After teaching the Israelites what they could and couldn't do, the Lord gave the following promise: So, you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you (Exodus 23.25). Then the Most High called Moses up to the mountain, along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel. There, He told them to bow down from afar and only Moses would come to him (Exodus 24:1,2). This meeting was going to be very special!

           Moses would come and go to tell them the words of the Lord and all the statutes. The people responded with one voice, saying that they would do everything they heard (Exodus 24:3). Prudently, that faithful servant wrote down God's declarations, building an altar at the foot of the mountain and 12 monuments, according to the tribes of their patriarch (v. 4). Now, here's the question: did they do everything as the Lord had commanded them? Well, at first they did, but as the days went by, they relaxed and abandoned their commitment!

             In my journey as a saved person, starting at the age of six, I have seen many fervent people grow cold in their faith and even stray from the Way. Why does this happen? Did they lose faith or were they simply not firm in the Lord? Both things can happen in the church, because people don't always act out of faith, but rather because of some embarrassing situation they've been involved in. Since the shame is so great, they prefer to "take some time off".

         Most assuredly, the devil is behind any deviation, any seed of bitterness, which, when it sprouts, will shatter even the rock you think you're standing on (Hebrews 12:15). The simple act of leaving the congregation shows that such a person has not understood their place in God's work. By mistakenly thinking that they are not welcome in the church, they go back to living as they did before (Hebrews 10:25). At first they are sad, but then they sink into error. Be vigilant!

           To remain steadfast in the faith, we must read the Bible and reflect on its teachings. Thus, we will learn from Jesus and know what His will is. If He Himself has said that He is meek and humble of heart (Matthew 11.29), there is still time to repent of our faults and be forgiven. Why let the devil separate us from the One we will need for all eternity? We are on our way to the moment when the Lord will separate the redeemed from the lost (Matthew 25:31). So, we must be saved!

             Christians need to be ready to do the Father's will, but the devil uses disgusting means that lead many away from the Truth and into the abyss. Those who know what God has prepared for their lives never let anyone put doubts in their hearts, but meditate on the Word continually and don't turn to the right or to the left (Psalm 1.2; 119.105). It's good to walk in the center of God's will. We will only lose if we give room to the liar's suggestions.

           Be convinced of what Jesus said: And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Mark 13:13). Let the world hate us, lie about us and think we're garbage! What can never happen is for the Lord to look down on us and say that we haven't hit the target. Be alert!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares