Have you noticed how many things come with a warning label these days? You can’t even get a cup of coffee without a warning label that say “Caution. Product may be hot.” Am I the only one that feels like it seems silly for a product that is supposed to be hot to caution me that the product is hot? But because someone spilled hot coffee on themselves while driving and sued, we now have warning labels that caution us that hot products are hot. As silly as such a warning label may be, we can be sure that when God gives us warning labels in His Word, we had better heed them.
God gave Israel warning labels because He knew Israel’s cycle that would lead to their destruction
Because God is all-knowing and He already knows what will happen in the future, God knew that Israel would have problems with forgetting Him and turning to idols. Over and over again in the Old Testament we see that Israel was stuck in an endless cycle of having peace in the land while serving God, followed by doing evil in the eyes of the Lord when they begin to worship false gods, resulting in God punishing Israel through another nation conquering them and enslaving them. Israel would finally figures things out and they cry out to God in repentance, then God would raise up a judge and Israel is delivered.
God gives warning labels because He knows how deceitful the heart is
We see this pattern over and over again. It’s no wonder then that our omnipotent God provided a warning to them. God knows just how deceitful the heart is. In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Solomon advised in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” The heart is a big problem and Satan knows our weakest spots and that’s where he chooses to tempt us.
God’s warning labels targeted Israel’s weakest spot
For Israel, it worshiping false gods — statues of images that they chose to believe were gods. Along with breaking the commandment of having no other gods, their worship of these false gods included temple prostitution and child sacrifices. Why would Israel turn their back on a God who delivered them out of Egypt? A God who had done many miracles? You’d think with all they had witness God do for them, they would be able to recognize a false god from the One true God, the great I AM. But Israel wanted to “fit in.” God called them to be “set apart,” holy, different from the world. But Israel wanted to be like everyone else.
We all struggle with “gods” of some kind
While it might seem silly that Israel would trade Yahweh for a cold stone or gold statue, we are not much different today. We all have “gods” of some kind that we struggle with. Anything that we make a higher priority than God, becomes a god. It could be money, food, power, position, hobbies, children, careers, possessions, or health. Even sleep could become a god when we choose to sleep in late on Sunday instead of going to church. All these things deceive us into thinking that our “god” will make us happy.
Finding True Joy
But true joy is only found in a right relationship with God and worshiping only Him. Therefore, Paul wrote in Romans 13:14, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” The clothes that we choose to wear often reflect our status, our values, and even our priorities. Paul uses a clothing as an imagery to portray the transformation that results from our relationship with Jesus Christ when we accept Him as Savior.
From Colossians 3:12, we learn that we are to “put on” certain godly characteristics that are a reflection of Christ himself: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” “Putting on” these godly characteristics is identifies our status as those who are holy, chosen and loved by God. So make sure that you are daily putting these on to guard your heart and that idols do not creep in and tempt you to put them before God.
God’s Warning labels can be found throughout the Bible
As we read the Bible, we can find God’s warning labels to us stashed throughout the Bible. We need to take heed of them because these warning labels are not there just for Old Testament Israel. God doesn’t want us to forsake Him and turn to idols any more than he wanted Israel to do so. So when you see warnings in the Bible and feel a tug in your soul, stop and ask the Holy Spirit: “What are you trying to warn me of here?” Then meditate on the verse and how it can be applied to your life. If you can’t relate it now, then hide that verse away in your heart for the time that you will need it in the future.
God, forgive us for when we’ve made things or people more important to us than You. Help us to guard our heart and to not be deceived by them. Help us to keep our focus on you and to daily put on the Lord Jesus Christ and the characteristics that reflect who you are. Make us aware of your warning labels you’ve stashed throughout your Word that are meant for our good.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
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Fight on my Knees
We all fight battles–relationship, financial, cancer, COVID, professional, educational and more. But no matter what the battle, it belongs to God. So, fight on your knees with your hands lifted high. (Based on the song, Battle Belongs, by Phil Wickham.)
Graduating Seniors
For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.
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Godfidence 
Anything is possible 
With my song I will praise Him 
All Things New 
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Steps of a Good Man 
Something New 
Seek and Find 
Revive Us Again 
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Path of His Commands 
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Beloved- Mr and Mrs 
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He Left 99 for Me 
Cast All Your Cares 
Giants 
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All things are Possible 
What the Lord Requires 
Living for the world to see Jesus 
Face Masks now available! 
All things are possible 
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Revive us again, Lord
New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.
God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.
We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.
Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
- Conversation Starters.
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
- Romance Builders.
- Relationship Builders.
- Personal reflections.
- Date ideas.
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
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