Holding Firm to the End

The People of God Set Priorities
Living as a Community of Believers
Overcoming Temptation

Deuteronomy 4:25-31 The Message

^25-28 When the time comes that you have children and grandchildren, put on years, and start taking things for granted, if you then become corrupt and make any carved images, no matter what their form, by doing what is sheer evil in God’s eyes and provoking his anger—I can tell you right now, with Heaven and Earth as witnesses, that it will be all over for you. You’ll be kicked off the land that you’re about to cross over the Jordan to possess. Believe me, you’ll have a very short stay there. You’ll be ruined, completely ruined. God will scatter you far and wide; a few of you will survive here and there in the nations where God will drive you. There you can worship your homemade gods to your hearts’ content, your wonderful gods of wood and stone that can’t see or hear or eat or smell.
^29-31 But even there, if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won’t bring you to ruin, he won’t forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.

For Reflection

Bad things happen.  It is not God who is punishing you.  Rather, it is you who have chosen to separate yourself from God.  As a result of your choice, you suffer.  Not because it is God's intention, but because a life separated from God is a life devoid of hope.  By the grace of God, you are not abandoned but eternally welcome in the Kingdom of God.

Pray

Pray that, having strayed from the righteous course, you will remember that you are always welcome in the house of God.  Confess your transgressions and repent. Praise God for God's compassion and grace.