Don’t Take It For Granted

Hosea 5:6
When they go with their flocks and herds
to seek the LORD,
they will not find him;
he has withdrawn himself from them.

New Living Translation
When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the LORD, they will not find him, because he has withdrawn from them.

Amplified Bible
They will go with their flocks and with their herds To seek the LORD [diligently searching for Him], but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them [refusing t
o hear the prayers of the unrepentant].

Contemporary English Version
You offer sheep and cattle as sacrifices to me, but I have turned away and refuse to be found.

Good News Translation (https://biblehub.com/gnt/hosea/5.htm)
They take their sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the LORD, but it does them no good. They
cannot find him, for he has left them.

When something is granted it is yours officially and legally. When something is granted to you, no one can take it from you. When something has been granted, you no longer fear losing it. We should only worry about something that has not been granted.

When we say do not take something for granted, we mean that do not be so comfortable as if you can’t lose it. We mean that do not be so sure and fail to play your part. We are saying that act like someone who can lose it and therefore does everything to have it. Please do not take it for granted!

We take our lives for granted as if we can’t be affected by disease or death. We go about enjoying life without thanking God or taking care of our bodies. But those who are of age and those who have been sick and those who have experienced how suddenly good health can become a disaster have this advice for us – do not take it for granted! Do not assume because you are young and healthy that it will always be that way. Please do not take it for granted!

We take for granted the comfort we enjoy. We assume that it is normal to wake up and go to work. Until you meet those who lost jobs suddenly and discover that you should not take your daily routine for granted. It is not yours guaranteed, it can be lost. Please do not take it for granted!

You may be so used to your spouse that you think they have been granted and you have nothing to lose. For the sake of a good marriage and family, do not take it for granted, you can lose it. Please do not take it for granted!

The friends you have who keep checking on you can stop and after a while, you will be lonely and discover that the daily calls and texts should have been cherished more. Be close to your friends. Reciprocate their concern and kindness. Please do not take it for granted!

In our text today, Israelites took God for granted. They assumed that God can’t go anywhere they will always find Him. Israelites thought that if we bring offerings to God, we will obviously find Him. They took God for granted.

God tells Israel in our text today, that if they come looking for Him they will not find Him. Even if they come with offerings of high value, they will not find Him. They took God for granted and now they will pay for it. Please do not take it for granted!

It is not obvious that we will find God. It is not obvious that every sermon will touch us. It is not obvious that we will have the same experience in worship when we come back after disappearing into sin. Please do not take it for granted!

You can go to church and miss God. You can come with offerings and miss God. Do not assume that you can ignore Him now and catch up later. You may never find Him. Do not take this opportunity you have to be with God, for granted. Please do not take it for granted!

May God save us from the careless spirit that takes important things for granted. May we be saved from it. May we truly value this moment and everything and everyone God has given us, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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