I woke up with the worst stiff neck of my life today. It hurt so bad I was crying, and asking God why the heck he let me have so much pain today. He says, "It's to tell you to take it easy. You don't have to save the whole world." Ok God. I'll try to remember that. :)
It made me want to write a brief blog on the topic of stiff necked people. The Israelites were referred to as a stiff necked people a lot because they were not humble and refused to submit to God's leading. If God leads you to do something or say something, do it, no matter how scary it is.
Have you heard the phrase "Bend the knee or have it broken?" Yep. You can either bend your knee willingly to God, or he can break your knees so that you will then bow to worship him. He is a jealous God. Sometimes he has to break us in order to get us to see him better. Our focus might be somewhere else and God says, "No look at me. I am the only thing you should be focused on. Thank you."
Here are verses about having a stiff neck:
Acts 7:51
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you."
This verse always stood out to me. A lot of Christians even resist the Holy Spirit. They are scared of the power of God. They want life to stay easy and predictable. They are scared of what the Holy Spirit might ask them to do. Don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. You will be glad when you learn to trust him.
Exodus 33:3
God said, "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
This is God talking to the Jews in the Old Testament. They were not flexible with God. They wanted things to go their way. That is why God called them stiff necked.
Romans 1:30
Slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents...
Proverbs 29:1
"He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing."
Be careful of resisting the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 17:23
"Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction."
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Don't be a fool. Be wise. "Wisdom is found in those who take advice" from God and others.
May God bless you!
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