Instability: General Scriptures Concerning

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials.

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?” …

Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. …

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’” …

And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.

Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.

My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.

How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.

Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

The farmer sows the word. …

The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.

The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” …

Remember Lot’s wife!

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.

I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? …

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. …

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.

Wake up and strengthen what remains, which is about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God.

I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!

So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!