrines, traditions, practices, policies and standards that you have unwittingly (or wittingly) absorbed. This EIGHTEENTH announcement covers how God’s people, throughout the splinters and slivers, must examine themselves.
While Haggai 1 was previously explained, brief review is necessary. Recall what God twice tells the remnant: “Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts; CONSIDER YOUR WAYS” (Hag. 1:5-7).
One of the Bible’s most profound passages has become one few any longer read: “Seek you the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:6-9). Most people live their lives generally believing their ways and thoughts are probably much like God’s—that God is sort of like they are. They assume they are generally pleasing Him. They do not live with the daily reality that they fall far short of what God expects—as far “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” And this would be under normal circumstances. Add that God’s people today are in the wake of an apostasy. They are divided, involved in every kind of wrong conduct (ways) and thoughts, while participating in a variety of humanly devised “works of God.” And they have accepted a host of false doctrines. How much more would the God of Isaiah 55:6-9 expect you to “Consider your ways” today, and to do this with zeal and drive because of the urgency of our times? This passage by itself should help you understand WHY God says to “Consider your ways.”
In previous announcements, we covered the big elements of the “Church of God” landscape that will change in light of the Haggai prophecy. We saw reunification of God’s people will explode the size and scope of God’s Work and that brethren will be together for the Feast of Tabernacles, Sabbath services, socials, Spokesman/Graduate Clubs, youth camps, Ministerial Conferences, college and more. Obviously, these changes will be BIG, but in a sense not as big as those that must occur in the lives of individual Christians. YOU must be ready to give up doctrines, traditions, practices, policies and standards that you have unwittingly (or wittingly) absorbed. This EIGHTEENTH announcement covers how God’s people, throughout the splinters and slivers, must examine themselves.
While Haggai 1 was previously explained, brief review is necessary. Recall what God twice tells the remnant: “Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts; CONSIDER YOUR WAYS” (Hag. 1:5-7).
One of the Bible’s most profound passages has become one few any longer read: “Seek you the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:6-9). Most people live their lives generally believing their ways and thoughts are probably much like God’s—that God is sort of like they are. They assume they are generally pleasing Him. They do not live with the daily reality that they fall far short of what God expects—as far “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” And this would be under normal circumstances. Add that God’s people today are in the wake of an apostasy. They are divided, involved in every kind of wrong conduct (ways) and thoughts, while participating in a variety of humanly devised “works of God.” And they have accepted a host of false doctrines. How much more would the God of Isaiah 55:6-9 expect you to “Consider your ways” today, and to do this with zeal and drive because of the urgency of our times? This passage by itself should help you understand WHY God says to “Consider your ways.”
Published June 14, 2013