1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

            When we think about rebellion we often think about breaking the bonds from an unjust king. The United States was born of rebellion so we do not look at it as a negative thing. Spiritually it is sin. Rebellion was invented by Satan.

            If all it takes to be a rebel is to reject the word of the Lord, how close are we to treason, we who call Jesus Lord? It is not a kind thought. It is harsh to accuse. What if all it takes is to say; “I didn’t hear you!” The sound of my father’s voice echo loudly down the years of memory; “Come here when I call you!” I heard but I was afraid. Is that your excuse? Are you afraid? “I can’t.” “Don’t ask me.” “I’m not ….” You fill in the blanks.

            Christ died for us, we belong to Him. Rebellion is not allowed. He chastens those He loves. The truth is God is love and He desires a love response. We have nothing to fear in answering the Father. He has good things planned for us. How are you going to know what that is if you don’t answer?

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Don’t you want to be like that?

Ezekiel 43:11 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them. NASB

I have to ask, is this too much for me to understand? I’ve been studying the Word of God for decades and the more I learn, the more I understand that I do not know it all.

I am reminded of a judge’s admonishment about my ignorance of the laws of a town in which I had to answer a court summons. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

I could study the Word my whole life and never get to a point in which I put those commandments into practice. The end of the statutes is “to do them”. A some point we have to put them in practice no different than trying to make a living by spending all my time, effort and money in being a perpetual student. That is not a career.

How can I put in to practice that which I do not have an “all” understanding?

Matthew 22:27-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Well why didn’t Ezekiel just say so?

Because the purpose of “all that” was to point us to God’s perfect love, Jesus Christ. Then as we come to Jesus we “get it”.

1 Corinthians 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.