As human beings, we tend to take things for granted. We often become so familiar with something that we no longer appreciate its value or significance. This holds true even for spiritual matters. We can easily become too familiar with God and His Word that, in turn, we overlook the importance of daily spiritual growth and the consequences of not doing so.
There are biblical lessons that closely tie-in with this notion. The Bible tells us about the Israelites being delivered by God from the hands of Pharaoh and how they continued to take God for granted during their journey in the desert. Even with manna provided every morning and quail every evening, most of the Israelites complained and grumbled that they would have been better off as slaves in Egypt. They failed to recognize that God was providing for them and testing their faith.
The Israelites’ familiarity with God and His provision caused them to forget what they had been delivered from and what they were being brought to. They had forgotten the love, mercy, and grace of God that led them out of slavery. Familiarity bred complacency, rebellion, and ultimately disobedience.
Similarly, we can observe this behavior in the New Testament as well. The Pharisees were Jews who were so familiar with the Laws of Moses that they became proud and knowledge-focused. They took for granted their salvation and over time became insensitive to the relationship with God. The Pharisees thought they had attained righteousness and that they did not need God’s grace.
How does this apply to us today? It is essential to avoid taking God and His Word for granted. We must intentionally seek to grow spiritually and continually cultivate a personal relationship with Him. Familiarity breeds complacency, and complacency can lead to failure and disappointment.
We must remember that God’s love and grace are gifts of kindness and not of entitlement. We are not entitled to them, nor can we earn them. God’s mercy is freely given to us and remains so as long as we remain loyal and faithful to Him.
In conclusion, it is crucial to recognize the perils of taking the Anointed for granted. We must intentionally seek to grow spiritually, deepen our relationship with God, and never take His love, mercy, and grace for granted. We must remember the lessons we learned from the Israelites and the Pharisees and avoid the dangers that come with familiarity.
Let us continually remind ourselves of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Let us strive to grow daily and avoid religious complacency, pride, and self-righteousness. May we cherish and appreciate the gift of salvation, and remain mindful of our dependence on God’s grace and mercy.
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