Holy Spirit of God, help me not quickly turn away from, but continue to turn to you by faith, hope and love…

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 & Wisdom 1:12-16
 
The Israelites had been miraculously rescued from the slavery of Egypt and from the whole Egyptian army pursuing them into the desert; they had been given quails every Sabbath and amazing manna on weekdays for 40 years; and they were in the process of being given the 10 Commandments. Certainly they were a privileged people!  So what did they do? As soon as Moses’ back was turned and they tired of waiting for him, they ‘quickly’ turned away - from the faith of their ancestors, from hope in the deliverance message of the Lord at Passover, and from the love of the Living God that had sustained them for generations – and built their own golden god-ish goalpost – a hideous idol to hang onto. Craziness, I say.  But am I any wiser than the Israelites?  Certainly when I trace the Grace of God in my life, I can ‘know’ that I have my own salvation history with Christ Jesus, the Redeemer of the world: relationships gone right, avoidance of sickness and death, and so many amazing small daily miracles that I have enjoyed. But how often do I also complain and set up my own idols because I doubt God’s Mercy? How often do I choose to accentuate the negatives I encounter in life, rather than soaking myself in the Word of God and the beauty to be found in small and large ways all around me? And when did I last proclaim my love for the loving, Living God, in His presence and the assembly of the Church? How quickly, I too, turn away from the grace constantly held out to me by my Heavenly Father!  Holy Spirit of God, help me not turn quickly away from, but continue to turn to you by faith, hope and love. 
  
Here I am, Lord, I delight to do your will, O my God your law is within my heart.  (Psalm 40:1)
 
The Lord will scatter you among other nations… There you will look for the Lord your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him.
Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, 4:29.
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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