Don't Forget

Read Deuteronomy 8

God led the Israelites from Egypt through the desert to humble and test them. He wanted "to teach them that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God," Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV. Yet when they were hungry, He gave them bread from Heaven and
when they were thirsty, He brought water out of a rock. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Still the people grumbled and didn't trust God. A whole generation died in the desert for lack of trust before Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

I, too, lived in the desert, failing to trust my God and my Savior, choosing my ways over His, day after day and year after year. I, too, died there (spiritually). Thinking I was good for nothing, I didn't want to go on. I didn't know how to make things right, but God did. He sent Jesus to take away my sin and give me a new life, a life of trusting Him. Wow! why didn't I do this before? I don't have to depend on my own wisdom or strength because I can trust God for all I need. Oh, life didn't become magical or problem free, but now I have a Friend to walk with me, counsel and comfort me.

Now check this out. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. It makes me think of my time in the desert. I was tempted and fell into sin. Jesus didn't. He used words from Deuteronomy 8 in response to the devil's tempting to turn the stone into bread. "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God," Matthew 4:4 NIV. Jesus was tempted as we are--by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, but every time He used God's word in defense. That is what He wants us to do too, to know God's word and apply it.

Application
Before Jesus went to the cross, He was with His disciples at the Last Supper and said, "Don't forget me! Don't forget why! Love others as I have loved you. God's love is the answer to our deepest need. Will you let God love you today? forever?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I pray for those reading this post, that they may know Your amazing love and respond. Amen.

From Grumbling to Thanksgiving

When the Egyptians came to the Red Sea to attack Israel, they had weapons. Israel had God, and He defeated Egypt. Do you think Israel trusted God after that? Not really. Moses listened to their whining and complaining, "What will we eat? What will we drink? Where is God? Where's the meat?" Sounds like a bunch of kids doesn't it?

I'm trying to get a picture of this: More than 600,000 people in the desert. No McDonalds, no Starbucks and no Diet Coke. I probably would have complained too. Yet God drew water out of a rock, manna from Heaven and quail flew into Israel's hands. The Israelite's clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

Application
We can be thankful because God really cares about His people. Jesus said, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26 NIV)

Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us and providing for us and protecting us. We could not live a minute or an hour or a day without your love. Amen.

Sneak Preview

Have you wondered what the end times will be like? God gives many clues in the Bible. Have you noticed the similarities in the book of Exodus and the book of Revelation? In Exodus, God's people had been in slavery for over 400 years in Egypt when He sent Moses to the Pharaoh to say, "The God of Israel says 'Let my people go!'"

"Who is this God?" asked the king. He didn't know and he didn't care. God destroyed him and all of Egypt.  He used every one of the ten plagues against the gods of Egypt and all who worshiped them. The gods had eyes that couldn't see, ears that couldn't hear and mouths that couldn't speak. They had no power to fight against the one true God of Israel.

Life on earth changes through the ages, but God never changes. Our gods may not be made of wood or stone, but if they separate us from a relationship with God, we can be sure that we will not survive the coming destruction. God rescued His people before the flood of Noah's time and before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Egypt.

It may appear that our God is judgemental and unmerciful. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He lovingly created us in His image. We are the only beings on earth that have the abilities to choose and create and control. Yet He made us for His pleasure and for relationship with Him. He knew we might choose our ways over His, so He made a way for us to change that and spend eternity with Him. That was through His Son whom He sacrificed on the cross to redeem us from our sin. Jesus did that willingly because He could see the treasure on the other side of the suffering--all of us together in God's kingdom.

Have you accepted God's amazing love? If so, you have a great hope in heaven, eternity with a God who loves you more than you can imagine. If you haven't, you can say His name now. Don't put it off. No one knows how much time we have left, but God is waiting for the last person who will surrender to Him. That is awesome and merciful. Maybe that person is you. Say yes to God's love today. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is waiting at the door of your heart, (Revelation 3:20).

When you say His name, simply pray this prayer: Thank you God for loving me. I'm sorry I haven't lived my life pleasing to you, but I want to change that today. Come into my heart and help me live for you. Amen.