Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

David wrote this many years ago; but we could have, Christ could have, many people could have…

When someone turns their heel against you, it is not just their heel but their whole body; and not just their body, but all who are accomplices in the act!

When we sin, we are bringing sin into our whole life and into the people around us too; God wants us to recognise just how damaging sin is so we work against it and keep up the daily exercise to keep us away from it!

Deuteronomy 32:15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Saviour.

I love finding snippets like this in the bible! Right from the beginning God has been warning us the Christian life is going to be hard!

An athlete has to continue exercising in order to stay on form; when they stop exercising they may become fat and get lazy and stray away from their career or love for it.

As Christians we need to continue with our daily exercise to make sure we keep on top of things and don’t fall off the rail into temptation.

Yes, it takes work!

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

I still find it amazing how these words were written by a prophet so many years before Jesus came to live amongst us – and how true they are.

Does this not convince you of the great plan God has had from the beginning of time? Does this not encourage you to see just how much God can do for you?

Do not be counted amongst the doubters and scoffers who rejected Christ – be counted in as part of His family… loved!