Topic: Israel

Because Christ’s return is imminent - the Lord is at hand - and he is present with us now, we are not to be anxious about anything. If during our moments of anxiety we could see Jesus sitting next to us, ready to take our hand, would that not be a comfort to us? And yet, he is indeed ready to do that through the gift of prayer.

The temptation in our hearts is always to worship things, places, and circumstances. The Israelites in Exodus 17 were preoccupied with things and circumstances. The Samaritan woman worshiped the place of Jacob’s well, and not the living God. The Israelites asked, “Is the LORD with us here?” The Samaritan woman asked Jesus, “Is the LORD with us anywhere else?” Just as Jesus challenged the woman, he challenges us daily to examine ourselves for anything which impedes our true worship of him.