Just as Israel was tempted to rely on other help other than what God provided, we may not place our total confidence in Him. We may be tempted to “supplement” our faith in God with a variety of earthly confidences: worldly wealth, wisdom, and power.
God expects us to grow to maturity in Christ, and we must decide to cooperate with His plan for our perfection in eternity. Spiritual growth is not optional. If we’re negligent or lazy right now, we can’t depend on grace to get us to heaven.
In the final analysis, what really are the components of genuine happiness? If we’re serious about answering that question, the account in Genesis 2 of Adam and Eve’s happiness in the Garden of Eden will be of more than passing interest to us.
As special as the relationship was that God entered into with the nation of Israel, that relationship was only meant to foreshadow and prepare for the even more special union between God and spiritual Israel, which is the church of Jesus Christ.
Whatever secondary benefits there may be to membership in a local congregation, the main one is spiritual growth. We always need to be asking: are we helping one another to grow toward maturity in Christ? If not, some adjustments need to be made.
The knowledge of God comes through the truth about Himself that God has revealed in the Scriptures. There is no knowing God without taking into our hearts the words of the Scriptures. To know God, we must learn what the Scriptures say about Him.
There is no greater foolishness than to ignore God — and no greater wisdom than to properly worship Him. We are glorious creatures made in the very image of God. Let’s not only recognize that fact but be exceedingly thankful for it.
Moses prayed for the people of Israel, “Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” We are wise if we seriously consider the end of life. Quality lives are the result of a definite choice we make.
There is no fellowship with God, even after we obey the gospel of Christ, if we do not live, or “walk,” according to God’s will. John said, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Paul wrote, “We make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). To have lived so that we receive God’s favor, standing before Him “approved” and with “no need to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15), will be a joyous privilege for those who have served faithfully.
