The Word of God has much to say
about CONSIDERING our ways, i.e., coming to one's senses. Would to God
that more people would consider their ways. I've witnessed the Gospel of
Jesus Christ to many people in my life, most of whom refused to even
consider what the Bible has to say. The average Catholic doesn't
know what they believe, and are at a loss for words when I explain to them
what their religion teaches. It is tragic that hundreds-of-millions of
people are following a religion that they don't even understand. How sad
and foolish!
What does God mean when He tells us to "CONSIDER"? It means we need to THINK. We read in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." The first step in getting right with God is to come to one's own senses! The large majority of this world's masses are out of their mind, and are following the Devil into perdition. God says in Isaiah 1:18... Come, let us REASON! Are you able to be reasoned with? Are you willing to CONSIDER your ways?
Here are several Old Testament Scriptures which speak about considering one's ways:
1st Samuel 12:24-25... "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."
We ought to consider the great things which God has done for us in America. Many people today think they have it so bad in life; but they never had to live in a Communist nation, where there is no freedom.
Job 37:14... "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God."
Psalm 8:3-5... "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."
It is horrible that young people, barely into their 20's, would dare speak reproachfully of God. How could a soul, who has only been in existence for 20-25 years, be so certain that there is NO God, and curse the name of Jesus? Oh that men would CONSIDER the wondrous works of God. The size of the universe is UNKNOWN. Scientists estimate that there are well over 200,000,000,000 galaxies in the universe, and some astronomers claim as high as 500,000,000,000 galaxies... but how do they know that? Mankind has NO clue as to how BIG the universe is! The universe could contain more galaxies than mankind has ever thought of. Who are we to say? Yet, mankind in his arrogance and sinful pride refuses to admit that he simply cannot know the answer to every question. Have you CONSIDERED the wondrous works of God?
Psalms 64:9... "And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing."
Ecclesiastes 7:13-15... "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness."
Everything in life happens for a reason. God is still on His throne. Matthew 10:29 tells us that not even a sparrow falls from the sky without God's permission. It's been wisely said, "When you can't see the hand of God, trust the heart of God." This truth is wonderfully evidenced in the Old Testament book of Esther. God is never mention, but we see Him faithfully working behind the scenes. This is why believers often say that "God works in mysterious ways." Isaiah 55:8,9 tell us that God's ways are above our ways, and His thoughts above our thoughts. We need to CONSIDER this fact. Thus, we shouldn't try to figure out God, for to do so usually results in God being placed on trial in our finite mind.
Ezekiel 18:27-28... "Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."
Haggai 1:5-7... "Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways."
What a needful truth for today! So many people are woefully ignorant of the truth of God's Word. I used to believe that people would eagerly forsake their false religion, if only I could adequately explain the truth of God's Word to them. Boy was I wrong. I learned that most religious people have NO DESIRE for the truth, and even if you prove them wrong with the Scriptures, they will continue to make every excuse possible. The truth is that people either want to obey the Gospel or they don't. In Romans 1:16 the Apostle Paul states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." If a lost sinner will not listen to the simple Gospel, i.e., the good news of Christ crucified, then nothing else will convince them, not even zombies from the dead (Luke 16:31). Let's face it, most Catholics love their religion, and all the hosts of Heaven could not convince them otherwise. This is why Jesus told the religious Jews in Mark 7:9... "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." If people would simply CONSIDER their beliefs, and the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the Bible is superior to their religion, then America would see widespread revival.
The New Testament also makes much mention of the word "consider":
Matthew 7:3... "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
So often, we only look at our own situation, and selfishly make decisions that suit us best. We are all guilty of being hypocrites at times. It is so easy for us to see everyone else's faults, and overlook our own. The truth is that anytime we point our finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at us! It is important that each believer CONSIDER the sins and faults in their own life before they embarrass and humiliate others for their sins. An old country song that comes to mind is Harper Valley PTA.
Mark 6:52... "For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."
This is a remarkable Scripture, and an important lesson for every believer to learn. This verse speaks of Jesus' disciples, whose hearts were HARDENED. Even the best of Christians can backslide and become hardened in their heart. The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed over 5,000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. Yet, the Bible says that the disciples didn't even CONSIDER the miracle. How often do we become discouraged because we fail to CONSIDER the miracles of God all around us. Only a complete fool would ask God for a miracle to prove He exists. Life itself is a wondrous miracle! The stars, sun, and moon are miracles which only God could perform. The human body is a marvellous miracle. Animals and nature are a miracle. There are millions of miracles all around us if we'd just CONSIDER them.
Luke 12:24... "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"
Luke 12:27... "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
It is interesting that the Bible tells us to CONSIDER nature, as evidence of deeper divine truths. Romans 1:20 states... "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Again, we read in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." God is clearly seen in His divine creation. Thus, there is NO such thing as a genuine atheist, only those who refuse to CONSIDER the world around them.
2nd Timothy 2:7... "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
Would to God that more people today would CONSIDER what the Bible teaches. Catholics have bought into the damnable lie that the Vatican has a "right" to add to the Scriptures; but, they do NOT have that right! Jesus told us in John 5:39... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! Yet, Catholics search their catechisms and ask their priests instead. Hogwash! Phooey on anything that steers us away from the Word of God. There is a great deficiency in the church today of vitamin B66, i.e., the 66 Books of the King James Bible. We need to CONSIDER what the Scriptures have to say!
Hebrews 12:3... "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
God only had one Son without sin;
but He never had a son without suffering. Every believer is an adopted
child of God. Jesus said in John 15:19... "If ye were of the world,
the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word
that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they
will keep yours also." Christians are an endangered species these
days. The world hates us, because they see Christ in us. If the world
crucified the Lord, should it be surprising that they persecute us
relentlessly? Not at all. When we suffer persecution, and Devil
sifts us as wheat, we must CONSIDER the suffering of our Lord, and the fact
that the world murdered Him, because they hated Him with a passion, and
without just cause.
Conclusion
The Word of God makes an appeal to each individual to CONSIDER one's ways. Most people today DON'T consider the Bible at all, and are hellbound in sin and unbelief. Hosea 7:2 states... "And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness..." Trust me, what HAPPENS in Las Vegas is RECORDED in Heaven! No one is going to get away with anything. We will all give individual account to God for the life we live, and the sins we commit (Romans 14:12).
Throughout the Scriptures, we are invited to CONSIDER the works and miracles of God, which should cause us to repent and come to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Won't you CONSIDER the fact that you are a sinner (Romans 3:10,19-23), and that the penalty for sin is death in Hell forever (Romans 6:23; 2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9; Revelation 20:11-15), but that Jesus Christ died upon the cross for your sins (Romans 5:8), by the shedding of His precious blood (1st John 1:7), so that you could be saved by faith in Him alone (Acts 4:10-12). Perhaps you're tired of playing church. Perhaps you're tired of belonging to a dead religion, that in comparison makes a funeral home look more exciting. Most religious people today are content in their false ways, and refuse to CONSIDER the truth of God's Word. "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways" (Haggai 1:7).
Have you CONSIDERED your ways?
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." ~Isaiah 1:18
