22 February | EVERYONE
“And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil." Deuteronomy 11:13-14
The desert. That dry land through which Israel, tired and burdened, traveled for four decades. The arid soil that disciplined them with the whip of heat and weather. That dreary, rainless landscape was coming to an end. The Promised Land was in sight. Streams of happiness flashed in sight. Before entering that wondrous land, however, Moses warned them that God would fulfill His promises if they obeyed the Lord.
Human beings long to see God's promises fulfilled. In difficult hours, when our relentless life strikes and the storms of adversity rage, we all cry out to God. When the sinister waves of sorrow cover us with darkness, who does not cry out for divine mercy? But are we willing to listen to God with that same fervor?
That is what God wants. He expects us to follow Him as a natural result of our love. The sergeant in the army demands only obedience and service. You may hate him in your heart, but you must obey and serve. With God it is different. He loved us first; He gave the life of His beloved Son to conquer the heart of the sinner. He is interested in your love. He hopes that you will walk with Him in a wonderful experience of communion, "loving and serving Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Then you will see His promises fulfilled in your life, and "the rain will come in due season," both "the early rain and the latter rain" with the fruits that follow.
Take Action
"Put away the suspicion that God's promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor" (Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 52). Follow God's advice and you will see that these promises are always fulfilled. Renew your covenant of love with God today, and your life of service to Him and others will be a constant source of joy.