Returning to God

Deu 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: 

Deu 4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
Deu 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deu 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Deu 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

God told his people as they were entering the promise land that their children's children would turn away from the One that chose and blessed them. They would get used to prosperity and turn away to worship the gods of the other nations. They would be destroyed and as Ezekiel spoke later only a third would be left and scattered among the nations.

Our nation is like the Israel of old. We have been blessed above all nations and have drifted away from the God that blessed America. Individuals who once served God have turned away from him chasing the lusts of the flesh. But, as God said to Israel, if you repent and turn back to God, seeking him with a whole heart, He will be found.

Last night a young prodigal son who had left God and was entangled in the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, came to me as I was on the Internet. He sent me an instant message wanting me to help him come back to God. I led him back again to the LORD in prayer. Jesus loves us and if we stray away from him, which is easy to do, he will receive us back. 

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

No one needs to hear your sins confessed but Jesus who is our mediator to God the Father. We all need to confess our sins and repent of them. Keep me Jesus as the apple of thine eye. Thank you Lord for your mercies.

Complaining

The people of Israel complained about the Manna they were fed. The manna satisfied all their dietary needs, but they craved the food of Egypt more than God's provision.

Num 11:18 "And tell the people to purify themselves, for tomorrow they will have meat to eat. Tell them, 'The LORD has heard your whining and complaints: "If only we had meat to eat! Surely we were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will have to eat it.

19 And it won't be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty.

20 You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it.

For you have rejected the LORD, who is here among you, and you have complained to him, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?"'"

21 But Moses said, "There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you promise them meat for a whole month!

22Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?"

23 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Is there any limit to my power? Now you

will see whether or not my word comes true!"

I think many have fallen into the habit of complaining with dissatisfaction. People crave and demand from God as if he were only to serve them. They like to hear sermons about getting more and more from God, but what of their own character? Are we an unpleasant noise to others and to the LORD?

31 Now the LORD sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fall into the camp and all around it! For many miles in every direction from the camp there were quail flying about three feet above the ground.

32 So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels ! They spread the quail out all over the camp.

33 But while they were still eating the meat, the anger of the LORD blazed against the people, and he caused a severe plague to break out among them.

34 So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah -- "the graves of craving" -- because they buried the people there who had craved meat from Egypt. will see whether or not my word comes true!" (NLT)

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

I love God's grace, but let us each be thankful for his provision and quit the complaining.