My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge - Part 851

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 4:6) 

In the old covenant, people had a responsibility to align their beliefs and actions with God's commandments and Law. When these did not, the world that they knew around them changed. 

However, in contrast, the new testament is a period of grace, contingent upon our Lord God and Saviour shedding His precious blood on a cross -- so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all. "For by grace are [we] saved through faith; and that not of [ourselves]: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Thus, herein these latter times -- now -- we who believe in Jesus by faith are destined to become world changers -- fishers of men -- grounded in the knowledge that "we love Him, because He first loved us." (I John 4:19) 

"Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren." (I John 3:16) 

Indeed, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew Him not." (I John 3:1)

But this does not mean that once we believe, we continue aimlessly in our former life? Of course not. When we ask Jesus into our life, our minds and hearts are renewed. We are transformed. We willingly decide to become like our Saviour, desiring His destined plan for our life.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father ... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14:12-23)

What does this mean?  It means that when we believe in Jesus by faith, and seek His righteousness, we are to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22:37) This same statement is repeated in the book of Mark. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." (Mark 12:30)

Jesus told us that after He ascended into heaven ... "the Comforter [would come], which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:6) He will lead you into all truth. 

"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His son's name, if thou canst tell?" (Proverbs 30:4)

Not only do we need to know in whom we worship but Jesus elaborates on our faith. Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind ... and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27) Indeed, Jesus was so adamant about this point that He told His disciples, "A new commandment I give unto you, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you," that ye also love one another." (John 13:34)

What will this achieve? "By this shall all [men] know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (I John 3:18) 

Moreover, "love works no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the Law." (Romans 13:10) "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the Law." (Romans 13:8) 

Why? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

Therefore, hearken, my beloved brethren, "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" (James 2:5)

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world." (I John 4:4) So be constant in your faith, knowing that the same Lord God who created the world in the beginning loved us enough to die for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us. John wrote it this way.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:10)

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." (I John 5:3)

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (I Corinthians 12:13)

Be confident then in your faith, and be "persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

Stand in the offering plate.