Stirring things up

Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain. Deuteronomy 9:21 (ESV).

In the span of less than six weeks we can forget Him and the ways he has set for us. In the midst of all we do, God cares for us. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:6 to stir up our spiritual gifts. We are not to forget God or what He’s called us to do.

We have a responsibility to help one another. In Hebrews 10:24 we are told to continuously care and watch over one another how we may stir up to love. In taking Peter’s example we are to hold one another in remembrance (2 Peter 3:1).

So why are we reminded one this need? We are too often a stiff-necked people, set on going our own way. While we may become excited by what God is doing, if we take our eyes off of him, we lose focus.

The Hebrew people had an outward manifestation of God leading them, yet they forgot. We have an inward pledge of God Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit to guide us. But we must be ready to converse with Him daily, to give Him freedom to act within our lives.

When we sin, we can ask for forgiveness and receive it. We are to remove every idol from us, including our idle thoughts and wayward glances. If we allow God, He will wash us with His Holy Spirit, not only cleansing us, but rejuvenating us to new growth.

If we are not found stirring ourselves or one another, God will attempt for a period of time to get our attention. He will empty us of distractions so we may turn to Him. God will shake the heavens and the earth so that we might release what we are holding onto.

I shook out my lap and said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from [the exercise and fruits of] his labor who does not keep this promise! So may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise. Nehemiah 5:14 (AMP)