Wherefore I was grieved with that
generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have
not known my ways. (Hebrews 3: 10)
Why were the Israelites wandering in the desert?
They were wondering in their hearts whether God was for them or not.
In short, they did not believe Him:
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
'For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4: 1-2)
We rest in his righteousness, certainly:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
and
"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2: 29)
But our hearts do not have to wonder or wander, either:
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)
"Divers and strange doctrines" have no place of the believer, who is established at the core in grace:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. " (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Defined and empowered by grace, we no longer need to wonder if God will come through for us or wander in our own efforts.
Why were the Israelites wandering in the desert?
They were wondering in their hearts whether God was for them or not.
In short, they did not believe Him:
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
'For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4: 1-2)
We rest in his righteousness, certainly:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
and
"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2: 29)
But our hearts do not have to wonder or wander, either:
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)
"Divers and strange doctrines" have no place of the believer, who is established at the core in grace:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. " (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Defined and empowered by grace, we no longer need to wonder if God will come through for us or wander in our own efforts.
No comments:
Post a Comment