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God’s Treasured Possessions

Board for Evangelism Newsletter: June 2008

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. (Exodus 19:4) This verse expresses God’s view of how He rescued the people of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. As we study the exodus from Egypt we hear of the people complaining about all the hardships they had to endure. First, they were trapped against the Red Sea as the Pharaohs army approached. Many were ready to go back into slavery. God rescued them by parting the Red Sea, giving them safe passage. Only a few short days later the people of Israel grumbled about the lack of water; and God provided water. Soon after they complained about the lack of food, saying, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and eat all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

God heard them and sent manna and quail so they could eat. It seems that the people of Israel faced one hardship after another but the Lord helped them every step of the way. The people of Israel were God’s chosen people and He treasured them.

If we were able to ask the about their trip, about their forty years in the desert, about their hardships do you think they would have described it as being rescued and carried on eagle’s wings? Not likely. Every step of the way God was teaching them to trust Him, but because of their sinful nature they looked on it as hardship and burden.

As we reflect on our lives, we know of the many hardships we have faced and we know there will be many more. Each step along the path of life is subject to the many stumbling blocks that sin has placed in our way. Many times we find ourselves complaining about these hardships; blaming God, blaming those around us, and even blaming ourselves. How do we cope with these trials and temptation is our life? On our own we are helpless. Only by the grace of God can we go forward, only by the grace of God can we wake up to face each new day, only by God’s grace do we have a peace in our hearts that assures us that He will see us through life’s journey.

That peace is the peace of Christ that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. The peace that Jesus won for us as He suffered and died for the sins of the world and now announces in His Word that our sins a forgiven, that we are His dear Children, and that heaven is our home. We truly are God’s treasured possessions.

When the believers are called from this world He will have His holy angels carry them to their heavenly home where they will be united with God forever in that eternal day. In the mean time, as we live out our lives here on earth we are to live as Christian examples to others, we are to tell others about our Savior and the peace He has brought into our lives. What an honor it is to be a messenger of peace.

Last modified
2008-06-02 06:44 AM
 
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