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Disposed To Do

He knew!

He knew exactly what they were disposed to do:

“And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” (Deut 31:21)

Here’s how other versions translate “disposed to do”:

· Inclined to do

· Purposes which they are forming

· Prone to do

· The way they are going to live later on

· Imagination they are forming

· What they are planning to do

· What their hearts are set on doing

· What they are thinking

· What they are devising

· Intentions they have in mind

· Plans they are making

· Their ways and what they are doing

Wow! Long before He called them into a relationship with Himself, He knew what they would do, that they would stray and rebel and go after other gods and yet He still remained true to His promises.

In case you think that was then and this is now, the New Testament speaks similarly to what He knows about us:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb 4:12)

And what does He know? Well, it’s not pretty:

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,”, (Mark 7:21)

Yet, in spite of knowing all that and while we were straying and rebelling, He still did something to bring us into a relationship with Himself:

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

So what about when we are not only disposed to stray from Him but we actually do it?

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

Nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, even if we have trouble and even if that trouble is at our own making!

A quote from AW Tozer might be how I can wrap this up: “Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you most.”

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