July 06, 2019: SOAP #3502:  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 3:8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Observation:   It is not enough to know about God.  It is not enough to know that God exists.  It is not enough to know that there is a “man upstairs.”  God wants us to know Him.  He wants to communicate with us.  He wants to love us and to have us love Him.  He wants us to know more than what He does; He wants us to know why; He wants us to know His ways.

Application:   There are people in my life that I have come to know very well.  I do not need to ask them about what would please them.  I know what brings them joy and what distresses them.

God has revealed Himself in His word and the Holy Spirit helps me to grow in knowing God and His ways.   When suddenly confronted with something new, I want to be able to quickly evaluate it and know how God considers it.  I want to know what brings Him joy and what distresses Him.

Prayer:  Lord, I love to sing:
Lord, there’s just one thing; One think I ask of Thee.
Cause me to excel; excel in loving Thee.
There’s nothing in the world, that I would rather be,
Than by thy grace just one, who excels in loving Thee.
Holy Spirit, for this to be true, I need your help to better know God’s ways!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!