In Nehemiah’s prayer to God about his stubborn people, he says; “For many years you put up with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. In spite of that, they didn’t pay any attention. So you handed them over to the nations that were around them. But you loved them very much. So you didn’t put an end to them. You didn’t desert them. THAT’S BECAUSE YOU ARE A GRACIOUS GOD…” (Neh. 9:30-32)
My very dear brothers and sisters, it is extremely important for us to pay attention to the Lord God Almighty. God is very gracious and loving but as the writer of the book of Hebrews says, our “God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:29) So, let’s live in the graciousness of God, loving and serving Him in willing obedience…
“Now these things occurred as examples TO KEEP US FROM SETTING OUR HEARTS ON EVIL THINGS as they did…and they were written for our instruction…” (1 Corin. 10:6, 11)
Remember what Jesus said to the man, who was an expert in the law… “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT.” (Matt. 22:36-38)
GOD IS MORE THAN WORTHY OF THIS LOVE…
-Bill Stockham