John 1 :35-39
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
When we hear the stories of the disciples leaving all of their homes, jobs, and lives behind to follow Christ, do you notice one thing that is Missing? Hesitation. All of the people that Jesus invited to follow him said yes without a second thought. Nathaniel might have questioned in a round about way, but when Christ extended the invitation, he took it. These men jumped at the chance to follow Christ. Now you have to remember at this time Christ was not well known. John the Baptist had been professing from the wilderness that Christ was on the way, but Jesus was not a household name. Yet these men followed Him.
The question that I pose is not why did these men jump so quickly, or why did they not ask more questions. My question is why can’t more of us be like that today? People recoil when you want to talk about Christ today. They have to be convinced, they have to be reassured. They have to have all of the whys and the what ifs and the but what abouts answered. There is nothing wrong with questioning, and I do want to be clear about that; what I am point out is that not many people seem to be looking for the answers anymore, and when the answer is given to them it is met with much skepticism.
It reminds me of a story I heard once about a group of cavemen. You see there was a group of Cavemen huddled in a cave, it was cold, it was wet, and it was dark. They were miserable, but they did not know it. This was the only life they knew. They were cold, but to them it was normal. At the mouth of the cave a man appeared, he began arranging something on the ground, and he told the people in the cave I have what you need. The people shouted what is it that you have, and He said what I have will give you light, and warmth, and with that He reached down and lit the wood.
The cavemen shouted, put it out! It hurts our eyes! The man said that it is always painful to leave the darkness but you will become accustomed to it, come closer it is warm, the light will not hurt you. Then one woman drew near, and she said He is right, it is warm, my eyes have adjusted and now I can see. Come closer and see for yourselves. The people shouted NO leave take your fire with you we will all lose our sight.
The woman look at the man and said why do they not want to come to the light? And the man said the darkness is all they have known, they do not want to leave. Even though it is warm, they would rather be cold the woman asked, and the man said yes. The woman told the man I don’t want to be away from my family. The man answered, then go to them. The woman said but I cannot bear to leave the light. The man reached down, took a stick that was on fire, and handed it to her. Here He said then take the light to them, and show them that the light is good.
We are a lot like those Cavemen today. We are so comfortable in what we know that even the thought of changing freaks us out. The change might promise wonderful new opportunities, that we want and need, but we are blinded in the darkness. We all need to step to the fire and grab a stick. Not only will we have light to travel by, but also we will have the proof in our hand for others to see. The light is good!
Peace,
Brian
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
this week
OK I have to offer my apologies; I have neglected this blog for the week. I will start back up on Monday. I have started up 2 other blogs, one with some friends from Psalm 22 (www.psalm22.net) Ministries. http://www.steppingthroughthebible.blogspot.com/ and the other is a blog to post my daily devotionals http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/ stop by when you have a chance, and I will be back to posting here next week.
God bless,
Brian
God bless,
Brian
Thursday, February 12, 2009
diversity and love
We all have low points in our lives, we all feel less than our best. It is what we do with it that counts. When all of the dust settles, can we still love what we are left with when we look in the mirror. Mary Sullivan wrote a wonderful story called the carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean. It really does a great job of showing how we react to diversity, and what is left when the storm clouds clear.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.The mother filled three pots with water.In the first, she placed carrots.In the second she placed eggs.And the last she placed ground coffee beans.She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners.She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see.""Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. (You known the tone of voice.)She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside.Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" (Remember the tone of voice.)Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water."Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on yourdoor, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"Think of this: Which am I?Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wiltand become soft and lose my strength?Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financialhardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.
I am quite certain that God loves coffee! SO often though we end up more like the egg or the carrot, and sadly enough we don’t really like that. If we look inside ourselves and don’t like what we see, how can we like let alone love anyone else effectively?
We have to let go of that pain that we are holding on to. God sent his son to pay for that pain you are holding on to. He sealed the deal with his death. All of that pain, all of that doubt, all of the little subtle whispers you hear telling you that you don’t deserve what you have, or that you are not good enough……drop them off at the feet of Christ. HE will take them, he does not want any of his children carrying that burden around. When you let go of that baggage, you can start to see the child of God that you are. If God love s you enough to offer up his son, than I promise you that you are worthy of love, better than that I would say that you deserve love!
Tonight when you are talking to the Lord, make it a point to leave your bag of bricks with him. Wake up tomorrow and step out of bed with your load lightened. Love yourself and the life you have been given. Then you will free yourself to love others.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.The mother filled three pots with water.In the first, she placed carrots.In the second she placed eggs.And the last she placed ground coffee beans.She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners.She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see.""Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. (You known the tone of voice.)She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside.Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" (Remember the tone of voice.)Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water."Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on yourdoor, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"Think of this: Which am I?Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wiltand become soft and lose my strength?Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financialhardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.
I am quite certain that God loves coffee! SO often though we end up more like the egg or the carrot, and sadly enough we don’t really like that. If we look inside ourselves and don’t like what we see, how can we like let alone love anyone else effectively?
We have to let go of that pain that we are holding on to. God sent his son to pay for that pain you are holding on to. He sealed the deal with his death. All of that pain, all of that doubt, all of the little subtle whispers you hear telling you that you don’t deserve what you have, or that you are not good enough……drop them off at the feet of Christ. HE will take them, he does not want any of his children carrying that burden around. When you let go of that baggage, you can start to see the child of God that you are. If God love s you enough to offer up his son, than I promise you that you are worthy of love, better than that I would say that you deserve love!
Tonight when you are talking to the Lord, make it a point to leave your bag of bricks with him. Wake up tomorrow and step out of bed with your load lightened. Love yourself and the life you have been given. Then you will free yourself to love others.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Love
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love; I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Valentines is right around the corner, the day of Love. Everyone will be running out buying cards, stuffed animals, and chocolate. Maybe some jewelry….who knows, but make no mistake about it people are going to have love on the brain. Love is a wonderful mysterious thing. Everyone wants it, many people have tried to buy it, reason for it, even live their life in search of it. It is as if Love is the pinnacle of life, and everyone is after it. Paul here is telling everyone no matter what you have, no matter how smart you are no matter how much you give without love all is worthless.
If love is so important that nothing else matters, why is it so hard to find? We know that Paul is putting its importance above anything else you can obtain, Jesus agreed with Paul. Christ told the Pharisees that the two most important laws were to love your God with all your strength, all your heart, and all your might, then turn and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Therein lies the problem.
We can love God. God is prefect, God uses everything in our lives for the good, God does not make mistakes……but we do, we often work to destroy our lives, we often make mistakes, and we are far from perfect! Loving God is not where we are lacking. We fail to love others enough because we do not love ourselves.
Maybe loving ourselves is not the right term….I know a lot of people who love themselves! More to the point we have a hard time forgiving ourselves so that the love of Christ can grow within us.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love; I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Valentines is right around the corner, the day of Love. Everyone will be running out buying cards, stuffed animals, and chocolate. Maybe some jewelry….who knows, but make no mistake about it people are going to have love on the brain. Love is a wonderful mysterious thing. Everyone wants it, many people have tried to buy it, reason for it, even live their life in search of it. It is as if Love is the pinnacle of life, and everyone is after it. Paul here is telling everyone no matter what you have, no matter how smart you are no matter how much you give without love all is worthless.
If love is so important that nothing else matters, why is it so hard to find? We know that Paul is putting its importance above anything else you can obtain, Jesus agreed with Paul. Christ told the Pharisees that the two most important laws were to love your God with all your strength, all your heart, and all your might, then turn and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Therein lies the problem.
We can love God. God is prefect, God uses everything in our lives for the good, God does not make mistakes……but we do, we often work to destroy our lives, we often make mistakes, and we are far from perfect! Loving God is not where we are lacking. We fail to love others enough because we do not love ourselves.
Maybe loving ourselves is not the right term….I know a lot of people who love themselves! More to the point we have a hard time forgiving ourselves so that the love of Christ can grow within us.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Friday, February 6, 2009
Temptation for all
The race we run is not a race against our peers, it is not really a race at all, but we are in fact running….running with the Lord, and from the one who is waiting for us to fall. The one I referred to as competition is not in competition with as much as for us! When we look at the last part of the verse we see 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Ahhh yes the great tempter, the liar of liars, the fallen angel….it does not really matter what you call him, the devil works just as well as any name, but know for a fact he is in direct competition for your soul.
God helps those who help themselves you hear that quote a lot…..only God did not say it, as a mater of fact you will not find that quote anywhere in the bible! Benjamin Franklin said that. What the Lord did tell us is that when we are weak he is strong, He told us that He will not forsake us…..He told us that if we will let him help he will. Paul is reminding us that we will be tempted….everyone is tempted, but first it is normal, and second, when we are tempted there will always be a way out.
The Lord might allow things to happen, but he is not the one that causes the hardship in our lives, it is us giving in to the temptation of the devil that causes our pain. See the devil has a distinct advantage on this earth. All he has to do is get you t0o turn your back on the Lord. You do not have to pledge yourself to the devil, you do not have to follow any teachings of the devil…..all you have to do is give in, and turn from the Lord, and he wins.
Of course no one thinks they will do that, but it is a pretty easy thing to do if you are not looking for that way out. There is always an escape hatch, a side door, or an open window. I often think of Job, talk about a man of faith, God let the devil inflict all types of pain physical, mental, emotional pain on Job, yet he did not break, he did not curse God. Of course God knew Job, he knew that he wouldn’t. God knows how much each one of us can endure, and what might seem like too much for you, might very well be nothing more than in inconvenience to another. Many might think that God was cruel to allow that type of pain, yet for someone who loves the Lord that is not pain, but an opportunity to show your conviction.
This brings up an interesting point, it seems that the more faith you have, the bigger, or more tempting the temptation…..weird huh? I can remember back to a time where I would say I was not tempted very much at all, not because I did whatever I wanted, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the devil knew that I just was not that big of a challenge. Now, well it seems that there is an opportunity to fall at every turn. Now things have changed, the devil realizes he will need all that is at his disposal just to try and get my attention. Remember, it is not that he wants me to turn to him, just turn from God, and he wins. This is nothing to fear, but a welcome challenge, let the devil do his best! He lost the race when Christ died on the cross; it’s just that he, and many people today do not realize it!
As we go into the weekend remember, God does not make mistakes, everything that has happened, and continues to happen is a learning, and a warning for us, continue to strive to know God better in your life, never get complacent, as if your race is over, everyday hit the ground running, remember that we all will be tempted, the devil is looking for a few good men…..but you will not be tempted beyond what you can withstand, and there will always be a way out, look for it, and USE it. The Glory is His, the Power is His, and the Honor is his, may we sing the praises of his name.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
God helps those who help themselves you hear that quote a lot…..only God did not say it, as a mater of fact you will not find that quote anywhere in the bible! Benjamin Franklin said that. What the Lord did tell us is that when we are weak he is strong, He told us that He will not forsake us…..He told us that if we will let him help he will. Paul is reminding us that we will be tempted….everyone is tempted, but first it is normal, and second, when we are tempted there will always be a way out.
The Lord might allow things to happen, but he is not the one that causes the hardship in our lives, it is us giving in to the temptation of the devil that causes our pain. See the devil has a distinct advantage on this earth. All he has to do is get you t0o turn your back on the Lord. You do not have to pledge yourself to the devil, you do not have to follow any teachings of the devil…..all you have to do is give in, and turn from the Lord, and he wins.
Of course no one thinks they will do that, but it is a pretty easy thing to do if you are not looking for that way out. There is always an escape hatch, a side door, or an open window. I often think of Job, talk about a man of faith, God let the devil inflict all types of pain physical, mental, emotional pain on Job, yet he did not break, he did not curse God. Of course God knew Job, he knew that he wouldn’t. God knows how much each one of us can endure, and what might seem like too much for you, might very well be nothing more than in inconvenience to another. Many might think that God was cruel to allow that type of pain, yet for someone who loves the Lord that is not pain, but an opportunity to show your conviction.
This brings up an interesting point, it seems that the more faith you have, the bigger, or more tempting the temptation…..weird huh? I can remember back to a time where I would say I was not tempted very much at all, not because I did whatever I wanted, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the devil knew that I just was not that big of a challenge. Now, well it seems that there is an opportunity to fall at every turn. Now things have changed, the devil realizes he will need all that is at his disposal just to try and get my attention. Remember, it is not that he wants me to turn to him, just turn from God, and he wins. This is nothing to fear, but a welcome challenge, let the devil do his best! He lost the race when Christ died on the cross; it’s just that he, and many people today do not realize it!
As we go into the weekend remember, God does not make mistakes, everything that has happened, and continues to happen is a learning, and a warning for us, continue to strive to know God better in your life, never get complacent, as if your race is over, everyday hit the ground running, remember that we all will be tempted, the devil is looking for a few good men…..but you will not be tempted beyond what you can withstand, and there will always be a way out, look for it, and USE it. The Glory is His, the Power is His, and the Honor is his, may we sing the praises of his name.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Thursday, February 5, 2009
free will and the race
Continuing on this thought from this week, I do want to point out here that I talk often about God’s plan. I will tell you that he does not make mistakes, and he knows what you ware going to de before you do it. I have been asked “well, what about free will?” If God knows everything we are going to do does that mean that we cannot make our own choices?” We always have free will. God might know us, and what we will do, but we are free to make whatever choice we want.
Let’s say you have a friend….we will call him Johnny. Everyday Johnny comes over to your house. As soon as he comes into the house, he says hi, and goes straight to the kitchen pantry for something to eat. Now you have known Johnny for years, and that is what he does. One time a group of people are meeting at your house, and before Johnny shows up to tell your friends, “watch, when Johnny gets here he is going to say hi, then go straight to the kitchen for something to eat.” Sure enough Johnny shows up, says hi, and goes straight to the kitchen! Now just because you knew it, and you told everyone he would do it, does that in some way hamper his free will? Of course not! Johnny has the choice to not go to the pantry every time he comes over, but you know Johnny so well, that you know he is going to do it, before it happens.
That is what happens when you love someone, you know them, and you know their habits. That is how much the Lord loves you….and then some. God knows what you are going to do when you get to that crossroads in life, he also knows what choice you are going to make. It is your choice, but the Lord knows if you are going to head to that pantry! The difference is the Lord waits patiently, he knows if on trip number 4 million you are going to head to the pantry or not, and regardless of you choice, He has already planned out how to use that choice for good. You have free will, every hour of everyday, and the Lord knows the choice you are going to make, not because he controls you, but because he loves you so much that he knows you better than your brother, or sister, better than your spouse, he knows you better than that friend you have that you tell all of your deepest darkest times with. HE knows you and loves you that much no matter how much you love Him, if you love Him at all. He has put his plan into action, and he knows how it will end, even though we do not.
Now comes the next point we should listen to. “If you think you are standing firm be careful that you do not fall” Now you are thinking great, so I jump on this path, I am heading in the right direction, but now you are saying that I can lose everything I have worked for? Well…..in a nut shell….yes! Think of it like this. Let’s say there was a guy who ran faster than anyone on the planet. No one could even get close to him. Every race he ran he won by a huge margin. One day the runner is thinking about it, and says to himself “ya’ know….I am so fast that I don’t have to train like I do now. I am safe, I can beat anyone….in other words he feels that he is standing firm. So he quits waking up at 5 in the morning to go run, he quits running at the end of the day. What does he have to worry about? HE is the fastest in the world. On the next trip out, he wins, but he notices that the gap is not as wide, this continues to happen, each race he runs the competition gets a little closer, until finally it is a tie, then the fateful day comes and he is beaten. He thinks what happened? I was the best I could be, but now I am not even second!
We have to persevere, we have to continue to walk the path and search out Christ, just because we feel comfortable with our relationship with Christ that does not mean that the race is over. We have to keep striving to get faster. Our competition is always chasing, and always looking for an advantage. HE will exploit any weakness he can find, so the idea is not to let him get close enough to touch us, go hard after God, and the adversary will be left in the dust.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Let’s say you have a friend….we will call him Johnny. Everyday Johnny comes over to your house. As soon as he comes into the house, he says hi, and goes straight to the kitchen pantry for something to eat. Now you have known Johnny for years, and that is what he does. One time a group of people are meeting at your house, and before Johnny shows up to tell your friends, “watch, when Johnny gets here he is going to say hi, then go straight to the kitchen for something to eat.” Sure enough Johnny shows up, says hi, and goes straight to the kitchen! Now just because you knew it, and you told everyone he would do it, does that in some way hamper his free will? Of course not! Johnny has the choice to not go to the pantry every time he comes over, but you know Johnny so well, that you know he is going to do it, before it happens.
That is what happens when you love someone, you know them, and you know their habits. That is how much the Lord loves you….and then some. God knows what you are going to do when you get to that crossroads in life, he also knows what choice you are going to make. It is your choice, but the Lord knows if you are going to head to that pantry! The difference is the Lord waits patiently, he knows if on trip number 4 million you are going to head to the pantry or not, and regardless of you choice, He has already planned out how to use that choice for good. You have free will, every hour of everyday, and the Lord knows the choice you are going to make, not because he controls you, but because he loves you so much that he knows you better than your brother, or sister, better than your spouse, he knows you better than that friend you have that you tell all of your deepest darkest times with. HE knows you and loves you that much no matter how much you love Him, if you love Him at all. He has put his plan into action, and he knows how it will end, even though we do not.
Now comes the next point we should listen to. “If you think you are standing firm be careful that you do not fall” Now you are thinking great, so I jump on this path, I am heading in the right direction, but now you are saying that I can lose everything I have worked for? Well…..in a nut shell….yes! Think of it like this. Let’s say there was a guy who ran faster than anyone on the planet. No one could even get close to him. Every race he ran he won by a huge margin. One day the runner is thinking about it, and says to himself “ya’ know….I am so fast that I don’t have to train like I do now. I am safe, I can beat anyone….in other words he feels that he is standing firm. So he quits waking up at 5 in the morning to go run, he quits running at the end of the day. What does he have to worry about? HE is the fastest in the world. On the next trip out, he wins, but he notices that the gap is not as wide, this continues to happen, each race he runs the competition gets a little closer, until finally it is a tie, then the fateful day comes and he is beaten. He thinks what happened? I was the best I could be, but now I am not even second!
We have to persevere, we have to continue to walk the path and search out Christ, just because we feel comfortable with our relationship with Christ that does not mean that the race is over. We have to keep striving to get faster. Our competition is always chasing, and always looking for an advantage. HE will exploit any weakness he can find, so the idea is not to let him get close enough to touch us, go hard after God, and the adversary will be left in the dust.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The compass
1 Corinthians 10: 11-13
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God does not make mistakes, nor does he leave things to chance. His plan has been plotted out long before he put the first piece into action. Many people think that God flooded the earth because he made a mistake. As if you say, oops, let’s start over. That cannot be further from the truth. The flood, the plagues, the forty years in the wilderness, it was all known to God well before it took place.
Paul tells us plainly here in verse 11: these things happened as examples and were written down as warnings for us. That is the key, these events were recorded. If God had made a mistake, would it not be easier for him just to kind of sweep it under the rug? Maybe a quick lapse of memory, or perhaps just blot out all of society, and start over…..No that would not serve the point. God wanted to make sure that the world knew exactly what happened, so that we might not be so quick to fall away.
Think about it, we humans are not exactly quick on the uptake, if you know what I mean. It takes us years just to master the simple things like walking, and not eating paint chips! God knew that it would take thousands of years for us to start getting on track. HE has given us a road map, and a compass in the bible. All we have to do is open the map, and use the compass.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God does not make mistakes, nor does he leave things to chance. His plan has been plotted out long before he put the first piece into action. Many people think that God flooded the earth because he made a mistake. As if you say, oops, let’s start over. That cannot be further from the truth. The flood, the plagues, the forty years in the wilderness, it was all known to God well before it took place.
Paul tells us plainly here in verse 11: these things happened as examples and were written down as warnings for us. That is the key, these events were recorded. If God had made a mistake, would it not be easier for him just to kind of sweep it under the rug? Maybe a quick lapse of memory, or perhaps just blot out all of society, and start over…..No that would not serve the point. God wanted to make sure that the world knew exactly what happened, so that we might not be so quick to fall away.
Think about it, we humans are not exactly quick on the uptake, if you know what I mean. It takes us years just to master the simple things like walking, and not eating paint chips! God knew that it would take thousands of years for us to start getting on track. HE has given us a road map, and a compass in the bible. All we have to do is open the map, and use the compass.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
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