08/23/2023 – God’s Outstretched Arm
Deuteronomy 26:8 “And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:”
God related to His people in the Old Covenant with a strong hand and outstretched arm. But now God wants to relate to you in the unity of love, in the intimacy of grace. More than deliver you from trouble, God wants to fill you with His Spirit, use you with power and crown you with blessings.
It is entire possible to be far from God and still receive God’s blessings. This is, in fact, how all of us were saved. We were far from God and he reached us with His grace. But it is not possible for us to bless God, to praise and serve Him, while we are far from Him.
We should not abuse God’s outstretched arm. He calls us to get closer to Him. More valuable than the provision, the protection, the healing God has promised, is the promise of His proximity. The closer we are to God, the greater the joy, the blessing. God desires and has determined to provide His closeness.
Tree obstacles are mentioned in this call to proximity with God: sin, vanity and pride. The greatest obstacle to proximity with God is sin. The best reason to reject sin is not to avoid punishment. The less you sin, the closer you are to God.