"Wander of It All"

"They forgat God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt; wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea." (Psalms 106:21-22)

 There really is nothing else to compare with knowing God; we can try and make it about spiritual things or things that amaze us and things that give us hope; but it goes far beyond any of that, any of the stuff we tend to look for as proof that God is working in our lives. God really works through the simple things, the things that we take for granted and the things that we least expect Him to work through. I heard something the other day from Pastor Jon, who said, "Christians can make more of an influence for God when they are suffering than when they are being blessed." It's true, we have more of a testimony of faith when we show that faith while suffering; showing faith while being blessed is easy, but to show that you have faith in God while suffering speaks so much louder. It is a lot like what this verse is speaking of, how that we forget the hope we had, once we have been made safe and are doing well. Much like the children of Israel, who, once they were safe and secure on the other side of the sea, began to murmur about comfort and pleasure; once the threat of being killed was gone, and things became safe, they focused upon the physical needs and whatever it was that they seemed to be missing out on. You don't think that relates us? It most surely does. It is more about being delivered than anything else; if we don't think we need more deliverance, then we can tend to forget what deliverance was all about. One thing for sure, it was not about being brought out into the wilderness, it was about entering into God's rest. It is God's rest that we are being delivered into; a place which requires constant attention to the Giver of the rest, because it is always so fleeing. Not because it does not have the power to hold us, but because we don't have what it takes to hold on. If it is not one things, then it is something else; the cares of this world, proud thoughts of doing this or that; even putting hope in something else before God. There are just so many things that can cause us to look the other way, and to not be resting in the deliverance that God has already given us...

"Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But -"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.""
(Titus 3:3-7) NLT