Ingratitude is the soil in which so many other sins grow and mature. Certainly the children of Israel forgot the blessings of God and did their share of complaining and murmuring; but are we present day Christians just as guilty? Let’s learn from their mistakes and cultivate a thankful heart to God!

We’re all making a life right now, not just making a living. We are either wasting our life on things with no eternal importance, or we’re building a worthy life, one that God can look at and say “Well done!” The Apostle James reminds us that the brevity of life makes it very valuable. Will you pursue God and His will in every aspect of your life, or pursue earthly accomplishments that don’t matter in eternity?

As we look at God’s judgement being poured out on earth with the 5th and 6th seal judgements during the Tribulation, we will notice two prayers mentioned in these verses: the prayers of Tribulation saints in heaven, and the prayers of Tribulation sinners on earth. Oh how different and revealing they are, as we see the unrepentant heart of man under God’s hand of wrath.

Even David, a “man after God’s own heart”, had his weaknesses and moments of fear. Often when God allows tests and trials to come into our lives we panic. When we do we are saying, “I can’t trust God to handle this situation.” Our panic will always bring repercussions that harm ourselves and others.