ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 83 - 1 Samuel 14-16 (Courageous Faith)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"'Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.'" (1 Samuel 14:6-7)
Most people who know even a little about the Bible would recognize the name of David because of his mighty exploits, but not so with another man who happened to be David's best friend and who had a courage and faith just like David. That man was Jonathan, the son of king Saul.
Jonathan deserves the credit for one of the most spectacular victory of Israel against its enemies. When Saul was annointed as the first king of Israel by Samuel, Israel was still subject to the Philistines and had to pay tribute to the Philistine lords and endure the harsh treatments by the Philistine soldiers stationed in their garrisons all over the land where the Israelites dwelt. It was under these circumstances that Jonathan decided he has had enough and decided to attack the garrison in Geba.
In response, the Philitines gathered their entire army to fight against Israel. The Israelites became afraid and hid in caves and anywhere they could hide. Saul had only six hundred men with him to fight against an army the Bible described as many as the sand on the seashore.
Perhaps thinking that he was to blame for their plight, Jonathan decides to take matters in his own hands and, as our text above narrates, goes over to the garrison of the Philistines with his armor-bearer to attack it.
In the same chapter, we are told by the author of 1 Samuel that the garrison which Jonathan attacked was situated on a cliff accessible only by climbing it using one's hands and knees. I can just imagine Jonathan and his armor-bearer climbing the rock hill with their hands and knees carrying their weapons and the Philistine soldiers just watching them and waiting until they got close to the top where they thought they could easily swing their swords and spears down at the two.
Jonathan and his armor-bearer must have had the quickness of a cat and the skill of a Ninja warrior because they not only made it to the top of the hill but was able to kill the twenty men at the garrison. Then, the miraculous happened. God comes to the aid of the Israelites and sends a terrible earthquake in the land where the Philistines were and caused the soldiers to turn against each other with their swords. Saul and all the Israelites including those who were hiding in caves goes after the Philistines and defeats them in battle.
I love this story of Jonathan and how he brought about a remarkable victory for Israel because of his faith in God that gave him great courage in the midst of impossible odds. He believed that "nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6).
O how I wish to have the same faith and courage as Jonathan so that I will not only believe God to do the impossible but also be brave enough to live out my faith no matter what the cost. I know God can and will enable me to have my wish as I am faithful in the little things that He throws my way in order to strengthen my faith and courage.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Day 82 - 1 Samuel 11-13
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 82 - 1 Samuel 11-13 (Serve the Lord with All Your Heart)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." (1 Samuel 12:20-21)
After an astounding victory over the Ammonites, Saul is summoned by Samuel to Gilgal along with all the people of Israel in order to renew the kingdom there. It was during Samuel's address to Saul and the people at Gilgal that he spoke the words in our text above.
Samuel reminds the people of the wicked thing they did in exchanging God's direct rule with a human king to rule over them. Yet, as the father image to the nation of Israel that he was, Samuel did not fail to admonish them to serve the Lord with all their heart and to not turn aside from serving God because doing so would be going "after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing" (1 Samuel 12:21)
Samuel's admonition to the Israelites also serves as God's admonition to us today. Who among us can say that we have not sinned against God? Yet, God is telling us today, "do not turn aside from following God, but serve God with all of your heart." Whatever sin you may have committed, God wants you to repent and ask for His forgiveness, get back up on your feet and start following God henceforth.
Let us praise God today for His unfailing love and His unending mercy to forgive our sins. Let us fall on our knees before Him in humility and repentance, asking Him to forgive us our sins, and let us receive the forgiveness that He offers freely through Christ who died for us. Then, let us resolve henceforth to follow Him with all of our heart by reading His Word and obeying all of His commandments.
Let us also not fail to heed God's warning through Samuel that if we are so foolish as to turn aside from following God that we will actually be going after empty things which cannot profit us but rather will leave us with nothing. The apostle Paul referred to this very thing when He said,
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
Day 82 - 1 Samuel 11-13 (Serve the Lord with All Your Heart)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." (1 Samuel 12:20-21)
After an astounding victory over the Ammonites, Saul is summoned by Samuel to Gilgal along with all the people of Israel in order to renew the kingdom there. It was during Samuel's address to Saul and the people at Gilgal that he spoke the words in our text above.
Samuel reminds the people of the wicked thing they did in exchanging God's direct rule with a human king to rule over them. Yet, as the father image to the nation of Israel that he was, Samuel did not fail to admonish them to serve the Lord with all their heart and to not turn aside from serving God because doing so would be going "after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing" (1 Samuel 12:21)
Samuel's admonition to the Israelites also serves as God's admonition to us today. Who among us can say that we have not sinned against God? Yet, God is telling us today, "do not turn aside from following God, but serve God with all of your heart." Whatever sin you may have committed, God wants you to repent and ask for His forgiveness, get back up on your feet and start following God henceforth.
Let us praise God today for His unfailing love and His unending mercy to forgive our sins. Let us fall on our knees before Him in humility and repentance, asking Him to forgive us our sins, and let us receive the forgiveness that He offers freely through Christ who died for us. Then, let us resolve henceforth to follow Him with all of our heart by reading His Word and obeying all of His commandments.
Let us also not fail to heed God's warning through Samuel that if we are so foolish as to turn aside from following God that we will actually be going after empty things which cannot profit us but rather will leave us with nothing. The apostle Paul referred to this very thing when He said,
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Day 81 - 1 Samuel 8-10
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 81 - 1 Samuel 8-10 (Trading Fillet Mignon for a Dollar Burger)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
Amber and I once got a voucher for a free pastors' conference we attended either to stay at a luxury hotel or trade the voucher for cash and stay elsewhere. As much as I would want to forget my decision to take the cash and check in at a cheap motel room that smelled of cigarette smoke, my wife would not let me. It was like I traded a fillet mignon steak dinner at a fancy French restaurant with a burger from the dollar menu of a McDonalds at a drive-thru. What wife can forget that, huh?
I can't help but compare my unforgetable experience with the decision of the Israelites to trade God's theocratic rule of their nation with their choice of becoming a monarchy ruled by a king just like the rest of the nations around them. Thus far, as long as the people looked to God for help, God went before Israel's army to their battles and fought for them, giving them victory each time.
When Samuel and his sons served as Israel's judges, however, the people demanded Samuel to give them a king "that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." Naturally, this request saddened Samuel and God but God told Samuel to give the people what they wanted. The rest is Israel's sad history. The kingdom was divided after its third king, Solomon. Of the twenty kings that reigned in Israel, not one was good; and of the twenty kings of Judah, only four were considered good. Both kingdoms ended up in exile.
What can we learn from this sad lesson from Israel's hostory? For those of us who consider ourselves true followers of Christ, we must admit that we are often guilty of trading God with something else. It could be a temporary sinful pleasure, settling for second best in a relationship, or trading valuable worship and fellowship time on Sundays with overtime work. Whatever it may be, we act foolishly whenever we trade the best for something less.
Father, help us to recognize your best for us and grant us the courage to always choose you over all others. In your Son's name, Jesus, we pray.
Day 81 - 1 Samuel 8-10 (Trading Fillet Mignon for a Dollar Burger)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
Amber and I once got a voucher for a free pastors' conference we attended either to stay at a luxury hotel or trade the voucher for cash and stay elsewhere. As much as I would want to forget my decision to take the cash and check in at a cheap motel room that smelled of cigarette smoke, my wife would not let me. It was like I traded a fillet mignon steak dinner at a fancy French restaurant with a burger from the dollar menu of a McDonalds at a drive-thru. What wife can forget that, huh?
I can't help but compare my unforgetable experience with the decision of the Israelites to trade God's theocratic rule of their nation with their choice of becoming a monarchy ruled by a king just like the rest of the nations around them. Thus far, as long as the people looked to God for help, God went before Israel's army to their battles and fought for them, giving them victory each time.
When Samuel and his sons served as Israel's judges, however, the people demanded Samuel to give them a king "that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." Naturally, this request saddened Samuel and God but God told Samuel to give the people what they wanted. The rest is Israel's sad history. The kingdom was divided after its third king, Solomon. Of the twenty kings that reigned in Israel, not one was good; and of the twenty kings of Judah, only four were considered good. Both kingdoms ended up in exile.
What can we learn from this sad lesson from Israel's hostory? For those of us who consider ourselves true followers of Christ, we must admit that we are often guilty of trading God with something else. It could be a temporary sinful pleasure, settling for second best in a relationship, or trading valuable worship and fellowship time on Sundays with overtime work. Whatever it may be, we act foolishly whenever we trade the best for something less.
Father, help us to recognize your best for us and grant us the courage to always choose you over all others. In your Son's name, Jesus, we pray.
Day 80 - 1 Samuel 3-7
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 80 - 1 Samuel 3-7 (The Awesome God)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? (1 Samuel 6:19-20)
The word awesome can mean inspiring great admiration or great fear - God is both. He inspires great admiration because of all the qualities people generally like about Him such as His love and mercy. But God also inspires great fear because of the terrible judgments He had done and will do in the future. Our text above is one such example of God's terrible judgment.
At first glance, it seems that God acted severely in His judgment of the people of Beth Shemesh. But who can judge God? God is The Judge of the universe which He created. Instead of questioning God's fairness, we ought to learn the lesson from the mistake of those who took for granted God's warning of sinful men approaching His holy presence.
Those who know God through His Word and through the Holy Spirit who gives them understanding of truth will discover by reading the Bible that God does not exclude humans at all from His presence. In fact, God is all about drawing humans unto Him ever since the first man and woman decided to cut their fellowship with Him by disobeying Him in the Garden of Eden.
How does God draw sinful man unto Him? In the Old Testament, God instituted the animal sacrifice which meant that the life of the animal was killed in place of man who desires to approach Him. Also, He instituted the Levitical priesthood and annointed (set apart as holy unto God) the lineage of Aaron, Moses' brother, as priests to mediate between God and man.
In the New Testament, God sent His own Son, Jesus, who was the Perfect Lamb sacrificed in our place once for all so that all those who put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior may approach God's presence forever. God also made Jesus to be the High Priest forever to mediate or intervene between sinful man and holy God.
If you can understand God's love for you and His consuming desire for you to dwell in His presence forever through Christ, you will no longer question His fairness in judging so severely those who despise Him life the people of Beth Shemesh who thought they could look in the Ark and see God. Rather, you will have no other response but to praise His holiness.
Day 80 - 1 Samuel 3-7 (The Awesome God)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? (1 Samuel 6:19-20)
The word awesome can mean inspiring great admiration or great fear - God is both. He inspires great admiration because of all the qualities people generally like about Him such as His love and mercy. But God also inspires great fear because of the terrible judgments He had done and will do in the future. Our text above is one such example of God's terrible judgment.
At first glance, it seems that God acted severely in His judgment of the people of Beth Shemesh. But who can judge God? God is The Judge of the universe which He created. Instead of questioning God's fairness, we ought to learn the lesson from the mistake of those who took for granted God's warning of sinful men approaching His holy presence.
Those who know God through His Word and through the Holy Spirit who gives them understanding of truth will discover by reading the Bible that God does not exclude humans at all from His presence. In fact, God is all about drawing humans unto Him ever since the first man and woman decided to cut their fellowship with Him by disobeying Him in the Garden of Eden.
How does God draw sinful man unto Him? In the Old Testament, God instituted the animal sacrifice which meant that the life of the animal was killed in place of man who desires to approach Him. Also, He instituted the Levitical priesthood and annointed (set apart as holy unto God) the lineage of Aaron, Moses' brother, as priests to mediate between God and man.
In the New Testament, God sent His own Son, Jesus, who was the Perfect Lamb sacrificed in our place once for all so that all those who put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior may approach God's presence forever. God also made Jesus to be the High Priest forever to mediate or intervene between sinful man and holy God.
If you can understand God's love for you and His consuming desire for you to dwell in His presence forever through Christ, you will no longer question His fairness in judging so severely those who despise Him life the people of Beth Shemesh who thought they could look in the Ark and see God. Rather, you will have no other response but to praise His holiness.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Day 79 - 1 Samuel 1-2
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 79 - 1 Samuel 1-2 (Those Who Honor Me I Will Honor - Hannah's Story)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"But now the LORD says: "Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Samuel 2:30)
The statement above spoken by God to Eli who was the high priest at the Tabernacle in Shiloh was set amidst the backdrop of two contrasting set of people. On the one hand was Eli and his corrupt sons who acted wickedly in that they extorted from the worshippers at the Tabernacle and slept with the women who assembled there. God rebuked Eli for allowing his sons to serve as priests despite their wickedness. As a result, God judged Eli and told him that not one of his descendants will live a full age but all will die in their prime. God also said that He will replace Eli's priesthood with that of another man who will be a faithful priest for God.
On the other hand, there was Hannah and her son Samuel whom God gave to her in answer to her prayers for God to open her barren womb. When Hannah prayed for a son inside the house of God, she made a vow that if God granted her a son that she would dedicate him as a priest to serve before God in the Tabernacle. God honored Hannah and granted her prayer and she bore a son whom she named Samuel. We shall see more of this man Samuel and how God continued to honor Hannah by honoring her son in the succeeding posts.
When I think about a person who is known to honor God, I think of Eric Liddel, the Scottish Olympic gold medalist who refused to run on a Sunday even when He was the only hope of his country for a gold medal. Eric forfeited an almost sure gold medal in the 100 meter race bacause it was held on a Sunday. God, however, had given Eric another opportunity in running the 400 meter race where he was the least expected to win. Miraculously, Eric won the gold medal and set a new world record.
Before the race that won him the gold in the 400 meters, Eric's team coach handed him a hand-written note that said, "He who honors Him, He will honor." Eric honored God by his conviction not to run on a Sunday and God honored Eric by giving him the victory in a way that glorified both God and Eric. Eric continued to honor God right after he won in the Olympics by going to China as a missionary where he died at the young age of 43 in a Japanese war prison camp.
You and I do not have to make a vow not to engage in certain activities on a Sunday in order to honor God. For Eric Liddel, that was his way of honoring God and God indeed was honored. We can honor God in many ways. Hannah honored God by giving her son Samuel to Him as a priest. Many Christians honor God by giving their tithes or a tenth of their income to God. A pastor friend of mine from Cebu wants to honor God by giving Him twenty percent of their family income. Each individual must decide in his own heart how he or she would like to honor God. How do you honor God?
Day 79 - 1 Samuel 1-2 (Those Who Honor Me I Will Honor - Hannah's Story)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"But now the LORD says: "Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Samuel 2:30)
The statement above spoken by God to Eli who was the high priest at the Tabernacle in Shiloh was set amidst the backdrop of two contrasting set of people. On the one hand was Eli and his corrupt sons who acted wickedly in that they extorted from the worshippers at the Tabernacle and slept with the women who assembled there. God rebuked Eli for allowing his sons to serve as priests despite their wickedness. As a result, God judged Eli and told him that not one of his descendants will live a full age but all will die in their prime. God also said that He will replace Eli's priesthood with that of another man who will be a faithful priest for God.
On the other hand, there was Hannah and her son Samuel whom God gave to her in answer to her prayers for God to open her barren womb. When Hannah prayed for a son inside the house of God, she made a vow that if God granted her a son that she would dedicate him as a priest to serve before God in the Tabernacle. God honored Hannah and granted her prayer and she bore a son whom she named Samuel. We shall see more of this man Samuel and how God continued to honor Hannah by honoring her son in the succeeding posts.
When I think about a person who is known to honor God, I think of Eric Liddel, the Scottish Olympic gold medalist who refused to run on a Sunday even when He was the only hope of his country for a gold medal. Eric forfeited an almost sure gold medal in the 100 meter race bacause it was held on a Sunday. God, however, had given Eric another opportunity in running the 400 meter race where he was the least expected to win. Miraculously, Eric won the gold medal and set a new world record.
Before the race that won him the gold in the 400 meters, Eric's team coach handed him a hand-written note that said, "He who honors Him, He will honor." Eric honored God by his conviction not to run on a Sunday and God honored Eric by giving him the victory in a way that glorified both God and Eric. Eric continued to honor God right after he won in the Olympics by going to China as a missionary where he died at the young age of 43 in a Japanese war prison camp.
You and I do not have to make a vow not to engage in certain activities on a Sunday in order to honor God. For Eric Liddel, that was his way of honoring God and God indeed was honored. We can honor God in many ways. Hannah honored God by giving her son Samuel to Him as a priest. Many Christians honor God by giving their tithes or a tenth of their income to God. A pastor friend of mine from Cebu wants to honor God by giving Him twenty percent of their family income. Each individual must decide in his own heart how he or she would like to honor God. How do you honor God?
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Day 78 - Judges 4-5
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 78 - Judges 4-5 (The Other Most Blessed Woman in the Bible)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents. ...She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen's hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple. At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead." (Judges 5:24-27)
A careful reading of out text above and the entire Scripture reading for today would reveal the violent act of Jael in killing Sisera by driving a tent peg into his temple while he slept trusting Jael will keep him safe as he hid in her tent. So, how in the world was Jael honored by God through Israel's leader and judge Deborah?
In order to understand this puzzle, we need to view it in its context, specifically, the context of war in which Israel was engaged with Jabin, king of Canaan and his commander Sisera. During those days, it was not the practice of Israel to keep prisoners; it was kill or be killed. Jael knew the high price of letting Sisera slip away and she was not willing to let that happen. She did what she did out of patriotism and loyalty to her people and to her God. As a result, she received the highest honor bestowed upon a woman next only to that of the blessed mother of Jesus.
"So what?" I believe the "so what?" of this Bible story is this, among other "so whats?": In life, there comes a once in a lifetime opportunity for a person to rise into greatness, as in the case of Jael. Rocognizing it is half of the battle won; the other half is implemenation.
I think about the 21 Egyptian Christians murdered by ISIS recently who rose to greatness in the sight of God and of man by choosing death rather than denying their faith in Christ. Many men and women make the same choices everyday and in doing so seize their opportunity for greatness.
Of course, most of us will never be put in a situation of being forced to deny or die for our faith but, all of us face daily choices that spell the difference between greatness and mediocrity. For us who are followers of Christ, we must constantly choose to either drive the death blow to sin by forsaking it or, let sin slip away taking us as its hostage.
Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was such a man who constantly chose greatness over mediocrity. When pressed daily by his master's wife to lie with her, he chose to run away from her even when it cost him his freedom as we know he ended up in prison because she falsely accused him of rape.
So what? I say, so what about you? Will you be able to recognize your moments of oppportunity for greatness and choose to seize it? Or, will you continue in living a defeated life because you refuse to drum up enough courage to drive the death blow to sin that has kept you as its slave for so long? The choice is yours. Yet you are not alone in your struggle; thanks be to God who is always with us, waiting for us to ask His help to defeat sin in our life.
Day 78 - Judges 4-5 (The Other Most Blessed Woman in the Bible)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents. ...She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen's hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple. At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead." (Judges 5:24-27)
A careful reading of out text above and the entire Scripture reading for today would reveal the violent act of Jael in killing Sisera by driving a tent peg into his temple while he slept trusting Jael will keep him safe as he hid in her tent. So, how in the world was Jael honored by God through Israel's leader and judge Deborah?
In order to understand this puzzle, we need to view it in its context, specifically, the context of war in which Israel was engaged with Jabin, king of Canaan and his commander Sisera. During those days, it was not the practice of Israel to keep prisoners; it was kill or be killed. Jael knew the high price of letting Sisera slip away and she was not willing to let that happen. She did what she did out of patriotism and loyalty to her people and to her God. As a result, she received the highest honor bestowed upon a woman next only to that of the blessed mother of Jesus.
"So what?" I believe the "so what?" of this Bible story is this, among other "so whats?": In life, there comes a once in a lifetime opportunity for a person to rise into greatness, as in the case of Jael. Rocognizing it is half of the battle won; the other half is implemenation.
I think about the 21 Egyptian Christians murdered by ISIS recently who rose to greatness in the sight of God and of man by choosing death rather than denying their faith in Christ. Many men and women make the same choices everyday and in doing so seize their opportunity for greatness.
Of course, most of us will never be put in a situation of being forced to deny or die for our faith but, all of us face daily choices that spell the difference between greatness and mediocrity. For us who are followers of Christ, we must constantly choose to either drive the death blow to sin by forsaking it or, let sin slip away taking us as its hostage.
Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was such a man who constantly chose greatness over mediocrity. When pressed daily by his master's wife to lie with her, he chose to run away from her even when it cost him his freedom as we know he ended up in prison because she falsely accused him of rape.
So what? I say, so what about you? Will you be able to recognize your moments of oppportunity for greatness and choose to seize it? Or, will you continue in living a defeated life because you refuse to drum up enough courage to drive the death blow to sin that has kept you as its slave for so long? The choice is yours. Yet you are not alone in your struggle; thanks be to God who is always with us, waiting for us to ask His help to defeat sin in our life.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Day 77 - Judges 1-3
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 77 - Judges 1-3 (What Legacy Will You Leave This World?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
Day 77 - Judges 1-3 (What Legacy Will You Leave This World?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.... When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel." (Joshua 2:7-10)
I can't think of a sadder commentary in the Bible concerning God's people than that a whole generation would arise who did not know the Lord. Had it not been for God's mercy on His people in raising up prophets throughout Israel's history who proclaimed the Word of God, none of the Jews today may even exist, or if any survived, would know the Lord and the work He had done for Israel.
Things have become very different for Israel since the coming of their Messiah, Jesus Christ, whom they have rejected and nailed on the cross. For over 2000 years, God has not sent another prophet since John the Baptist in order to proclaim the Word of God to them. Instead, God has left His complete Word, the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments and sent the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of every true Christian in order to empower them to become witnesses not only to the Jews but to all people on earth.
This truth bears great significance to all who call themselves Christians for this one reason: Christ has commanded all believers throughout all ages to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Christ command which I just quoted, has been called the Great Commission, and rightly so. Christ has placed the destiny of Christianity in the hands of mere human beings, but not without the direct help of the Holy Who enables and empowers His disciples. Think about this for a moment if you are a believer: If every believer did not mind and obey the Great Commission, the next generation would have no way of knowing about the God of the Bible, unless of course God decides to use another way to proclaim His Word apart from human beings - perhaps through angels?
I don't know about you but I have made a resolution that I will allign my whole life with the Great Commission of making disciples. I count it the highest honor that any human being could ever be granted by God (for honor that comes from man is as fleeting as vapor and lasting as the grass of the field). Therefore, I will work the rest of my life in building a legacy that I have been a part, in a significant way, of allowing the future generations, should the Lord tarry in His coming, to know the Lord God.
Day 75 - Joshua 19-21
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 75 - Joshua 19-21 (Have You Claimed Your Inheritance Yet?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." (Joshua 21:43-45)
Our Scripture passage for today is a puzzle for some students of the Bible because by the time it was written, Israel had not possessed all the land which God had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In fact, Israel never possessed all the land to this day. So, how do we reconcile this apparent contradiction of the Word of God?
There are two aspect to understanding this paradox. First is through what I would call positional fulfillment of God's promise. God's promise to give the specific piece of real estate to Israel is a done deal in the eyes of God even though Israel had not yet possessed it because of their disobedience. It is so much like the promises of God to the Christian that, unfortunately, most believers have not possessed because of their disobedience and unbelief.
Day 75 - Joshua 19-21 (Have You Claimed Your Inheritance Yet?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." (Joshua 21:43-45)
Our Scripture passage for today is a puzzle for some students of the Bible because by the time it was written, Israel had not possessed all the land which God had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In fact, Israel never possessed all the land to this day. So, how do we reconcile this apparent contradiction of the Word of God?
There are two aspect to understanding this paradox. First is through what I would call positional fulfillment of God's promise. God's promise to give the specific piece of real estate to Israel is a done deal in the eyes of God even though Israel had not yet possessed it because of their disobedience. It is so much like the promises of God to the Christian that, unfortunately, most believers have not possessed because of their disobedience and unbelief.
"In the light of the Cross, is it not true that the enemy has no right to dwell in the land? Is it not true that Satan's claim to your life was taken from him at Calvary? Is it not true that sin has no right to a foothold in the life of the child of God? Is it not true that Satan has no power in the presence of Omnipotence? Is it not true that by virtue of His blood and His resurrection, Jesus Christ is pledged to destroy the enemy utterly? Is it not true that in the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit there is strength for every temptation, grace for every trial, power to overcome every difficulty?" (Alan Redpath)
The second aspect to understanding the promise of God is what I call perfect fulfillment. By this I mean that one day, what God has promised will surely be fulfilled because "till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18) Regarding God's promise to give the specific land area to Israel, the Bible teaches that they will finally receive it upon the second coming of the Messiah.
"So what does all this have to do with me?" you may ask. Well, for one, if you are a true believer in Christ, the promises mentioned in the quote above is yours as your possession but you will have to claim it and live it. And, one day, you and I as followers of Christ will become perfect as Christ is perfect; no longer affected by sin and human weaknesses. Oh, the unsearchable riches of God's wisdom! Praise be to God most high!
Monday, March 23, 2015
Day 76 - Joshua 22-24
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 76 - Joshua 22-24 (As For Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15)
The phrase "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" hangs and many living room walls including mine but what does it really mean? Based on the context from the Scripture where it is quoted from, we learn that Joshua, the leader of Israel, has come to the end of his long life and he gathers all the tribes of Israel to impart his final words to them.
Joshua's last words to Israel were more a call to choose sides; God's side or the side of the gods of the people whom God sought to destroy because of their evil practices associated with their idols. When we really think about it, everything in life boils down to the simple choice of choosing God's side or the Devil's side.
Joshua declares his own choice to the people, as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord. The people also declares their choice to Joshua that they will serve the Lord their God. Then, "Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem" (Joshua 24:25).
If you are head of your family, you would be wise to follow the example of Joshua and publicly declare that you and your household will follow the Lord. In doing so, you will need to stand your ground and resolve never to compromise your devotion to God despite any and all pressure to do so. As head of your family, you will give account to God for everything that happens under your roof.
As head of my household, it has not always been easy to stand my ground when members of my family have attempted to convince me and pressure me to compromise my convictions. But by the grace of God, I believe that I can stand before Him with a clear conscience that I have stood my ground in trying to keep my vow that, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Day 76 - Joshua 22-24 (As For Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15)
The phrase "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" hangs and many living room walls including mine but what does it really mean? Based on the context from the Scripture where it is quoted from, we learn that Joshua, the leader of Israel, has come to the end of his long life and he gathers all the tribes of Israel to impart his final words to them.
Joshua's last words to Israel were more a call to choose sides; God's side or the side of the gods of the people whom God sought to destroy because of their evil practices associated with their idols. When we really think about it, everything in life boils down to the simple choice of choosing God's side or the Devil's side.
Joshua declares his own choice to the people, as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord. The people also declares their choice to Joshua that they will serve the Lord their God. Then, "Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem" (Joshua 24:25).
If you are head of your family, you would be wise to follow the example of Joshua and publicly declare that you and your household will follow the Lord. In doing so, you will need to stand your ground and resolve never to compromise your devotion to God despite any and all pressure to do so. As head of your family, you will give account to God for everything that happens under your roof.
As head of my household, it has not always been easy to stand my ground when members of my family have attempted to convince me and pressure me to compromise my convictions. But by the grace of God, I believe that I can stand before Him with a clear conscience that I have stood my ground in trying to keep my vow that, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Day 74 - Joshua 16-18
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 74 - Joshua 16-18 (If You're a Leader, Instill Confidence in Your People)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel." And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong." (Joshua 17:16-18)
The two tribes of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh, children of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, didn't have the confidence that they will be able to drive out the inhabitants of the mountain country that Joshua was alloting to them as an additional inheritance because the lot they inherited was too confined for them. They pointed out the iron chariots of the Canaanites who dwelt there as an impossible obstacle for them. Then Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses died, did what any good leader must do in this situation - he instilled confidence in his people, assuring them that they will be able to drive out the Canaanites because God was with them.
I am reminded of another great leader in recent history who inpired his whole country to win a seemingly impossible war against Hitler and Germany; that leader was none other than Winston Churchill. Churchill galvanized the resolve of the British nation to win the war against Germany by intilling confidence in his people. The same can be said about many other leaders including George Washington, Abrahan Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.
You may be reading this and you may be saying, "But I'm not a leader." Well, think again. Are you a father or husband? If you are, then you are a leader of your family and you need to be able to lead and inspire the person or person you are leading. Failure to do so is simply too dear a price to pay. A life lived in mediocrity is a life of tragedy not just for the leader but also for everyone whom looks to him for leadership and direction.
If you are unsure what you need to do as a leader, start by looking at the great men and women in the Bible whom God used to inspire their people into greatness and into realizing God's plan for their lives. Joshua is one great example but there are many more great leaders to learn from including King David, Samuel, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and of course, Jesus Himself. May you be the leader God intended you to be.
Day 74 - Joshua 16-18 (If You're a Leader, Instill Confidence in Your People)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel." And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong." (Joshua 17:16-18)
The two tribes of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh, children of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, didn't have the confidence that they will be able to drive out the inhabitants of the mountain country that Joshua was alloting to them as an additional inheritance because the lot they inherited was too confined for them. They pointed out the iron chariots of the Canaanites who dwelt there as an impossible obstacle for them. Then Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses died, did what any good leader must do in this situation - he instilled confidence in his people, assuring them that they will be able to drive out the Canaanites because God was with them.
I am reminded of another great leader in recent history who inpired his whole country to win a seemingly impossible war against Hitler and Germany; that leader was none other than Winston Churchill. Churchill galvanized the resolve of the British nation to win the war against Germany by intilling confidence in his people. The same can be said about many other leaders including George Washington, Abrahan Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.
You may be reading this and you may be saying, "But I'm not a leader." Well, think again. Are you a father or husband? If you are, then you are a leader of your family and you need to be able to lead and inspire the person or person you are leading. Failure to do so is simply too dear a price to pay. A life lived in mediocrity is a life of tragedy not just for the leader but also for everyone whom looks to him for leadership and direction.
If you are unsure what you need to do as a leader, start by looking at the great men and women in the Bible whom God used to inspire their people into greatness and into realizing God's plan for their lives. Joshua is one great example but there are many more great leaders to learn from including King David, Samuel, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and of course, Jesus Himself. May you be the leader God intended you to be.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Day 73 - Joshua 13-15
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 73 - Joshua 13-15 (What is Means to Follow God)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
Day 73 - Joshua 13-15 (What is Means to Follow God)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." (Joshua 14:13-14)
When Moses sent out twelve spies (one spy for each of the twelve tribes of Israel) to the land of Canaan, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who believed that Israel could defeat the mighty armies that occupied it and as a result, Moses promised Hebron as Caleb's inheritance. This was the premise with which Caleb approached Joshua to claim Hebron.
The phrase attributed to Caleb "he wholly followed the Lord God" appears three times in chapter 14 of Joshua. The first mention came from Caleb himself when he mentions it to Joshua as the grounds for which God has granted him Hebron as his inheritance: "...my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God." (14:8).
The second instance was in reference to Moses' promise to Caleb to give him Hebron, "'So Moses swore on that day, saying, "Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.'" (14:9)
The third instance was in the form of a commentary by the author of the book of Joshua: "Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." (14:14) Clearly, God is trying to make a point to us regarding the idea of "wholly following the Lord our God."
So, what does it mean to wholly follow the Lord? From the example of Caleb in our Sripture passage today, we can conclude that to wholly follow the Lord means this: It is to believe on His promises and to press on towards that which God has called us to regardless of the seeming impossibility of it. In the case of Caleb, when all ten spies lost heart after they saw the "giants" of the land, Caleb saw past them and saw his bigger God who was and is able to deliver that which He has promised.
Is there a promise from God that you find impossible to believe and to pursue because of its seeming impossibility? Perhaps it is a shaky marriage on the verge of collapse; or maybe it might be a financial need that threatens to wipe out your life savings. Whatever "giant" you may be facing, take courage from the example of Caleb and look past it on see your big God who is able not only to deliver you from your problem but also to give you your reward for wholly following the Lord your God.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Day 72 - Joshua 10-12
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 72 - Joshua 10-12 (God Wants You to be Victorious)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
Day 72 - Joshua 10-12 (God Wants You to be Victorious)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword." (Joshua 10:10-11)
In my last post we learned how because Joshua failed to wipe out the Gibeonites because he did not consult God in his desicion-making. In this next Scripture passage, we read that five powerful kings teamed up to make war against Gibeon for aligning itself with Israel. Upon seeing their predicament, Gibeon sends word to Joshua asking for support. Joshua gathers his army and fights the mighty alliance and as we read above, defeats them decisively with God's help. In fact, we read that "There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword."
Wow! What an assurance for God's people that He is the One who fights our battles and that He merely uses whatever He has given us so we could have the privilege of being a part of His plan in history. It is a reminder to us as God's people that we must be careful not to fight our battles in our own strength so that we would not be puffed up and think that we are strong enough and do not need God's help.
This was not the only instance when God supernaturally intervened to fight for Israel. In the same battle against the five-king alliance, God made the sun to stand still for an extra day until Israel completely destroyed her enemies. When Moses fled from Pharoah and his army, God divided the Red Sea so Israel could cross over but then God made Egypt's chariots get stuck in the middle of the sea and ordered the waters to come down on the entire army. When the Assyrian army laid seige on Jerusalem, God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers while they slept during the night. There are many more instances in the Bible as well as in modern-day Israel when God miraculously intervened in order to deilver the Jews. Why did God do it? We do not know all the reasons but one common thread we find is that in every one of those miracles, God's people called on God for deliverance.
God is just as concerned with ordinary individuals who call upon Him for help and He is always faithful to to hear us even though He may not choose to intervene miraculously. Jesus Himself in His humanity prayed to His heavenly Father to intervene in order to alleviate His intense suffering but then quickly submitted to the Father's will, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)
Are you facing a battle in your life right now? Although you may feel the usual urge to just toughen up and fight it alone because that is what the world expects you to do, look up to your Father in heaven who is waiting for you to call on Him for help because He loves you and also because He wants you to experience the victory that only He can give you.
Day 71 - Joshua 8-9
ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 71 - Joshua 8-9 (Is God a Part in Your Decision-Making?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them." (Joshua 9:14-16)
When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned that God had commanded Israel to totally destroy the inhabitants of Canaan, they resorted to trickery in order to save their lives. Who can blame these people? I give them a lot of credit for recognizing the hand of God upon Israel and against all the nations that dwelt in Canaan because of their evil practices.
The idea that God would completely wipe out not just one, but several nations, including children and women, is without question, one of the most, if not the most disturbing matter concerning the God of the Bible. Since I do not intend to write about this subject in this post, suffice it to say that the Bible teaches that God did so in order to establish a people for Himself from a land whose people were utterly evil. It was a graphic lesson to the Israelites that sin, which was typified by the inhabitants of Canaan, was to be utterly destroyed, for God cannot dwell with sin.
What I wish to focus on in our text above is the danger of not consulting God in our decisions. Joshua and the leaders of Israel, we are told, did not "ask the counsel of the Lord" in the matter of the Gibeonites. As a result, a people that God wanted wiped out of the planet in His divine judgment were allowed to live amongst God's people.
"What does this mean to me?", you may ask. I'm glad you did. As God's people, it is to our best interest that we consult God in every major decision we make. I say major because obviously, we do not need to ask God the color of the shirt we should wear. Oh, if only I could revert time, I would make sure I consulted God and waited on His answer on several bad decisions I have made in my life.
Along with age comes wisdom, especially the wisdom to learn from one's mistakes. I would like to think that I am one who has learned from my past mistakes of not consulting God on major decisions. Now that I'm in my fifties, I have learned to consult God on a daily basis especially in major decisions like how I should spend the rest of my life here on earth. I believe that He is calling me and my wife to go back to the Philippines to serve Him there. We are still waiting upon God to confirm most of the specifics of what we are to do once we get there for good later this year but we have full assurance that He will honor our commitment to always consult Him on everything.
Day 71 - Joshua 8-9 (Is God a Part in Your Decision-Making?)
(To View Past Posts Click: http://tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/)
"Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them." (Joshua 9:14-16)
When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned that God had commanded Israel to totally destroy the inhabitants of Canaan, they resorted to trickery in order to save their lives. Who can blame these people? I give them a lot of credit for recognizing the hand of God upon Israel and against all the nations that dwelt in Canaan because of their evil practices.
The idea that God would completely wipe out not just one, but several nations, including children and women, is without question, one of the most, if not the most disturbing matter concerning the God of the Bible. Since I do not intend to write about this subject in this post, suffice it to say that the Bible teaches that God did so in order to establish a people for Himself from a land whose people were utterly evil. It was a graphic lesson to the Israelites that sin, which was typified by the inhabitants of Canaan, was to be utterly destroyed, for God cannot dwell with sin.
What I wish to focus on in our text above is the danger of not consulting God in our decisions. Joshua and the leaders of Israel, we are told, did not "ask the counsel of the Lord" in the matter of the Gibeonites. As a result, a people that God wanted wiped out of the planet in His divine judgment were allowed to live amongst God's people.
"What does this mean to me?", you may ask. I'm glad you did. As God's people, it is to our best interest that we consult God in every major decision we make. I say major because obviously, we do not need to ask God the color of the shirt we should wear. Oh, if only I could revert time, I would make sure I consulted God and waited on His answer on several bad decisions I have made in my life.
Along with age comes wisdom, especially the wisdom to learn from one's mistakes. I would like to think that I am one who has learned from my past mistakes of not consulting God on major decisions. Now that I'm in my fifties, I have learned to consult God on a daily basis especially in major decisions like how I should spend the rest of my life here on earth. I believe that He is calling me and my wife to go back to the Philippines to serve Him there. We are still waiting upon God to confirm most of the specifics of what we are to do once we get there for good later this year but we have full assurance that He will honor our commitment to always consult Him on everything.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)