FAITH CAPSULE: Give self to the word of God to avoid self-determination ignorantly.
Genesis 19:14-26, Matthew 26:31-75
Ignorance makes a destitute of a believer. Believing in self or believing in man is not possible to believe in God by giving self to God’s word. Self-determination can be the root cause of ignorance to believe in self-direction over God’s direction in His word.
Determination is good, but it is not good enough to take the place of God’s direction. Determination that is rooted in ignorance will fail man. Believing in self’s over God’s direction is the kind of determination that will deny man from seeking help by focusing on the word of God. It is this kind of determination that caused Peter to deny Jesus ignorantly. In Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to Peter, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter was self-determined that he will not deny Jesus as he responded to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35) Peter could not see ahead just as Jesus was able to see ahead. Peter could have cried out to Jesus for divine intervention to keep him from denying Jesus. Truly, Peter later denied Jesus three times as stated by Jesus. Peter’s determination was the evidence of ignorance.
Man’s deliverance from destruction in the journey life is rooted in giving self to God’s direction but not giving to self’s determination. In each day there is a God designed plan and map for guidance and direction. Ignoring and disobeying God will set you back each day until it becomes evident that you are out of God’s way for your life. To be out of God’s way for deliverance and guidance is stepping into a way for self-destruction. Simple obedience to God’s direction for daily journey will get you to where God is taking you. As a believer of God, wake up and not allow self-belief to lead you to destruction.
Lot’s wife believed word of God indeed by moving forward out of destruction into God’s deliverance but allowed ignorance to look outside of God’s direction. God’s specified direction was given to Lot’s family in a day’s journey of deliverance from destruction. The book of Genesis 19:17 recorded, “So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, ‘escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.’” Ignorant of Lot’s wife was her determination to engage direction in her own way over God’s way. Genesis 19:26 recorded, “But his wife looked back behind him and she became a pillar of salt.”
Deliverance for Lot’s wife failed when she looked back outside of God’s word for deliverance. Determination to knowingly ignore God’s specified word for direction is an evidence of ignorance that makes a destitute of believer. Are you finding it difficult to obey God’s direction for your life? In the place of God’s word, avoid self-determination which will fail you.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of His strength not to be a victim of self-determination.