Psalm 16:11 ESV “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

The Psalmist boldly acknowledges the fact that God makes him understand the importance of eternal life. The phrase “the path of life” is juxtaposed the path of death. It is Jesus who straightens our path. He is the way, the truth, and the light. Jesus is life and breath of our whole living and he came to the world to save us, sinners. Jesus Christ has revealed his deity to his people in the gospel of the truth. Those who believe the gospel of the Christ have come into His righteousness and faithfulness. As a result, Jesus makes them understand “the path of life” and warns them against the path of death.

1 Samuel 2:30 ESV [30] Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

The Lord God after witnessing Eli and his two sons’ negligent and ungodly attitude and behaviour expresses his disappointment in great anguish and suffering. God is emotional, relational and rational. He in fact, invites us to come along with him and reason together in regards to our present reality, repentance and salvation (Isaiah 1:18). He cannot be vindictive and biased towards the motion of the world and his creations but be righteous and faithful to his promises. He is fair enough to make his stand perfect for all human beings, especially his servants who deal with Him and His righteousness “with contempt”(1 Samual 2:17).

God will respect and treat a person with high esteem who duly honours, loves Him with all his or her heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12). When he or she loves the Lord God with all his or her mind, heart, strength, spirit and soul, the person serves the Lord with atmost reverence and humility. And this attitude towards the service unto God’s altar was missing from Eli’s household. Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas were not serious about God and his heart after his great plan for the world that he would bring his only son, Jesus Christ to us. Eli’s household was ordained to prepare the way for the entry of the gospel of Christ, but they treated this massive desire of God with disregard or callousness.

God does not need anybody to accomplish his plan, but He takes pleasure to make us humans be part of his kingdom building business. It is a great privilege to join hands with God and work along with him to fulfill his purpose-sharing the gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth. When we are not inclined to understand this noble purpose, we will be replaced with His newly elect. He would raise his people to proclaim his good news to the world. God will be glorified by His elect at the appointed time and nobody can put a full stop to his divine work designed for the humanity.

Let’s consider these questions:

  1. Do we honour God or dishonour Him?
  2. How do we honour God?
  3. Do we and our household treat God and the godly affairs with contempt?
  4. How can we understand the heart-beat of God?
  5. What do we think about “the service of God and service unto God”?

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

It is amazing to know our God’s attributes. First, God is accommodating to his children. God who is full of compassion gives an open invitation to all those who are burdened by worldly matters. He says that the people who are oppressed by their sins and socio-politico economic conditions truly find their rest in Him. Second, He is the Lord God who offers us relaxation and space for our wearied soul. Nobody in the world can guarantee repose, but Jesus Christ assures people rest at his feet. It is Jesus who transforms the humanity and calls them to be his disciples for preaching the gospel in a biblical fashion. And this act indeed gives us perfect peace. Third, Jesus says that he is “gentle and lowly in heart”. His gentleness and humility can be best understood by his purpose driven life completed on the cross of Calvary. When Jesus was tried to call him a criminal deserving death sentence, he was so humble that he did not open his mouth and when a deserving criminal insulted him while hanging on the cross, Jesus was absolutely gentle and became a source of confidence to other condemned hanging beside him.

James 1:12-15 ESV “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

What are the consequences of our disobedience to the promises of Christ? We get separated from the presence of God; we no longer get the guidance of the Holy Spirit and we lose the privilege to walk in the gospel and salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eve’s desire to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil resulted from turning her back onto God the creator and His reminders. Adam’s desire to give into his partner’s decision was the outcome of his complacency in communion with God. It is their ungodly desire led them to forsake God’s instructions for the pursuit of sin against Christ. Therefore, our purusit is the evidence of the desire either for the gospel of Christ or unrighteous living that nurtures lawlessness leading up to sin.