Key Verse: “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Heb 11:26)
Most of us know the story of Moses: how an angry and jealous pharaoh enslaved the Jews and became so fearful of them that they were ordered to kill all baby boys; how his parents, who by faith and through their great love for Moses were unafraid of the pharaoh’s laws and hid their son until he could not be hidden anymore; how he was set in a basket made of reeds and floated down the Nile under the watchful eye of his sister, Miriam; and how the Pharaoh’s daughter found baby Moses and took him in as her own. Young Moses grew up in the palace as an Egyptian prince instead of being treated as a slave like his family and his people. As a prince, he was privileged and taken care of. His life was easy and comfortable—everyone served him and treated him with respect. Moses became well-educated and was, essentially, master of his own life.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Hebrews 11:8-22
(Originally written January 22, 2010)
Key Verse: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
The second part of Hebrews 11 focuses primarily on Abraham and his calling. Most of us know the story of Abraham—how he was called to leave his country behind and go to the promised land. However it is when we look closer that we can really see and pick apart the story; we are then able to apply it to our lives.
Now Abraham lived in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans, and his family had settled there and been settled for a very long time. God then spoke to him and called him to “leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Abraham had no idea where he was going; and yet he obeyed the Lord. God promised to make him a blessing, to be blessed, and that he would be a great nation, and Abraham trusted in that promise and made the journey.
Key Verse: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
The second part of Hebrews 11 focuses primarily on Abraham and his calling. Most of us know the story of Abraham—how he was called to leave his country behind and go to the promised land. However it is when we look closer that we can really see and pick apart the story; we are then able to apply it to our lives.
Now Abraham lived in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans, and his family had settled there and been settled for a very long time. God then spoke to him and called him to “leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Abraham had no idea where he was going; and yet he obeyed the Lord. God promised to make him a blessing, to be blessed, and that he would be a great nation, and Abraham trusted in that promise and made the journey.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Hebrews 11:1-7
Key Verse: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Through Hebrews 11 we learn very much about faith: what it is, what it does, and how we can interact with God through it. Verse 1 says that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In essence, faith is believing in invisible things—and in this case we are talking about God. Not only do we believe in invisible things but we can hope in them and experience them through our faith. In fact, we must have faith even to believe in the beginning of the world, for no one was there and the only account we have is through the Bible, which we then may or may not believe. Faith is not easy—it demands much of a person to put one’s trust in something unseen—and it is not passive but rather aggressive, requiring our action. Faith doesn’t just happen.
And thus, says verse 2, the ancients were commended for it. These ancients were people of faith, before Christ came to earth, who walked with God, hoped in God, and gave us a proper example of what it is to live by faith. This particular part of the passage singles out three: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. All three were righteous in the sight of the Lord, and the Bible describes them as men who “walked with God.” All three teach us about some aspect of what faith really means.
Through Hebrews 11 we learn very much about faith: what it is, what it does, and how we can interact with God through it. Verse 1 says that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In essence, faith is believing in invisible things—and in this case we are talking about God. Not only do we believe in invisible things but we can hope in them and experience them through our faith. In fact, we must have faith even to believe in the beginning of the world, for no one was there and the only account we have is through the Bible, which we then may or may not believe. Faith is not easy—it demands much of a person to put one’s trust in something unseen—and it is not passive but rather aggressive, requiring our action. Faith doesn’t just happen.
And thus, says verse 2, the ancients were commended for it. These ancients were people of faith, before Christ came to earth, who walked with God, hoped in God, and gave us a proper example of what it is to live by faith. This particular part of the passage singles out three: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. All three were righteous in the sight of the Lord, and the Bible describes them as men who “walked with God.” All three teach us about some aspect of what faith really means.
2010 New Year’s Key Verse & Testimony
(Written during Young Disciples Conference, Dec 31, 2009-Jan 2, 2010)
2010 Key Verse:: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
2009 was, in all honesty, a big disappointment. That is what I think of when I think of this past year. A lot of bad things happened and already terrible situations got worse, and it is very hard to find the good. There was some, of course: for instance, at the Toledo UBF Spring Bible Conference here at Michindoh, I wrote, revised (several times), and shared my life testimony. Through that experience, I was able to examine my life so far and found the key verse Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I had realized that my faith was my own and not the product of my parents’ or anyone else’s work; that God had raised me in a Christian home and in the environment He had so that I could do what He wants me to accomplish in the future: “good works, prepared in advance for me to do.”
Later that spring however, that was shaken. My father, a pastor of many years, was “let go” from the church we had spent 7 years serving. Certain members used many superficial excuses to be rid of my father and our family, and to avoid conflict my father resigned in May. I felt a great sense of hurt and betrayal, and it angered me. I wondered who I could trust, if not the people of God—people I thought had the same ideals and hopes and dreams for our little town of Dundee. I was fortunate in this, as it gave me the opportunity to attend Sunday services at UBF without being conflicted between supporting my father and leaving the church I felt led to serve, but still I was unhappy.
2010 Key Verse:: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
2009 was, in all honesty, a big disappointment. That is what I think of when I think of this past year. A lot of bad things happened and already terrible situations got worse, and it is very hard to find the good. There was some, of course: for instance, at the Toledo UBF Spring Bible Conference here at Michindoh, I wrote, revised (several times), and shared my life testimony. Through that experience, I was able to examine my life so far and found the key verse Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I had realized that my faith was my own and not the product of my parents’ or anyone else’s work; that God had raised me in a Christian home and in the environment He had so that I could do what He wants me to accomplish in the future: “good works, prepared in advance for me to do.”
Later that spring however, that was shaken. My father, a pastor of many years, was “let go” from the church we had spent 7 years serving. Certain members used many superficial excuses to be rid of my father and our family, and to avoid conflict my father resigned in May. I felt a great sense of hurt and betrayal, and it angered me. I wondered who I could trust, if not the people of God—people I thought had the same ideals and hopes and dreams for our little town of Dundee. I was fortunate in this, as it gave me the opportunity to attend Sunday services at UBF without being conflicted between supporting my father and leaving the church I felt led to serve, but still I was unhappy.
ARCHIVE: Luke 8:16-25
(Originally written September 28, 2009)
Key Verse: “‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’ ” (Luke 8:25)
When Sh. John Wilson gave this passage’s message last week, he made the point that it was a sequel passage to the parable of the sower. Each story included in the passage—the example of the lamp, the story of Jesus’s mother and brothers, and finally Jesus quelling the storm on the Sea of Galilee—represents a portion of Jesus’s message about having good heart soil. Respectively, they are hearing the word, retaining it, and putting into practice by persevering. The last section in particular touched my heart. I hear the word all the time, in Bible study, church service, even on the radio or on Facebook. Retaining it is harder but still comes easy to me; I have a fairly good memory and consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the Bible. It is putting it into practice and relying on God more than myself that I greatly struggle with.
And I am not alone. Verses 22-25 tell the story of a great storm and some fearful disciples who feared the elements more than they feared the power of God. One day, Jesus suggested that he and his disciples should travel to the other side of the lake. This would be a short break for the hard-working disciples, who were not used to the great crowds and extensive traveling they had done with Jesus so far. Doubtless excited for even a short reprieve, they got into a boat and set sail. On the way, it was such a peaceful ride that Jesus fell asleep, and the disciples were likely relieved for a moment.
Key Verse: “‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’ ” (Luke 8:25)
When Sh. John Wilson gave this passage’s message last week, he made the point that it was a sequel passage to the parable of the sower. Each story included in the passage—the example of the lamp, the story of Jesus’s mother and brothers, and finally Jesus quelling the storm on the Sea of Galilee—represents a portion of Jesus’s message about having good heart soil. Respectively, they are hearing the word, retaining it, and putting into practice by persevering. The last section in particular touched my heart. I hear the word all the time, in Bible study, church service, even on the radio or on Facebook. Retaining it is harder but still comes easy to me; I have a fairly good memory and consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the Bible. It is putting it into practice and relying on God more than myself that I greatly struggle with.
And I am not alone. Verses 22-25 tell the story of a great storm and some fearful disciples who feared the elements more than they feared the power of God. One day, Jesus suggested that he and his disciples should travel to the other side of the lake. This would be a short break for the hard-working disciples, who were not used to the great crowds and extensive traveling they had done with Jesus so far. Doubtless excited for even a short reprieve, they got into a boat and set sail. On the way, it was such a peaceful ride that Jesus fell asleep, and the disciples were likely relieved for a moment.
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