Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.” And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message. This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore— too many to count! There would have been no need for your destruction, or for cutting off your family name.”
Isaiah 48:16‭-‬19 NLT

It seems we have come to think we can have it our way. But having it our way means God does not have it His way. Which of the two do we think He will bless??

Because we don’t get zapped with lightning we think we have gotten away with something??

Like the Good Parent He is, if His kindness doesn’t teach us obedience, He will resort to harder and harder lessons. And because He is God, and perfectly just, if we insist, we will experience His judgment. His will is His way. It is our choice whether we will experience His favor, or the terror of His judgment.

We are not told to exhaust ourselves jumping through hoops trying to please a stern and judgmental god. Our God is loving and kind, and “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

This is why…

“…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

When we truly believe Jesus is the Savior who died for us and offers His salvation to us, we must…

“…repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 NLT

This is the beginning of a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit teaches and guides and corrects us, enabling us to live the holy life He requires…

“For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:16 NLT

It is the favored way to live, and being in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a beautiful thing. When we sin, because no one is perfect…

“...If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
1 John 1:9 NLT

Fellowship is restored, and we keep walking, secure in our Father’s love for us.