DETRIMENTAL DELAYS
SCRIPTURE: “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NKJV)
When we delay doing the right thing, isn’t that a form of disbelief? Does not our procrastination
suggest that the procrastinator ofttimes foresees no immediate or painful consequences? During their formative years I used to tell my three children that DELAYED obedience is a form of DISobedience. My goal as their loving mother was to teach them the inherent dangers of procrastination—not only in completing assignments, but in all of life.
It’s a problem that is much amplified in the news these days. Certainly, most of us live with a heightened awareness of the detrimental consequences that our own delayed repentance visits upon us as God’s people. Chronic carnality that goes unaddressed causes much disunity within God’s family; He, being perfectly holy, is repelled by it! Of course, Satan delights in it because he understands better than many Christians how the twin evils of carnality and disunity, thriving under the banner of delayed repentance, defeat God’s purposes in this world. These things simply ought not to be!
To delay dealing decisively each day with our besetting sins, such as unforgiveness, a contentious, and/or hypercritical spirit, petty envies and jealousies, selfish ambition—or ANY of those fleshly works listed in Galatians 5:19-21—is to court serious repercussions for us spiritually and relationally. Let us make this a year to become more serious than we’ve ever been in calling our individual sins what God calls them and cease tolerating and excusing them within ourselves! The day is coming when each of us will stand before the Lord of Glory and give an account of the deeds we’ve done (and sinful attitudes we’ve accepted) while in the body [Romans 14:12]. Don’t delay, but mortify them each day!
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to daily remember in the course of our busy-ness that apart from You we can do nothing. This applies no less to having a renewed heart for repentance of our besetting sins; these transgressions, we must never forget, are what sent Jesus our Lord to Calvary. Thank You, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
suggest that the procrastinator ofttimes foresees no immediate or painful consequences? During their formative years I used to tell my three children that DELAYED obedience is a form of DISobedience. My goal as their loving mother was to teach them the inherent dangers of procrastination—not only in completing assignments, but in all of life.
It’s a problem that is much amplified in the news these days. Certainly, most of us live with a heightened awareness of the detrimental consequences that our own delayed repentance visits upon us as God’s people. Chronic carnality that goes unaddressed causes much disunity within God’s family; He, being perfectly holy, is repelled by it! Of course, Satan delights in it because he understands better than many Christians how the twin evils of carnality and disunity, thriving under the banner of delayed repentance, defeat God’s purposes in this world. These things simply ought not to be!
To delay dealing decisively each day with our besetting sins, such as unforgiveness, a contentious, and/or hypercritical spirit, petty envies and jealousies, selfish ambition—or ANY of those fleshly works listed in Galatians 5:19-21—is to court serious repercussions for us spiritually and relationally. Let us make this a year to become more serious than we’ve ever been in calling our individual sins what God calls them and cease tolerating and excusing them within ourselves! The day is coming when each of us will stand before the Lord of Glory and give an account of the deeds we’ve done (and sinful attitudes we’ve accepted) while in the body [Romans 14:12]. Don’t delay, but mortify them each day!
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to daily remember in the course of our busy-ness that apart from You we can do nothing. This applies no less to having a renewed heart for repentance of our besetting sins; these transgressions, we must never forget, are what sent Jesus our Lord to Calvary. Thank You, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
February
People Are Laughing Out Loud at My BibleMe, Myself, and I (Depression)I Have to Qualify to Run the RacePreach, Preacher!Does He Know You?LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part II)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part II)PRAISE God for WITNESSES!Sock LintSock LintNO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part I)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part II)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part I)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part II)MORE THAN 'SUPER,’ MORE THAN 'HERO'!HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part I)HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part II)MAKE FEBRUARY THANKSGIVING HISTORY MONTHTAKE HEED HOW YOU WALKTrust and ObeySpiritual ImmaturityMake It PersonalCain was Able and So are YouClimate Change
March
Loving My SpouseStop! In the Name of Love!Ask Not, Have Not!Beneficial GraceThe Incomparable ChristRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IIDETRIMENTAL DELAYSFootprints On the Mountainside Part IFootprints On the Mountainside Part II...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...The Heartbeat of His HeartThe Wayward and The ObedientThe Potter and His Vessels of ClayGod Can Use Anybody!You’re Canceled!Today’s Assignment!There You Go, Again!I Messed Up!The Worker and The Work!Repent and Obey!God Can Reach Anybody, But Will You?Wonder Working PowerThere is Work for You to Do!Yes, God Does Reveal Himself to Us!Now Hear ThisImperfect, But Usable!Preach the WordGod Can Save AnybodyThe Hard WordThe Message of Salvation from God
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3 Comments
Amen! My sister, this is an encouraging and convicting devotional. Thank you. Praise the Lord!!!
So with what we've got, let us recognize the clock,
and bless across each minute while we have the time within it.
Amen.
Amen