Danger ahead…
Deuteronomy 8:20, “Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish ; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.”
Chapter 8 of Deuteronomy is a hard to read; not because it’s difficult to understand, but because it’s so easy. Some people might say it’s as plain as the nose on your face.
The Israelites did not deliver themselves from Egypt; nor were they able to provide for themselves in the desert. God provided manna for them when they were concerned about not having enough to eat, and God gave them water from the rock of Meribah when they were thirsty; and when they got tired of manna God even provided quail for them so they could have meat. Deuteronomy 8 is a reminder to the Israelites that without God they would still be in Egyptian slavery, and if it weren’t for God they would have died in the desert.
At my church, we are going through a study by Pastor Ken Adams of Crossroads church in Sharpsburg, GA called “Discovering Your Life’s Mission”. One of the central verses that Pastor Adams uses in that study is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
A lot of times we get the same mindset that the Israelites had; we begin to think that it’s all about us, and what we have accomplished. When we start thinking like that we are headed for serious trouble. If we ever forget that without God we would still be in slavery to sin then there is a very real danger that we will fall back into slavery, and away from God. If we ever get like that then we place ourselves in danger of receiving the judgment of God.
We usually like to think of Jesus as a humble, loving God, and He is; but there is another side to God that is just as real as His humility. Jesus told the church in of Pergamum in Revelation 2:12, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write : The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this :13’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.14’But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.15’So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.16’Therefore repent ; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.”
We have a tendency to forget this image of Jesus, and replace it with the image of Jesus surrounded by children which is a good picture to keep in our minds, but we must never forget the other image because His judgment is coming, and if we fall away then we are putting ourselves in danger of that judgment.
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Father, I thank You for loving me enough to send Your Son to deliver me from slavery to sin, but I ask that You help me remember Your judgment that I will stay close by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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The image above can be found at:http://www.eborg3.com/Graphics/Bible/66-Revelation/0-Rev19.htm
Yes, You Can Ministry 