I don’t want to!

Note: Every time I tried to record this something happened to disrupt the recordings.  Some of you may have seen an incomplete reel on Facebook.  So rather than record this, I am just going to post the outline. 

If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19-20 NKJV)

There may be some question as to whether this verse is a new testament principle, but I do believe that being willing and obedient brings spiritual (not necessarily physical) blessing and refusing and rebelling is going to cost us, at least when we consider eternity.  

Doing what we don’t want to do!

My foster granddaughter on Sunday was asked to do something by her foster grandmother and I heard her say, “I don’t want to!”  It caused me to ask how many times we do that to the Lord.  For example:

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ “He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. “Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32 NKJV)

Current culture does not change God’s plans

Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV)

Our Choice is not always God’s Choice

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ (Luke 19:14 NKJV)

Caleb and Joshua had faith in God’s promises, Do we?

Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God: (Deuteronomy 1:26 KJV)

The Rebellion of the Nation of Israel

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 KJV)

What won’t WE do?

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:45 NKJV)

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John 3:23 NKJV)

The Lord’s Example

Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV — Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Our Fallen Nature

Romans 1:28 NKJV — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased (corrupt or reprobate) mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

 

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of July 26, 2026

If you would like further conversation about the issues in these meditations, contact me at collinsbd@yahoo.com and I will try to accommodate you with a virtual Bible Study.