Our God is the Faithful God
15/08/10 16:03
Moses
tells his fellow Israelites, just prior to them
entering the Promised Land, that their God was God.
He went on to say, “He
is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to
a thousand generations of those who love him and keep
his commands.” Deut.7:9
These words were not only a reminder to the Israelites but also an encouragement. For Moses knew that the Israelites, even though they were about to cross the Jordan into the land of milk and honey, were no doubt going to face trials of different kinds. He knew that even though God would be faithful to keep His covenant of love, the Israelites would still face warfare from the inhabitants in the land.
Moses wanted to remind them that no matter what difficulty they faced, God would be faithful to show His love to them. He would love them and increase their numbers. He would bless the fruit of their womb and the crops of their land, their grain, their new wine and their oil. He would bless the calves of their herds and the lambs of their flocks. They would be blessed more than any other people; none of their men or women would be childless, nor any of their livestock without young.
Modern day preachers like to win souls with Scriptures like that; emphasizing the blessings that come with giving their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. But often times the new convert becomes dismayed and turns away because of the difficulties they face, difficulties that they assumed Jesus would cause to vanish magically somehow.
You see, the Israelites’ venture into the Promise Land is a type, a foreshadowing, of a man or woman entering into Christ. The writer of Hebrews has much to say about this but here, all we need to know is that even though a person may find new life in Christ, he or she will nevertheless still face difficulties. For instance; we know that God has promised to take away the sin of every man and woman who looks to Jesus for salvation.
But it’s also true that every man and woman will reap what he or she sows. I know a man who spent years mocking God with an “outstretched neck” of pride. He lived in pride and haughtiness and cared very little about anyone but himself. He sold drugs and was finally caught and while in prison, gave his heart to Christ.
Even though God had forgiven him of his past sins, he still had to live with the consequences of his former life. It took years of trusting in God’s faithfulness and keeping His commands, but this man has found himself living in the Promise Land of Jesus Christ and knowing beyond all –That his God is God, He is the faithful God.
Last week we were involved with VBS and I believe it went very well –for what we set out to do. First, minister to the kids a single truth that we hope will bless them even in their young lives. Second, try to make it as exciting and fun with the financial resources that we had. And third, keep as much pressure off all those who labored for this ministry as we possibly could. And in this, God was faithful throughout the whole week and I do believe that we accomplished all three goals.
The single truth we wanted these children to know; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make thy paths straight.” For, if one could trust in the Lord with all their heart, despite any hardship or difficulty they may face, if they continue to acknowledge Him in all their ways, He will direct their path and they will discover that –Their God is God, He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant of love!
These words were not only a reminder to the Israelites but also an encouragement. For Moses knew that the Israelites, even though they were about to cross the Jordan into the land of milk and honey, were no doubt going to face trials of different kinds. He knew that even though God would be faithful to keep His covenant of love, the Israelites would still face warfare from the inhabitants in the land.
Moses wanted to remind them that no matter what difficulty they faced, God would be faithful to show His love to them. He would love them and increase their numbers. He would bless the fruit of their womb and the crops of their land, their grain, their new wine and their oil. He would bless the calves of their herds and the lambs of their flocks. They would be blessed more than any other people; none of their men or women would be childless, nor any of their livestock without young.
Modern day preachers like to win souls with Scriptures like that; emphasizing the blessings that come with giving their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. But often times the new convert becomes dismayed and turns away because of the difficulties they face, difficulties that they assumed Jesus would cause to vanish magically somehow.
You see, the Israelites’ venture into the Promise Land is a type, a foreshadowing, of a man or woman entering into Christ. The writer of Hebrews has much to say about this but here, all we need to know is that even though a person may find new life in Christ, he or she will nevertheless still face difficulties. For instance; we know that God has promised to take away the sin of every man and woman who looks to Jesus for salvation.
But it’s also true that every man and woman will reap what he or she sows. I know a man who spent years mocking God with an “outstretched neck” of pride. He lived in pride and haughtiness and cared very little about anyone but himself. He sold drugs and was finally caught and while in prison, gave his heart to Christ.
Even though God had forgiven him of his past sins, he still had to live with the consequences of his former life. It took years of trusting in God’s faithfulness and keeping His commands, but this man has found himself living in the Promise Land of Jesus Christ and knowing beyond all –That his God is God, He is the faithful God.
Last week we were involved with VBS and I believe it went very well –for what we set out to do. First, minister to the kids a single truth that we hope will bless them even in their young lives. Second, try to make it as exciting and fun with the financial resources that we had. And third, keep as much pressure off all those who labored for this ministry as we possibly could. And in this, God was faithful throughout the whole week and I do believe that we accomplished all three goals.
The single truth we wanted these children to know; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make thy paths straight.” For, if one could trust in the Lord with all their heart, despite any hardship or difficulty they may face, if they continue to acknowledge Him in all their ways, He will direct their path and they will discover that –Their God is God, He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant of love!
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