Read
16Obey the Lord's teachings
and you will live—
disobey and you will die.
17Caring for the poor
is lending to the Lord,
and you will be well repaid.
Reflect
A friend was telling me recently about the new security systems on his car. Lane change detecter, detecter to tell him if he is approaching the car in front too quickly, integrated Bluetooth system, and he was telling me that some manufacturers are talking about incorporating a device that will detect if he drops off to sleep. All that to protect us, to ensure our safety, and to keep us in the right lane, at the right speed, and without going to sleep. These technological efforts are completely admirable, and perhaps they help us realize that our spiritual protection is just as important.
It’s clearly a matter of life and death. Adam and Eve didn’t think they would really die when they neglected the Lord’s command. Yet they knew in the moments that followed that something had changed. Instead of being happy and rejoicing in the presence of God in the garden, they hid and were afraid. Instead of approaching him they fled. Spiritual death had begun its work. Our fellowship with God must be protected in the same way. It’s a matter of protecting a relationship with him who is the author of life. We need to take the warning seriously. Am I always in the right lane or have I strayed a bit? Is my communication with God in good shape? Have I dozed off?
We can thank God because he constantly keeps us in mind!
Respond
Thank you, Lord, for speaking to my heart. Thank you for the life that comes from you. It is so precious and I want to take care of it. Thank you for bringing me back to yourself.
Today I want to come close to you again and to obey your commands, because they are good for me. Amen.
Gérald Emery
Born in Switzerland, Gérald Emery moved to Quebec when he was 18 in order to operate a dairy farm. Six years later, he went into the ministry, serving in Quebec City for six years and in Portneuf for nine years. In addition, he taught for nine years at the bible college (Institut Biblique du Québec) in Longueil. He has been pastor of a church in Gatineau since 2011. Emery holds a bachelor’s degree in theology (BTh) from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, and he has almost completed his master’s degree, studying at St. Paul University in Ottawa.