SS Thoughts #31: Exercising Faith

The 2015 IAAF world games have been an awesome display of talent. And we have proudly watched our regional track and field athletes outdo the world. But many of us watching the Olympics are non-athletes—we will never be able to run or jump or perform any sport at the level of those athletes, although we wish we could!

But the reality of the situation is that an athlete does not become world class by just wishing either.  Yes, they have a gift or talent but it takes practice—hours and hours each day—until they do it perfectly and it becomes a habit. Practicing for them is like a job for you and me.

There is a common phrase that everybody has heard—“use it or lose it”. This term is often used to refer to athletic performance but it also applies to our faith.

Yes, faith is a gift from God, (read Ephesians 2:8), but that doesn’t mean that it will just stay with us forever. Faith needs to be exercised. It needs to become a steadfast part of our lives—a habit to trust in God. And like any habit, the more we do it the stronger it becomes, and the harder it is to break! The opposite is also true – if we do not exercise our faith then we will lose it.

In brief:

o   Faith is a gift

o   We must exercise it every day

o   Faith that is exercised during good and bad times becomes a habit. It becomes a strong shield that will help us to survive in this sinful world. That kind of faith will not fall under the weight of stress encountered in daily life, or when we need it most in times of great tribulation.

Do not despair when your faith is being tested. Do not just give in either. Your experiences will make you stronger.

SS Thoughts #30: Move That Fence (2)

I decided to expand on this post, especially since I was asked by a reader to clarify the term ‘fence’ and to differentiate between a fence and a wall. My thoughts:

·      A fence is a barrier that is often temporary, can be looked through, and is fairly easily broken down or removed

·      A wall is often permanent, impenetrable, and not easily breached or removed

I believe it is worthwhile to remember that God Himself established walls, e.g.

§  Not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1:17)

§  The 10 commandments

§  Calling sin by its right name

§  Health principles

The consequence of trying to break down these walls is evident everywhere.

But an emerging thought is that barriers can be subjective, and also contextualized to countries and cultures—giving rise to difficulties in classification. As brought out in our SS lesson discussions, the issue of relativity in our post-modern culture is a factor for consideration. An example: The Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, Transgender issue is perceived by the world as merely a fence. What should we call it??

Any comments on the whole matter? Any thoughts on breaking down/removing barriers and sharing Christ across all cultures????

SS Thoughts #29: Move that fence!

A story is told of some soldiers wanting to bury the body of a fallen comrade. It was late in the evening when they knocked on the door of a priest in whose parish the cemetery was located.

“Was he a Catholic?” the priest asked. “We don’t know”, they answered.

“Well then, I’m sorry”, said the priest, “I cannot bury him in our cemetery”.

Disappointed, the soldiers dug a grave outside the cemetery’s fence and buried their friend. Next morning they returned to see if everything was all right, but they could not locate the grave of their comrade.

Just then, the priest came out of the church and told the soldiers, “All night I was burdened about my refusal. The rules say that only Catholics may be buried in the cemetery. But the rules do not say that I can’t move the fence. So I moved the fence to include the grave of a brave soldier”.

Seems like we have to move our fences in order to surround and embrace our brothers and sisters…… Seems like we should not rest comfortably behind our walls and gates while they are left outside facing all kinds of danger from the enemy……  Seems like we just cannot continue to put barriers between them and us…...

Christ’s second coming is at hand. Perhaps—as it says in Luke 14:21-23—we have to go out into the roads and lanes and compel our brothers and sisters to come in. What do you think?

SS Thoughts #28: What’s in a Name?

I have a treasured scroll with more than 50 Biblical names for Jesus, (like the one pictured). Some of the names that mean the most to me are:

·      AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH (Hebrews 12:2)

·      MASTER (Matthew 8:19)

·      TEACHER (John 3:2)

·      MAN OF SORROWS (Isaiah 53:3)

·      WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (Isaiah 9:16)

These names bring me to my knees when I think that Jesus could stoop down to me, a lowly sinner, and provide all that is wrapped up in those names.

Which name means the most to YOU…..

Which name do YOU call when you are in need, or when you are battered and beaten……

Which names do YOU shout and sing when you want to praise Him………

I implore you to seek Him diligently – in His word. Share Him with others. Call on Him with the name you love. He will be THE ROCK through your storms. He will be your HIGH PRIEST, MEDIATOR and REDEEMER. He is THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. And He is always just a prayer away………

SS Thoughts #27(b): A Follow-up

So how is the joyful journey of the Israelites to Egypt and their subsequent exodus linked? We need to follow the story:

Jacob has now died, and so has Joseph; and a new Pharaoh, who knows nothing about Joseph, comes to power. As the years pass, the Israelites are fruitful and multiply, so that the land becomes filled with them (Exodus 1:4). The new king is alarmed and turns them into slaves – “making their lives bitter with hard labor”, (Exodus 1:14). But the more they are oppressed, the more they multiply, so that the Egyptians come to dread the Israelites. 

Finally the king commands the midwives to kill any male babies born to the Israelite women. But one male child is saved – by being placed in a basket on the Nile. This child is rescued by Pharaoh’s sister and lives in the palace until he becomes an adult. He is Moses – the one who will speak to Pharaoh to let his people go; the one who will lead his people out of Egypt and towards the Promised Land; the one who raises his rod to part the Red Sea so the Israelites can cross on dry land; the one who receives the commandments—written by God’s hand on tablets of stone.

It is well worth reading the entire account in Books 2-6 of the Bible.

{See again SS Thoughts #16 – A L-o-o-o-n-g Road Trip}