“But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seedin vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. 18 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. 21 ‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. ” Leviticus 26:14-22 NKJV
Lord our God and Father,
And here are the promises we do not always want to think about. Promises of retribution. But these are for those Israelites who choose to turn away from You God. Those who despise Your commandments and choose not to obey You. You use the word contrary. Those inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
Father I have had conversations in Bible studies on whether Christians can be unsaved and come to no conclusions. I have known a person who decided not to believe in You anyone and I have know people who have just slid away and not been interested. Those who have been disillusioned by the church and taken themselves out of fellowship. You are he only one who truly knows what is in a heart.And You do not give up on anyone. But I do not want to use this passage to judge others. You are the only one who can judge. It is a stark reminder to myself that I need to keep myself in a good relationship with You God.
I may mess up, I may slip, trip or be complacent but I know that You will draw me back, love me and lead me on. Jesus dealt with any retribution for my sin at the cross. I will do my best. I know trying harder does not bring Your holiness God. Jesus does so I will live the best I can.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 9th February 2026
No struggle to choose there is room for both or either . . .
Lyrics: Ian White
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.
Chorus
Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Chorus
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby