GOD IS ESSENTIAL

Based on Deuteronomy 10-12, Proverbs 1

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"
Deuteronomy 10:12‭-‬13.

Long-standing jobs & careers are shutting their doors in our community today. While all are important to us for different reasons, there are a few which are considered "essential." It's these jobs which facilitate the functioning of our society. They make life as we know it possible: hospitals, grocery stores, etc.

But one major ESSENTIAL factor is missing: GOD! With God in the midst of what we do, more is possible than we can even imagine! We need the GOD FACTOR! He is essential for life to function now & in eternity-He created life from the start! As is stated above, God puts His commands in place for our good! I think goodness is essential, don't you? So it is essential for us to be keepers of His Word.

"Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is." Deuteronomy 10:14.

There is an ESSENTIALITY of God because there is a REALITY of God! He created everything-not just the things we can see, but all things beyond! Heaven is a reality, so to reach it, God must be an essentiality!

But remember, we must not turn ourselves to God because of fear of "missing out." We can't just turn to Him to get His provision. Our hearts need to be in the right place. Our hearts need to be set upon Him in love, not lusting after only the things we can receive. IT'S AN ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP!

"He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen." Deuteronomy 10:21.

He deserves the praise & glory! We have seen God moving in mighty ways recently. Hearts are turning to Him as this disease has taken over. God has allowed this to take place, but He will provide the protection we need-but we need to stay under that protection! It's a choice on our part to trust!

"But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord which he did. Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey." Deuteronomy 11:7‭-‬9.

We've seen how God can work! We can all claim times that He has come through for us. So let's keep His commandments! We will prolong our days. We will have a good life to look forward to. We will be healed, and so will our land!

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;" Deuteronomy 11:16.

How can we allow ourselves to turn away from God at a time like this? If this is not urgent enough, I don't know what is! Remember, He is our Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need, FOR OUR GOOD:

"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." Deuteronomy 11:27‭-‬28.

LET'S BE BLESSED! It's a choice! When God is in control, He still gives us the ability to choose if we will follow Him or not. He is a gracious God, but let's use that grace to turn to Him willingly instead of turning away!

"Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 12:28.

"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."
Proverbs 1:33.

God. Is. Essential.