35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. (Hebrew 11)
Paul describes the people of faith, their history, their hardships, and their triumph. Through faith, these men sought after something that wasn't readily apparent at the time, and they acquired something far better than they could ever imagine: a promise. Further in the chapter, Paul speaks about the women and men of faith who were being persecuted at this time for their faith in Jesus Christ.
He describes the torture they willingly suffered and endured from those in opposition to their faith. He talks about them being ridiculed, flogged, incarcerated, and rejected. They were walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and just like He had been wrongly punished, likewise they were experiencing the same. However, their faith allowed them to forge ahead and not give up.
"The world was not worthy of them." I especially like this verse. The world was hurling the worst at them, but it was not because they were worthless, but rather because they were too worthy. In our lives, when we stand up in faith for what we may believe, it may feel like we're pathetic and without merit, but in reality, we experience persecution or opposition because our worth is honored only in the economy of heaven.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
sinners in the hands of an angry God.
31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrew 10)
This very verse always reminds me of Jonathan Edwards.:)
Even though we should always try to remember the goodness of God, we must also be conscious of the side of God that is just and fair. If we sin and reject Him, there will be consequences; if we are willing to choose other gods before Him, then there's a realistic yet frightening notion that we'll have to face Him one day. This verse tacts on the adjective "living" to describe God. I think it's an emphasis on the fact that God WILL deal with us. Just because He allows us to be evil and commit sin doesn't mean that He is not unaware of our actions or thoughts; the judgment will come from the living God.
It's important to understand the terror of God, in order for us to think twice about doing things that aren't pleasing to Him. It should deter us, but even more so, His love for us should make us want to behave. It is equally important to hold onto the fact that His love has established His throne. God is good; He is merciful. We shouldn't live in fear of Him, but rather love Him as our disciplinary and leader. We should also never take advantage of that fact that He is so forgiving. We should never deliberately choose to reject Him in the things that we do.
We are sinners. God can be angry. We are in His hands. However, these three things are not necessarily simultaneously occurring. If we repent from our wicked ways, He will hold us lovingly in His hands, without anger and without bitterness. If we don't repent and we continue to reject His ways, then perhaps the three events will occur at one time, which is, in short, just dreadful.
This very verse always reminds me of Jonathan Edwards.:)
Even though we should always try to remember the goodness of God, we must also be conscious of the side of God that is just and fair. If we sin and reject Him, there will be consequences; if we are willing to choose other gods before Him, then there's a realistic yet frightening notion that we'll have to face Him one day. This verse tacts on the adjective "living" to describe God. I think it's an emphasis on the fact that God WILL deal with us. Just because He allows us to be evil and commit sin doesn't mean that He is not unaware of our actions or thoughts; the judgment will come from the living God.
It's important to understand the terror of God, in order for us to think twice about doing things that aren't pleasing to Him. It should deter us, but even more so, His love for us should make us want to behave. It is equally important to hold onto the fact that His love has established His throne. God is good; He is merciful. We shouldn't live in fear of Him, but rather love Him as our disciplinary and leader. We should also never take advantage of that fact that He is so forgiving. We should never deliberately choose to reject Him in the things that we do.
We are sinners. God can be angry. We are in His hands. However, these three things are not necessarily simultaneously occurring. If we repent from our wicked ways, He will hold us lovingly in His hands, without anger and without bitterness. If we don't repent and we continue to reject His ways, then perhaps the three events will occur at one time, which is, in short, just dreadful.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
once again.
"once again..." Isaiah 14:1
Second chances are available in God's economy of grace. He offers it willingly for those who want to repent, for those who want to return; He gives it freely to those who want to try again and have another go at it. I am whole-heartedly thankful for His mercy because I need it daily.
I think I'm struggling a bit with taking full advantage of all blessings He does supply; I'm so busy right now with school that I have been trying to organize my time according to my standards, by my needs. I'm taking control of the circumstances; I'm taking the reigns in my own hands . The result of acquirement for independence is probably evident in how I feel right now...lousy.
God's grace is never-ending. He wants us to go back again, and again, and again to replenish and refill our spirits with what is good and pure. Even when we do become so empty that we just want to give up, His arms are open for us to return. It's never too late. It's not "once upon a time" like in the fairy tales, which implies past tense. It's "once again" and this is in real life. He wants us once again.
Second chances are available in God's economy of grace. He offers it willingly for those who want to repent, for those who want to return; He gives it freely to those who want to try again and have another go at it. I am whole-heartedly thankful for His mercy because I need it daily.
I think I'm struggling a bit with taking full advantage of all blessings He does supply; I'm so busy right now with school that I have been trying to organize my time according to my standards, by my needs. I'm taking control of the circumstances; I'm taking the reigns in my own hands . The result of acquirement for independence is probably evident in how I feel right now...lousy.
God's grace is never-ending. He wants us to go back again, and again, and again to replenish and refill our spirits with what is good and pure. Even when we do become so empty that we just want to give up, His arms are open for us to return. It's never too late. It's not "once upon a time" like in the fairy tales, which implies past tense. It's "once again" and this is in real life. He wants us once again.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
fearing God and not Calculus
13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread, (Isaiah 8)
I am so overwhelmed with calculus. I've only had two days of integration, a little over four hours of intense and intimidating instruction, and I am completely, utterly, so, so, so terribly behind. I have not completed or even started any of the homework assignments, not because I don't want to, but because I seriously don't have time. I barely have time to eat or sleep. I'm physically exhausted, and I am emotionally frazzled. This is always on my mind. This is what I fear right now. This is what I dread. How many hours I spend worrying over school? Too much.
God knows calculus. Um. Yeah, to say the least. He understands programming. Hah. Yes, He does. So, if I just trust in Him and try my very hardest, He'll pull me through. I shouldn't waste my time fretting about things I can't change. I just have to be confident that He will give me the wisdom, energy, and ability to do what I have to do. And let's say, I do fail. So what? Maybe I really just have to take a class again to really comprehend the subject matter. That's His will, and I just have to follow it. No matter what though, I have to fear Him and trust Him. It'll all work out in the end...
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread, (Isaiah 8)
I am so overwhelmed with calculus. I've only had two days of integration, a little over four hours of intense and intimidating instruction, and I am completely, utterly, so, so, so terribly behind. I have not completed or even started any of the homework assignments, not because I don't want to, but because I seriously don't have time. I barely have time to eat or sleep. I'm physically exhausted, and I am emotionally frazzled. This is always on my mind. This is what I fear right now. This is what I dread. How many hours I spend worrying over school? Too much.
God knows calculus. Um. Yeah, to say the least. He understands programming. Hah. Yes, He does. So, if I just trust in Him and try my very hardest, He'll pull me through. I shouldn't waste my time fretting about things I can't change. I just have to be confident that He will give me the wisdom, energy, and ability to do what I have to do. And let's say, I do fail. So what? Maybe I really just have to take a class again to really comprehend the subject matter. That's His will, and I just have to follow it. No matter what though, I have to fear Him and trust Him. It'll all work out in the end...
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
trusting others.
5 Do not trust a neighbor;
put no confidence in a friend.
Even with her who lies in your embrace
be careful of your words.
6 For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man's enemies are the members of his own household.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me. (Micah 7)
We all go through various phases in our lives. When we're young we are totally vulnerable and dependent on others; we trust people with little reservation not because we choose to but because it's the nature of our survival. Then, during adolescence we become completely cynical to authority. We don't necessary rebel, but we doubt whether or not older people can relate to us or understand us. But it's during this time that we give our unadulterated trust to our peers; we believe what they think, we trust their judgment. But then we become adults. We begin to realize our folly as teenagers, and we begin to shed some of the reservations we had about authority, but we're in an awkward state in our lives, or at least I am.
I want to trust people, really I do, but I can't. So many peole have let down, I have a hard time finding credibility in anything. I think I want to trust people because I want to place my reliance on something tangible, something concrete. But in Micah, we're not asked to trust anyone; our faith is not constructed on something tangible or concrete. We only suppose to trust God, which is hard but it is necessary to remain steady in this life. People will let you down; it's almost guaranteed. God will never, and that is a guarantee.
put no confidence in a friend.
Even with her who lies in your embrace
be careful of your words.
6 For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man's enemies are the members of his own household.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me. (Micah 7)
We all go through various phases in our lives. When we're young we are totally vulnerable and dependent on others; we trust people with little reservation not because we choose to but because it's the nature of our survival. Then, during adolescence we become completely cynical to authority. We don't necessary rebel, but we doubt whether or not older people can relate to us or understand us. But it's during this time that we give our unadulterated trust to our peers; we believe what they think, we trust their judgment. But then we become adults. We begin to realize our folly as teenagers, and we begin to shed some of the reservations we had about authority, but we're in an awkward state in our lives, or at least I am.
I want to trust people, really I do, but I can't. So many peole have let down, I have a hard time finding credibility in anything. I think I want to trust people because I want to place my reliance on something tangible, something concrete. But in Micah, we're not asked to trust anyone; our faith is not constructed on something tangible or concrete. We only suppose to trust God, which is hard but it is necessary to remain steady in this life. People will let you down; it's almost guaranteed. God will never, and that is a guarantee.
Monday, July 9, 2007
laziness.
11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6)
We are exhorted to continue with perseverance until the very end. We should not lose patience, endurance, or hope, even when everything seems so dull, so mundane. We should continue on without wavering and without faltering, even when times appear stagnant. And yet, it is during these calms after the turbulent storms that we have the tendancy to not rest but rather become lazy. Without a battle raging before us, we have difficulty summoning any energy and effort for a cause that seems so far away. So, we become lackadaisical. We become slothful. We become almost useless.
Don't become lazy. Even when there doesn't seem like there's much spiritual warfare happening, there is. There is always something for us to do, even if we're not in the middle of the battle fighting. We can always pray on the sidelines. There are millions who need it. In those moments that we feel restless and simply lazy, perhaps we should get our eyes checked. We should focus them on Jesus, and see what He has for us to do.
We are exhorted to continue with perseverance until the very end. We should not lose patience, endurance, or hope, even when everything seems so dull, so mundane. We should continue on without wavering and without faltering, even when times appear stagnant. And yet, it is during these calms after the turbulent storms that we have the tendancy to not rest but rather become lazy. Without a battle raging before us, we have difficulty summoning any energy and effort for a cause that seems so far away. So, we become lackadaisical. We become slothful. We become almost useless.
Don't become lazy. Even when there doesn't seem like there's much spiritual warfare happening, there is. There is always something for us to do, even if we're not in the middle of the battle fighting. We can always pray on the sidelines. There are millions who need it. In those moments that we feel restless and simply lazy, perhaps we should get our eyes checked. We should focus them on Jesus, and see what He has for us to do.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
physically fit.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food. (Psalm 102)
This is just like me; in my depression, I lose my appetite. It's almost as if I enjoy the physical pangs of hunger, as if I feel I deserve to endure the weakness and fatigue. Food is normally equated with fun and celebration, and when there is something to mourn about, it falls quickly to the bottom of my list.
Lately, I've been eating heartily, which probably means I'm not as depressed as normal. :) However, there are things in the back of my mind that keep arising, adding pressure to my head. I really shouldn't let them surface though. I should really take it one step at a time.
Dear God,
Thank you for a beautiful weekend :). Please help me to stay joyful but also healthy, especially for when times get tough again. I want to be physically strong and spiritually ready for tribulation. I want to triumph because I have found strength in You.
I forget to eat my food. (Psalm 102)
This is just like me; in my depression, I lose my appetite. It's almost as if I enjoy the physical pangs of hunger, as if I feel I deserve to endure the weakness and fatigue. Food is normally equated with fun and celebration, and when there is something to mourn about, it falls quickly to the bottom of my list.
Lately, I've been eating heartily, which probably means I'm not as depressed as normal. :) However, there are things in the back of my mind that keep arising, adding pressure to my head. I really shouldn't let them surface though. I should really take it one step at a time.
Dear God,
Thank you for a beautiful weekend :). Please help me to stay joyful but also healthy, especially for when times get tough again. I want to be physically strong and spiritually ready for tribulation. I want to triumph because I have found strength in You.
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