“Easy believe-ism” is a mindset that thinks all is well if one simply believes some of Christianity’s basic truths. No change of heart or transformation of character is needed – just mental affirmation.

One of the problems with this mindset – other than the fact that it is unbiblical – is the fact that easy believe-ism tends to come crashing in on itself when life isn’t going so well. In other words, it’s easy to believe in God when things are good, but when things are not so good or when tragedy strikes and all you have is easy believe-ism, you won’t have the foundation and support you need to get through.

In these verses, God told of a similar situation that would occur with His people. Notice the connection between God’s giving them this land filled with abundance and their eventually forsaking God and turning toward idols. They needed God, and God helped them by giving them the land He promised. And then, instead of living in constant thankfulness and dependence upon God, they satisfied themselves with the gifts of God instead, eventually giving way to idolatry and easy believe-ism.

• In what ways have you fallen into easy believe-ism, focusing more on what you believe than who you have been made in Christ?