"Lest We Forget God"

  It's one of the most seductive parts of our souls. We see it so many times and it's heart breaking. Israel was known for it over and over. The early church was warned about it and we see it happen. As we gain in knowledge or we become a little lazy and start embracing others and their ideas, whether through reading, listening to some broadcast or just friends. 

  God speaks to Moses in Deut. 8 telling them how the people are stubborn and they turn aside from listening to the voice of the Lord through His word. Moses said they turned aside quickly. We come to the Hebrew writer speaking warning us to not harden our hearts and provoke the Lord as they did back at that time (Heb. 3). When the Lord speaks there is only one of two things happening: (1) We heed with reverence and love moving us deeper into His things or (2) We harden our heart and not take things seriously moving away. Blessings from God can end up being our curse!! Why? Because we get too comfortable and in that comfort arrogance can set in. Here we find ourselves in great need of a Savior. Our hearts are humble seeking His presence. Salvation comes. We rejoice. Praying and listening to the word of the Lord is a top priority. Then something slowly begins to happen. As blessing flow and we are lifted completely out of the mire we take a nose dive! We start fading in our resolve. We allow other things around us to take our attention and love. Yet somehow we can't see what is happening. Our love for the Lord begins to wain and we take it easy. We don't admit that but then we just don't have that same fire, that same resolve. Our lives adopt other thinking and ways. It's all a slow process but we move that direction. 

  God wants our best as He has our best at heart. It's up to us to not get trapped in the thought processes of those around, of those we love. We must keep looking and listening to the Lord. The Hebrew writer was correct in his inspired letter that we must not provoke the Lord God by hardening our hearts when He speaks. Today, do you have the same commitment and fervor you once had? If not, take inventory quickly knowing that the road you are on could end in heartache. "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God." "For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end."