Moments With God

God's Discipline

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 29, 2008 04:51
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Hebrews 12:4-11 and Romans 5:3-5

Sometimes when we face trials and difficulties in this life we may be tempted to begin to question God's love for us. It is precisely because the Lord loves us, however, that He allows trials and difficulties in our lives. Hebrews 12:6a tells us, "the Lord disciplines those He loves." Trials and difficulties are for our good. They help to conform us to the Lord's image instead of the way our natural selves wish to go. Trials and difficulties are instructive and corrective training for our spiritual good.

Because the Lord is sovereign and perfect in His ways, we must not question His reasons for allowing trials in our lives. Hebrews 12:7a tells us, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons." Our human fathers and mothers disciplined us for our good, and because they loved us. We respected our parents for that. "How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9b) Far from being a reason for discouragement or despair, God's discipline is a basis for encouragement. God's discipline proves the Lord's love for us. God's discipline in our lives should spur us on to greater perseverance in the faith.

One of the definitions given in the dictionary for the word discipline is "to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control." This may or may not involve punishment. Athletes and soldiers need to become disciplined in their skills, or they are worthless as athletes or soldiers. Parents discipline and instruct their children, so that they will become healthy and productive adults. "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness." (Hebrews 12:10b) God wants us to become more and more conformed to His will. He wants us to grow in practical holiness. This will not happen, if we do not undergo a certain amount of His discipline.

God's discipline in our lives is meant for correction, not judgment. God's discipline in our lives is meant to keep us from bad things and is meant to keep us humble. God's discipline in our lives is meant for our education for better service for the Lord. Romans 5:3b-5 tells us that we can actually "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." We can actually rejoice in our sufferings, because trials and difficulties are not meaningless. Difficulties in our lives are God's way of getting our attention. Difficulties and trials in our lives are God's means of producing His character in our lives. God's discipline produces in us His "hope" or blessed assurance of our future eternal destiny. This blessed assurance is based on our knowledge of the Lord's love for us!

Trials and difficult times in our lives can be painful, but they are for our ultimate spiritual good. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11) If we submit to the Lord's discipline with a submissive spirit, God's discipline is beneficial to us. God's discipline produces Godly righteousness and holiness in us. God's discipline is ultimately the road to the Lord's true joy and peace in our lives. This is only true, however, if we willingly submit to the Lord's discipline. We have the choice whether to become bitter or better through life's trials. Some things that happen to us in our lives are very difficult to understand. The only way to peace and joy, however, is to trust the Lord in all things. The Lord is sovereign and very wise in all He allows in our lives. He also loves us, and we can trust Him. There is always ultimate spiritual victory for the child of God!

 


The Race of Life

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 24, 2008 12:14
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Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

In our Scripture passage today Paul is using the imagery of Greek games in a huge amphitheater as a picture of the Christian life. Paul suggests in this passage that the Christian life is like a race. As athletes in this race of life "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses." (Hebrews 12:1a) These "witnesses" are the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. These heroes of faith are not spectators, but are wonderful and inspiring examples of faith to us in our lives of faith. Even though these heroes of faith are no longer living, they still speak to us through the record of their lives in God's Holy Word. They bear witness even after their death to God's faithfulness and of our need to persevere in the Christian life!

As an athlete in the race of life we must persevere and endure. We must endure and persevere even when life hands us difficulties and trials. We must be faithful in our trust, love, obedience, and service to the Lord to the end. Our race in life is not a short sprint, but it is a race that lasts our entire life. In order to be able to run the race of life with perseverance we must first "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." (Hebrews 12:1b) We must not have our hearts weighted down with sin. We must seek to grow in practical holiness, so we can better run the race. Even "good" things in themselves can hinder our race. Jesus Christ needs to be number One in our lives. We must not let anyone or anything (even good things in themselves) divert our attention or sap our energy and enthusiasm for the things of God.

We must "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1c) We each have a specific race to run in our lives that is unique to us. Your life's race with its joys and trials are different than your fellow Christians. Every detail of our lives was planned from eternity by the Lord! We must be content with the life the Lord has given us, and we must run "the race marked out for us" with joy and perseverance. Our race in this life must not be in pursuit of money, comfort, or even happiness; but rather our race in life must be centered on bringing glory to Jesus Christ alone.

In order to run the race of life successfully we need to "fix our eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2a) Jesus is the goal of our faith. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will have ultimate victory and will persevere in our race of life. The race of life is often demanding and sometimes difficult. We can successfully run this race only by keeping our eyes on Jesus. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and others, and we must focus them on the Lord. Jesus Christ persevered to the point of suffering hell on the cross for us! He also arose and gives us His resurrection power to run the race of life with perseverance! The Lord gives us the courage to face tomorrow and to run the race of life that He has uniquely planned for us. He has our particular race all marked out and planned for us. We need to run that race with determination and in the joy of bringing glory to God. We are not running the race to win heaven, because that has already been purchased for us by Jesus Christ's atoning blood. Rather, we are running the race of life with perseverance in order to bring praise and glory to God by our lives! We must get up and run the race of life. Victory is already ours in Christ Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Conquering Faith

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 19, 2008 05:57
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Hebrews 11:30-40

Faith is taking God at His word. True faith is accepting and believing the promises of God, even those promises which have not yet been fulfilled. True faith brings about courage even in disaster and trial. True faith hangs on even in times when our faith is being ridiculed. True faith has the courage to conquer through Christ in our struggles in life. True faith is being absolutely certain of our eternal security in Christ. We have a choice in this life. The choice is to trust in our own fallible instincts and wisdom or to trust in God's precious promises in His Holy Word.

After God rescued His Old Testament people from slavery in the land of Egypt, He began leading them to a new land. In this new land they would be able to serve the Lord in freedom. This trip to the new land which should have taken forty weeks took forty years, however. This was because these Old Testament people of God refused to trust God's promises, and they instead trusted their own instincts and fallible human wisdom. So God punished them, and they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years. When that unbelieving generation had died and the next generation emerged God finally allowed His people to enter the promised land. Doing things are own way and disobeying God's will always get us into trouble. Living our lives in obedience to God always brings blessings and victories. We will still have struggles in this life, but there is always victory for the Christian if not in this life then in eternity. "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:57)

Joshua and the children of God's Old Testament people who died in the wilderness showed the kind of victorious faith that could conquer in the struggles of life. When the people of God were finally able to enter the new land that God had promised them they had to fight against the wicked inhabitants of the land. The first city they had to conquer was Jericho. Read the exciting story of God's people entering the new land and the fall of the city of Jericho in the early chapters of the Old Testament book of Joshua! Hebrews 11:30 reminds us that "by faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days." The walls of Jericho fell by the miraculous work of the Lord! The people had to do nothing, but trust and obey and watch the Lord work! In our struggles in life we too need to just trust and obey and rest in God's promises. The Lord will work out the details of our lives.

Hebrews 11 lists many heroes of faith. They include Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. They also include Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. All these heroes of faith had weaknesses in their faith and often failed, but they clung in faith to the promises of God. They therefore found victory in Christ. Rahab, a pagan prostitute who turned to the Lord in faith and repentance from her sins, is listed in Hebrews 11:31 as one of the victorious heroes of faith! She even became one of the ancestors of Christ. Faith has no barriors! Her story can also be found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. Gideon, another hero of faith, fought a huge enemy army with only 300 men! Read the exciting story of how God gave Gideon the victory in the Old Testament book of Judges chapters six and seven. Then take the time to read the other exciting stories of the other Old Testament saints in the early books of the Bible. Through their conquering faith they were able to do great things in the strength of the Lord. Over and over their "weakness was turned to strength." (Hebrews 11:34) Many of the Old and New Testament heroes of faith suffered horrific persecution, but they held on in conquering faith. Even in persecution they were victors in Christ and received His eternal rewards! God takes care of His own even when we do not understand why we are going through certain struggles in life. Like the heroes of faith of old we need a conquering faith!

 

Acting Faith

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 14, 2008 05:19
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Hebrews 11:23-29

It must be our consuming passion to grow in our love relationship with the Lord. It must be our consuming passion to live our lives in total and uncompromising obedience to the Lord. In Hebrews 11 Moses is listed as one example of such an uncompromising faith. Moses exhibited an acting faith in his life. Moses exhibited a faith that was willing to obey the Lord's Holy Word and will. Moses was willing to reject the world and it's philosophies and plans. Instead Moses was willing to act and submit in faith to God's will and plan for his life.

The kind of faith Moses exhibited in his life was first seen in his parents. At the time of Moses' birth God's people were slaves in the land of Egypt. The Pharaoh or king of Egypt had made a law that all the boy babies of God's people had to be thrown into the river and drowned. Moses' parents refused to obey that edict, however. The exciting story of Moses' mother's successful attempt to protect baby Moses and God's intervention and protection is found in the book of Exodus. Through it all God was working and protecting Moses, and Moses' parents were able to show their uncompromising and obedient faith in the Lord! They also were able to instruct Moses in his early years in the things of the Lord.

After living with his parents for his very early childhood years Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, and Moses lived in the palace for many years as a child and adult. Moses could have stayed living in luxury and tremendous wealth all of his life, but he was unwilling to do that. "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 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. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:24-27) Moses was willing to give up all the splendor and wealth of living in the palace of Egypt as a prince in exchange for the blessings of God. Moses realized that the world has little to offer in comparison to the riches and blessings in Christ! Moses realized he was really giving up nothing in comparison to belonging to the Lord and experiencing the Lord's blessings in his life! We too must show that uncompromising obedient faith and obedience in our lives

For many years after Moses left Egypt he lived in the desert. During those difficult years God was preparing Moses for the important job of leading God's people out of slavery to a new land. So too God sometimes puts us in difficult "desert" situations and periods in our lives. We too must submit in obedient trust and faith. God has His perfect plan and purpose for our lives even when we do not understand it at the time. After many years in the desert God called Moses to go back to Egypt and lead God's people out of Egypt away from slavery. Moses had to confront the Pharaoh, and through a series of plagues which God sent on the people of Egypt God's people were finally released from Egypt! When Pharaoh had a change of mind and pursued God's people, God's people "passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." ( Hebrews 11:29) God protects His people, and there is sure victory in the Lord in His perfect timing! We all face tests in our lives. Are we like Moses willing to forgo the perks of the world for our uncompromising obedience to the Lord? Satan tries to make his ways so attractive, but God's way and plans for our lives are always perfect and right. Are we willing to forgo the pleasures of this world for the riches in Christ? Nothing the world has to offer begins to compare to the blessings and joys we have in Christ!

 

 

 

 

Passing on the Faith

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 09, 2008 03:42
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Hebrews 11:8-22

One of the good memories of my childhood is remembering the times that my mother read to me from the children's Bible story book. Even as a young child I was inspired by hearing stories of the Biblical heroes of faith. Hebrews chapter eleven, which is often referred to as the chapter of faith, speaks of many of these heroes of faith. Some of these heroes of faith included Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. Other Biblical heroes of faith were Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

Abraham, one of these Biblical heroes of faith, is often referred to as the father of faith. Abraham was far from perfect. He had sin in his life and sometimes wavered in his faith. In the end, however, Abraham persevered in his faith and passed the Godly heritage of his faith down to his descendants. Each of Abraham's descendants had to believe in the Lord for themselves, but the Godly faith of Abraham was very instrumental in their coming to faith. Isaac, Abraham's son, also was not perfect and sometimes wavered in his faith, but by God's grace Isaac prevailed in his faith. On his death bed Isaac was able to still speak of his faith, and "Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future." (Hebrews 11:20) Jacob, Isaac's son, also was not perfect. Jacob liked to run ahead of the Lord at times in his life. Jacob often tried to solve his problems his own way instead of God's way. Jacob often tried to be self-reliant instead of relying fully on God's all-sufficiency. But in the end with God's grace Jacob also persevered in his faith and passed his Godly faith down to his descendants. Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff." Jacob lived long enough to not only pass the heritage of faith down to his son, Joseph, and Joseph's brothers; but Jacob was also able to witness the faith of his grandchildren.

We too have a responsibility to pass our faith down to our children and grandchildren. They have to accept the Lord for themselves, but we as parents and grandparents are such important instruments in the process of their coming to the Lord. God uses parents and grandparents to pass down the faith. What a joy it is for parents to see their children and grandchildren walking in the faith! What an awesome, joyful, and important job we have to pass on the faith.

Four generations and two hundred years had passed from Abraham to Joseph. God had told Abraham to "go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance." (Hebrews 11:8a) Four generations later this promise had not yet been fulfilled at the time of Joseph. In fact this promise would not be fulfilled for many more generations. But these men of faith from generation to generation persevered in their faith and clung to God's promises. Will our descendants persevere in the faith because of the faith they see in our lives?

Like the saints of old God has made promises to us that are not yet completely fulfilled. The Lord has promised us a home with Him in eternity. He has promised He will return someday. That promise was made to our ancestors of many generations ago. Just as our ancestors passed the faith down to us, we must tell our children and grandchildren about the Lord and His salvation. We must tell our descendants of His precious promises to always be with us and of His promise to return someday. The saints of old showed their faith even on their death beds. Even on our death beds our children and grandchildren must see our confidence in the Lord. They must see that in life and even in death we are trusting in the Lord and in His promises in His Holy Word. May they see in us this motivation, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

 

 

 


A Living Faith

General — Posted by sharaug @ January 04, 2008 10:51
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Hebrews 11:8-19

Hebrews eleven gives us many examples of heroes of faith. The Old Testament saints Abel, Enoch, and Noah were wonderful examples of faith. Abraham was also a wonderful example of a hero of faith. In fact, Abraham has the most verses dedicated to him in Hebrews eleven.

Abraham was an example of a truly living faith. Abraham is often referred to as the father of faith. Abraham was willing to trust the reality of the promises of God. The world only trusts in what they can see and touch. Abraham was willing to live by faith and put his faith in unseen spiritual things. Abraham exhibited a patience in faith. Abraham rested in the promises of God, even though some of God's promises were not fulfilled until after his death. God told Abraham to leave his secure home, friends, and family to go to a new country and land that God was providing for him. Hebrews 11:8b tells us that Abraham "obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." This is a beautiful picture of our need to leave the world's way of sin and move forward in the truth and promises of God.

Even though Abraham went in obedience to the new land to which God was leading him, Abraham never saw ownership of that land during his lifetime. The promise of ownership of that new land became a reality generations later in the lives of Abraham's descendants. Abraham lived many years of his life in tents "like a stranger in a foreign country." (Hebrews 11:9) Abraham exhibited a wonderful patience in faith. Abraham kept his eyes focused on the Lord and on the Lord's sure promises. Abraham kept his eyes focused on his eternal home with the Lord someday. Hebrews 11:10 tells us, "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Hence, Abraham didn't get so bogged down in the circumstances and trials of this life. Abraham could be patient with these things, because he rested in the promises of God. Patience in one's faith involves setting one's mind on the Lord and on eternal realities instead of on material things and the trials of this life.

Abraham did see the promise and power of God displayed in his lifetime in the birth of his son, Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were elderly and well beyond childbearing years. Yet God kept His promise, and Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age! This happened because Abraham "considered Him faithful who had made the promise." (Hebrews 11:11b) Although it took many years and at times Abraham's faith wavered, God kept His promise to Abraham. There is power in faith and in the promises of God! Yet even Isaac was not a total fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Isaac was merely a forerunner of Jesus, the true fulfillment of that promise. God's people in Abraham's day only saw this promise of Jesus "from a distance." (Hebrews 11:13) Yet they proceeded in their lives in faith.

Finally, Abraham also showed the proof of true faith in his life. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son, Isaac. This was a test of faith in Abraham's life. God and not his son, Isaac, had to be number one in Abraham's life. The Lord needs to be number one in our lives also. Sometimes God will put challenges in our lives also to test our love for Him. Trials help to stretch our faith. They help us to trust in God even when we can't understand why God is allowing certain things in our lives. We know that God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac as soon as Abraham showed his willingness to obey even in this matter. But even before this Abraham knew God was going to work it all out in his life. Abraham in faith trusted that God would keep his promises to him. "Even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." (Hebrews 11:18-19)

 

 


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