FAITH CAPSULE: The word of God is to be seriously engaged.

Genesis 18, 19

Those who know to take the word seriously are the ones God knows to talk to.
Are you hearing from God for your deliverance and preservation?
Have you been engaging the word of God with seriousness or with a joke? Knowing to do what the word says and not doing it is disobedience to the word of God. 
Disobeying the word of God is an indirect way of taking the word of God for a joke. 
A joke is something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement.; a matter that need not be very serious or does not present the expected challenge. 
The word of God is not to be taken as a joke.
God spoke to Abraham, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21) 
When God was to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of sin, He spoke to Abraham, and Abraham took the word of God seriously. 
Abraham took the word of God seriously and repeatedly interceded on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, but there was nothing in place for God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. 
God revealed His word to Abraham for the deliverance of Lot from destruction set for Sodom and Gomorrah.
The angels sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah approached Lot and said, “…Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” (Genesis 19:12-13) 
How much one knows God (not knowing about Him) will also determine how seriously one takes His word. 
Lot knew God enough not to take His word for a joke. 
Lot, not wanting his people not to be consumed by destruction, responded to the messengers of God, “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.” (Genesis 19:14) 
God is not a comedian. 
God is not in prank.
Every single word of God should not be a joke. 
If you do not obey the word of God, you have taken it for a joke. 
There was no further indication that the sons-in-law followed Lot to the ground to escape from destruction. 
You can avoid destruction by taking to the word of God. 
The word of God is for deliverance and preservation from destruction.

Prayer for today: Ask that the hand of God for deliverance and preservation will rest upon you.