2 Chronicles 24:20
"Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoida the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, 'Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord. He also has forsaken you.'"
Know this: God knows when you trespass against his commands, and in response, he withholds the touch of his Spirit from you. These are tough words which show us God's tough love.
A trespass is a purposeful sin against God and his commands. Everyone knows most of the Ten Commandments. When we choose to speak in opposition to the command, "Thou shall not lie", we enter into a trespass against God. It's like climbing the fence that surrounds a property marked with a "no trespassing" sign. With a trespass, there is no doubt. We have chosen to move into the wrong and are in danger of being caught. And with God, you're always found out!
Zechariah warns Israel that God knows their purposeful sin and in response they will not prosper, either individually or as a people. Whenever God's people forsake him, we are in danger that God's Spirit will also forsake us in our sins.
It's God's way for the Spirit to be empowered in our lives when we're obedient to the Lord's commands. When were not obedient, the Spirit's power is taken away. We forsake God and he forsakes us as an act of discipline. That's God's love for us--a love that leaves us alone to suffer the consequences of our sins in order for us to willingly turn back to the Spirit's touch.
As a believer, we've received God's promise that he will never leave nor forsake us. But still, his Spirit of power is withdrawn from our lives whenever we choose to trespass into sin. God's desire is for your return, recognizing yourself as the prodigal and seeking his abiding Spirit.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for your tough love, taking away the power of your Spirit in me whenever I choose the way of sin. Amen.
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