II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
August 9th
"And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no." Deuteronomy 8:2
WHOSOEVER confesses Jesus Christ; whosoever is a member of a Christian church; whosoever is a member of a Christian community – gathered and SEPARATED from the world – is as yet God's chosen and liberated people IN THE FORTY
YEAR TREK THROUGHOUT THE WILDERNESS! Let no one beguile you into believing that we are in "the land of Promise," or in the Kingdom of God. Only children without understanding believe or teach such deceiving twaddle!
WE as yet are in the wilderness. But we, like ancient Israel in the wilderness, have a Leader and Deliverer that can and will DELIVER from whatever predicament the "wilderness" projects! But there are DANGERS (otherwise, whence the TESTING?); and there are requirements (otherwise we are not sons and daughters)!
We look to ancient Israel and their dangers: when there was shortage of water (that which cools and refreshes the inner being), they "chode with Moses" (Num. 20:3)! In substance the Lord said to Moses: "WHY do you cry to Me? GO FORWARD: STAND UPON THE GREAT ROCK AND TALK TO IT!" THEN would it yield its refreshing water in abundance!
Treasures (continued tomorrow...)