INTRODUCTION

Man’s opinion of sin and God’s opinion of the same sin are as different as heaven and earth. The Lord made this clear in Isaiah 55:8-9 [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
See All... when He said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, . . . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." A study of rebellion verifies this truth. Man describes rebellion as strong willed or independent, but God gives His description when He states that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." Like witchcraft, the Old Testament punishment for rebellion was death (Deuteronomy 21:18-23 [18] If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: [19] Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; [20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. [22] And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: [23] His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) King Saul knew what would happen if he rebelled against God (1 Samuel 12:13-15 [13] Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. [14] If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: [15] But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
  See All...). Yet, he did so several times (1 Samuel 13:9And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
  See All..., 13-14; 1 Samuel 15:18-19 [18] And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. [19] Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
  See All...). He died because of his rebellion (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 [13] So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; [14] And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
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• What is your opinion of rebellion? How does it compare with God’s opinion of the same? How will a faulty opinion on your part hinder your fellowship with the Lord?
• Do you sense any rebellion in your own heart? When did this rebellion first show up? What needs to be done on your part to yield your rebellion to the Lord?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to identify any rebellion in your heart.
• Ask the Lord to help you adopt His views on rebellion.

HYMN

Nothing Between

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