tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50598685216047633222024-03-18T11:20:27.014-07:00Aldrin Navo.comAldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-36070002957775595592024-03-15T11:13:00.000-07:002024-03-18T11:19:26.299-07:00 The Scapegoat: Jesus the Sin-Bearer<p>In the Scriptures,
you will find many fascinating things that God required from the book of
Leviticus. It involves the sacrifice of a Scapegoat. How did this animal become
relevant to us today? Let us begin our study on this fascinating topic. John
Barnett shared this insight:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tc-jYE5oObjoyqZ6XU36Yh1z2b8YKi_1-melOlSoS424z8wGmu2t6aC4gIZk5fE5FhlKLl6-wtqMwNlFAwnhFpsympLY5s70i5wOCuZ9ntF6pEIsbaZSlSGkVzEijvg3aY6-TUP3TXJX2fAzGvhXyCRltbnhXnhvOdn7GCfJpn2GfMKssFNiwIKTZ4I/s420/Scapegoatjpeg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="420" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tc-jYE5oObjoyqZ6XU36Yh1z2b8YKi_1-melOlSoS424z8wGmu2t6aC4gIZk5fE5FhlKLl6-wtqMwNlFAwnhFpsympLY5s70i5wOCuZ9ntF6pEIsbaZSlSGkVzEijvg3aY6-TUP3TXJX2fAzGvhXyCRltbnhXnhvOdn7GCfJpn2GfMKssFNiwIKTZ4I/s320/Scapegoatjpeg.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>No copyright infringement intended</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US">“<i>The
scapegoat was guilty of nothing. But the High Priest, as it were, laid all the
sins of the people on the scapegoat and sent him away. He was without sin. But
sin was credited to His account as if He had personally committed it and then
God punished Him though the fact is He never committed any of it. That’s
imputation</i>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]<br /></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Moreover, Bible
Study Tools Dictionary expounded:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>When the
priest laid Israel's guilt on the scapegoat, the goat was sent into the
wilderness as a reminder that their sins went away out of the land where the
people lived. I think of God casting our sins away in Micah 7:19. Because a
scapegoat “carried away” the sins of the people, Jesus is often compared to
being the Scapegoat of all believers</i>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListNumberCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The Scapegoat is an extraordinary depiction of the Messiah yet to
come. The prophet Isaiah saw Him so clearly and inspired to pen the following: </span></p>
<p class="MsoListNumberCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>But He was
wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and
the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” </i>(Isaiah 53:5–6). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Upon seeing Jesus,
John the Baptist uttered, look and "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NASB) Jesus became the Scapegoat of
Leviticus. In this position, He carried all our sins for our complete
redemption. In doing so, Jesus gave us an abounding hope and an inexpressible
joy when “…<i>our sins are removed as far as the East is from the West</i>”
(Psalms 103:12). It happened when He became the “scapegoat” carrying the sins
of the people at the Cross of Calvary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListNumberCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Emma Danzey
wrote in her article, “<i>How Is Jesus Our Scapegoat Today?</i>”
shared:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListNumberCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Knowing
that Jesus is our scapegoat frees us from the burden of having to go through a
priest anymore. We no longer have the pressure to have a ceremony correctly to
cover our sins, but we have the blood of Jesus over our lives</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[3]</span></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">God sent His Son
Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb and a Scapegoat to complete His redemption plan
for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">J. Allan Peterson
shared this story:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>I read about
a small boy who was consistently late coming home from school. His parents
warned him one day that he must be home on time that afternoon, but
nevertheless he arrived later than ever. His mother met him at the door and
said nothing. At dinner that night, the boy looked at his plate. There was a
slice of bread and a glass of water. He looked at his father’s full plate and
then at his father, but his father remained silent. The boy was crushed. The
father waited for the full impact to sink in, then quietly took the boy’s plate
and placed it in front of himself. <b>He took his own plate of meat and
potatoes, put it in front of the boy, and smiled at his son.</b> When that boy
grew to be a man, he said, “All my life I’ve known what God is like by what my
father did that night</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Because of His
great love for the fallen humanity, He sent Jesus as the Lamb of God and a
Scapegoat for our redemption and salvation. What is remaining is our response
to this great love. We can only reciprocate by recognizing our need for a
Saviour and Lord. Therefore, may we respond to His call and not harden our
hearts now. Securing our eternal status in Christ is of paramount importance.
Remember, if we missed this opportunity, we only have ourselves to blame. Hear
what Peter said to the crowd when asked:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Brothers,
what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you
will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit</i>” (Acts 2:37b-38 ESV). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s your turn now
to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.christianity.com/jesus/death-and-resurrection/the-crucifixion/how-is-jesus-our-substitute.html">https://www.christianity.com/jesus/death-and-resurrection/the-crucifixion/how-is-jesus-our-substitute.html</a>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-is-jesus-our-scapegoat-today.html">https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-is-jesus-our-scapegoat-today.html</a>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/March%20%2022%20-TYPIFIED%20AS%20THE%20SCAPEGOAT.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-is-jesus-our-scapegoat-today.html">https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-is-jesus-our-scapegoat-today.html</a>
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</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-49145902975815742982024-03-08T12:17:00.000-08:002024-03-11T12:24:06.240-07:00The Sacrifice Acceptable to God’s Standard<p><a name="_Hlk125624163"><span lang="EN-US">Moses interceded for Israel’s deliverance from God’s wrath by
offering himself as the payment: “<i>But now, if you will forgive their sin—but
if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written</i>” (<span style="color: #0070c0;">Exodus 32:32</span> ESV). </span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Maybe you are wondering why Moses made such an offer to God. Bridgeway
Bible Commentary provided Moses’ commitment to Israel: “<i>In a display of
genuine love for the unbelieving people, Moses offered to die on their behalf
and so be punished for them.</i>”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">What occurred that God became incensed with anger against Israel?
Moses took longer than expected to receive God’s Tablet of Stones at Mount
Moriah. Here’s what happened:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the
mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him,
“Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who
brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him</i>”
(32:1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">While in the mountain, God told Moses what the people did in his
absence:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you
brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8They have
turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for
themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said,
‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’”
9And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a
stiff-necked people. 10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot
against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of
you</i>” (32: 7-10).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">After hearing what God wanted to do, Moses interceded on behalf of
Israel and offered his life instead. However, God said no to his offer. Bridgeway
Bible Commentary shared, “<i>But God would not accept the death of one person
for another, for all were sinners, though the extent of their sin varied. God
would hold each person responsible for his or her actions. He would show mercy
on the unfaithful nation, but he would punish individuals who rebelled against
him</i>.”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Although God acknowledged the intercession of Moses for his people
as a righteous act, unfortunately, his life is not considered a sufficient
payment for the sins of Israel. Moreover, God reserved the right as far as His
justice is concerned based on His prerogative. Simply stated, “33. . .<i>the
LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.</i> 35 Then<i> the LORD sent a plague on the people because they made the calf, the
one that Aaron made.</i>” (32:33, 35). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM3saL_LIDbGTTGgpA2Pvat4Izx6a268wonsKJaE-kfOatZisx1v4lHs41l8q6R1M8hmmQZShWt8k-JJo0jAUSEK73CXPXfL1i-UYuEBiqV-lIFTeHlE4FCXjs10gYKD65tQrbJcxHxAJJJ8pkysNsnEZAsjcOyXkbQXrPz655i6Z0t0wfrWQ3Xsf3e0/s399/Lamb%20of%20God.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="399" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM3saL_LIDbGTTGgpA2Pvat4Izx6a268wonsKJaE-kfOatZisx1v4lHs41l8q6R1M8hmmQZShWt8k-JJo0jAUSEK73CXPXfL1i-UYuEBiqV-lIFTeHlE4FCXjs10gYKD65tQrbJcxHxAJJJ8pkysNsnEZAsjcOyXkbQXrPz655i6Z0t0wfrWQ3Xsf3e0/w320-h213/Lamb%20of%20God.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US">Dr. Constable's Expository Notes shared, “<i>He chose not to take
Moses’ life as a substitute for the guilty in Israel since this would not have
been just. Moses being a sinner himself could not have served as a final
acceptable substitute for other sinners in any case</i>.”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">God didn’t accept Moses’ life because of God’s requirement of an
unblemished life. Moses, even as God’s chosen individual, overstated his
status. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">God, in this
episode, provided the qualification of anyone doing so. God’s plan and purpose
became<br /> evident. Thus, Jesus’s sacrifice paid for the penalty of sin, i.e.,
death on the cross became the only sufficient payment required by God. John the
Baptist, in seeing Jesus declared: “<i>The next day he saw Jesus coming toward
him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!</i>”
(John 1:29 ESV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">What Jesus did become
the only acceptable payment for the sins of humanity: “<i>Yet it was the will
of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an
offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the
will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand</i> (<span style="color: #0070c0;">Isaiah
53:10 </span>ESV). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">When God sent
Jesus, He fulfilled what anyone, including Moses, cannot do, i.e., redemption
from God’s wrath against sin. Most importantly, without Jesus and His sacrifice
for us at the Cross of Calvary, we remain in our sin and cannot expect
forgiveness from God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">In addition, the
author of Hebrews has made it abundantly clear that Jesus fulfilled in His
death what the Old Testament sacrificial system could only point to. In Hebrews
10:1-4 (ESV), it stated:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>For since
the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of
these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually
offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they
not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed,
would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3But in these sacrifices there
is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls
and goats to take away sins</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">There’s no doubt
that Jesus embodied the fulfillment of God’s requirement. Between Moses and
Jesus, there’s no comparison as to who fulfilled the redemption requirements
against God’s wrath. Knowing this, why wouldn’t anyone put their trust in
Jesus? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=In%20a%20display,him%20(30%2D35)">https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=In%20a%20display,him%20(30%2D35)</a>.
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=In%20a%20display,him%20(30%2D35)">https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=In%20a%20display,him%20(30%2D35)</a>.
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Mar%2010%20THE%20SACRIFICE%20WORTH%20DOING.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=He%20chose%20not%20to%20take%20Moses%E2%80%99%20life%20as%20a%20substitute%20for%20the%20guilty%20in%20Israel%20since%20this%20would%20not%20have%20been%20just.%20Moses%20being%20a%20sinner%20himself%20could%20not%20have%20served%20as%20a%20final%20acceptable%20substitute%20for%20other%20sinners%20in%20any%20case">https://www.studylight.org/commentary/exodus/32-32.html#:~:text=He%20chose%20not%20to%20take%20Moses%E2%80%99%20life%20as%20a%20substitute%20for%20the%20guilty%20in%20Israel%20since%20this%20would%20not%20have%20been%20just.%20Moses%20being%20a%20sinner%20himself%20could%20not%20have%20served%20as%20a%20final%20acceptable%20substitute%20for%20other%20sinners%20in%20any%20case</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-8725409861457202202024-02-23T14:54:00.000-08:002024-02-29T15:06:10.201-08:00Intimacy with God: No More Limitations<p><span lang="EN-US"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd8NTwYOEMMWhKhKf0LzN19Bby-caU7JiheUQpJ2-9WEBasysMMSLkRrFxRPIBg8fgdTJZXaRwQpHZ2vZRU7ABxSQOqwOeq_c-S7_uotXPv2ydD4CB6lNmsozvdR0gm9F53WgPN5k13a-1HLdyizpWZdygXa2eCux6HX7ioAkdgeq0fN6jx6W2jz19Ok/s349/Intimacy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="349" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd8NTwYOEMMWhKhKf0LzN19Bby-caU7JiheUQpJ2-9WEBasysMMSLkRrFxRPIBg8fgdTJZXaRwQpHZ2vZRU7ABxSQOqwOeq_c-S7_uotXPv2ydD4CB6lNmsozvdR0gm9F53WgPN5k13a-1HLdyizpWZdygXa2eCux6HX7ioAkdgeq0fN6jx6W2jz19Ok/w200-h155/Intimacy.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright infringement not intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table>A. W. Tozer shared his
thoughts about intimacy with God and what it meant: “<i>What's closest to your
heart is what you talk about, and if God is close to your heart, you'll talk
about Him</i>.” </span><span lang="EN-US">However, intimacy is a word that
many frown upon. People think that being intimate with God is for special
people only. People assumed intimacy with God was a special call that an
average person could not experience. They felt disqualified due to compromised
sinful Christian life. Others claim it is too hard to figure out the 'how' to's
of being intimate with God.”
Unfortunately, those claiming intimacy with God but never describing the
process of attaining it are useless to many trying to achieve it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US">Moses,
as the prophet of God, provided a glimpse of what intimacy meant: “<i>11Thus
the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a
young man, would not depart from the tent</i>” (Exodus 33:7-11 ESV)<a name="_Hlk125289126">. Moses showed a glimpse of seeking intimacy with God and
how God responds to genuine seekers and His willingness to accommodate those
who wholeheartedly seek it. Enduring Word Commentary</a><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%2019%20INTIMACY%20WITH%20GOD.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> shared this insight: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US"> “<i>Moses was unique because
of his personal intimacy with God. The term face to face does not literally
mean “physical face to physical face,” but it has the idea of free and
unhindered communication. Moses had a remarkably intimate relationship with God</i>.”</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Here’s how the Scripture described Moses and his desire for intimacy
with God when he made a daring request to God, “<i>Now therefore, if I have
found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in
order to find favor in your sight.</i>” (Exodus 33:13<span style="color: #0070c0;">
</span>ESV). Then God replied to Moses, “<i>And the LORD said to Moses,</i> “<i>This
very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my
sight, and I know you by nam</i>e” (Exodus 33:17<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>ESV).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">One important lesson about this episode: God always welcomes, with
open arms, any requests for insights into His heart and purposes through
intimacy with Him. Being intimate with God cannot happen without anyone seeking
it with the intensity of desire and complete humility. God hears and
accommodates His people, especially in matters involving intimacy with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Moving forward, Jesus provided the best picture of intimacy </span><span lang="EN-US">with His Father: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>At that time
Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have
hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little
children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have
been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the
Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him.” </i>(<span style="color: #0070c0;">Matthew 11:26-30, ESV</span>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The most important revelation is this: God
sent His Son Jesus to re-establish an intimate relationship with God’s people
through His Son Jesus. In the Old Testament, intimacy with God is shown only
with specific individuals God chose. Thus, God, in His great love for humanity,
made intimacy possible again through His Son Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">From Adam and Eve’s intimacy with God,
Enoch’s walk with God, and Moses’ intimacy with God, a common thread exists,
i.e., each had limitations on the revelations of God and the level of intimacy
experienced. However, when Jesus walked the earth, He revealed a specific
distinction between His intimacy with God and the new level of intimacy with
anyone who believes Him: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Jesus said
to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. 7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.” “…Whoever has seen me has seen
the Father.</i>” (<span style="color: #0070c0;">John 14:6-7, 9 </span>ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Simply stated, intimacy is God’s idea. God sent His Son Jesus and made it happen. Now, it’s your turn. When you surrender your life to Jesus, the path to intimacy with God begins.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let me end with this
insight from Malcolm Webber:<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%2019%20INTIMACY%20WITH%20GOD.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #0070c0;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>When they
saw the Lord Jesus, they saw the Father. When they heard the Lord Jesus, they
were listening to the Father. When they touched the Lord Jesus, they were
touching God. This was how Jesus lived. This was the source of all of His life
and ministry, inward union with His Father.</i>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%2019%20INTIMACY%20WITH%20GOD.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/deuteronomy-34/">https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/deuteronomy-34/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%2019%20INTIMACY%20WITH%20GOD.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://healthyleaders.com/jesus-fellowship-father/">https://healthyleaders.com/jesus-fellowship-father/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-85816821542708808442024-02-16T12:55:00.000-08:002024-02-23T17:43:04.473-08:00 The Manna From Heaven<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyrgxrXm4z08D1TQSUXH1ah9KPm6rJJF9bG0CXTRbkt7rL2V-POutSaOMZRim1axxe3JyCJC0O_-s9s-sn-HkvNDXHaE874WFjoxOazXjehkTIGeswmlpEXuvNZXDT7uM6LdtrlJHiV1TVSiafyBtHeSSyEaLlhbWaVjTlU3_On757YPNLawtidnM9LA/s325/Bread%20from%20Heaven.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyrgxrXm4z08D1TQSUXH1ah9KPm6rJJF9bG0CXTRbkt7rL2V-POutSaOMZRim1axxe3JyCJC0O_-s9s-sn-HkvNDXHaE874WFjoxOazXjehkTIGeswmlpEXuvNZXDT7uM6LdtrlJHiV1TVSiafyBtHeSSyEaLlhbWaVjTlU3_On757YPNLawtidnM9LA/w200-h200/Bread%20from%20Heaven.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>No copyright infringement intended</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US">God sent Manna to
Israel for a specific purpose and timetable as recorded in Exodus 16:35, “<i>The
people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land.
They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan</i>” (ESV).
<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Manna,
basically a word that means “what is it?” is a bread-like substance that fell
from heaven (Psalm 78:24), and that tasted like honey. The Israelites would go
and collect a daily portion of manna each day, ensuring to get a double portion
before the Sabbath (so they didn’t work for their food on the Sabbath). If they
grabbed too much or too little, they suffered the consequences (Exodus 16:20)</i>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Maybe you have this
question: <i>Why Did God Send Manna to the Israelites?</i> </span>One of the primary reasons is God meeting their physical need for hunger. Next, God wanted their trust and
obedience in collecting them as commanded. Unfortunately, some of them collected
more than enough manna on some days, and it rotted in their tents, full of
maggots. Others didn’t obey the command of God in collecting double portions
before the Sabbath, and they ended up hungry on the Sabbath because manna
didn’t fall that day. Finally, it is God foreshadowing the coming of Jesus as
the Manna from Heaven. God wanted a foretaste of what heavenly bread tastes
like as a temporary relief. How about receiving a more permanent solution with
an eternal impact?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Mark Woods in his
article “<i>Three Lessons For Today From The Manna In The Wilderness</i>”
shared the following reasons why God wanted them to collect what’s only needed
for the day: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>The
Israelites at this time were a travelling people, reliant on finding grazing
and supplies where they could. They were unable to store up large reserves of
food. So when God gives them food that can't be stored up for a rainy day, he
is encouraging them to depend on him daily. It was a way of warning them not to
hold on to good things too long. Many of us face this temptation: we like
things as they are, and we are resistant to change. But hold on to things
instead of letting them go, and they can turn very sour</i>.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s always
remember that the provision of God comes daily and supernaturally with a
specific purpose for the exact benefit of His people. God’s miracles may not
manifest as they did in the past, but instead sent the greatest miracle of them
all, i.e., Jesus Christ. Jesus embodied and contained the miracles of God in
the past, present and future in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>More than
1,000 years later, Jesus Christ repeated the miracle of manna in the Feeding of
the 5,000. The crowd following him was in the "wilderness" and he
multiplied a few loaves of bread until everyone had eaten their fill. Some
scholars believe that Jesus' phrase, "Give us this day our daily
bread" in the Lord's Prayer, is a reference to manna, meaning that we are
to trust God to supply our physical needs one day at a time, as the Jews did in
the desert. Christ frequently referred to himself as bread: "the true
Bread from heaven" (John 6:32), "the Bread of God" (John 6:33),
"the Bread of life" (John 6:35, 48), and John 6:51: "I am the
living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will
live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world</i>." (NIV)<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">God
sent Jesus as the Eternal Bread of life, and those who believed in Him received
the full blessing of eternal satisfaction that God promised. In sending Jesus,
God is a constant and abundant provider of all our needs. The feeding of the
five thousand became an enduring reminder in our daily Christian life that
nothing on earth is too big for God. Therefore, if Jesus can do it, He can do
it again for us today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Let
me end with this insight: “<i>Jesus points out that the manna the Israelites
ate in the wilderness only sustained their life for a short time, but they
eventually died. The bread that He’s offering will give them eternal life. And
He is that bread. He goes on to tell them “this bread is my flesh, which I will
give for the life of the world.</i>”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">If
Jesus can fulfill the hunger of our hearts, why wouldn’t you receive Him as the
Bread of Life now?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s
talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-manna.html">https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-manna.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/3-lessons-for-today-from-the-manna-in-the-wilderness/102576.htm">https://www.christiantoday.com/article/3-lessons-for-today-from-the-manna-in-the-wilderness/102576.htm</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-manna-700742">https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-manna-700742</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/February%2012%20Miracle%20Worker.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/jesus-feeds-5000/">https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/jesus-feeds-5000/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-21161999971957028602024-02-09T16:01:00.000-08:002024-02-09T16:01:21.117-08:00 Jesus, the Author of the New Covenant<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIh0r8MX6jOaXauOHlSQbruugziaXI1ytnMPl_ue1Kf5VPHVjNjk5JRDFp3nqNphoiuhrghylL-Y6GGQtAk5PzKwBn13Vtdgi_tqV7sYbZAIz8h04QKKerHcX_ksFMHZVaXiYLyelFgVFj-BDwV6ZZYzkvH1X43BObZNpjElN0ZnN1rPrsYlyFCHPSBg/s325/Mediator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="325" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIh0r8MX6jOaXauOHlSQbruugziaXI1ytnMPl_ue1Kf5VPHVjNjk5JRDFp3nqNphoiuhrghylL-Y6GGQtAk5PzKwBn13Vtdgi_tqV7sYbZAIz8h04QKKerHcX_ksFMHZVaXiYLyelFgVFj-BDwV6ZZYzkvH1X43BObZNpjElN0ZnN1rPrsYlyFCHPSBg/w320-h266/Mediator.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>No copyright infringement intended</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In the pages of the
book of Exodus, Moses introduced God’s covenant with Israel through the blood
of animals: “<i>So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said,
"This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in
accordance with all these words</i>" (Exodus 24:8 ESV)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a name="_Hlk124339672"><span lang="EN-US">What does the Old Covenant represent then? <o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>The roots of the Old Covenant actually trace back to Abraham,
the forefather of Israel. God initiated a covenant with Abraham in which He
promised to make a special nation of his descendants. It is these descendants
who later entered into a covenant with God at Mount Sinai. Exodus 20-23 is called “the book of the
covenant” (Exodus 24:4, 7).</i></span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></i></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">What does the Old Covenant mean for us today?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> “<i>As hard as we try, we
cannot keep the Law perfectly. The Law shows us how sinful we are, but God's
plan of salvation was to send his Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins.
The Ten Commandments are a guide for right living, but keeping the Law cannot
save us</i>.”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The apostle James reiterated this simple fact: “<i>For whoever keeps
the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it</i> (James
2:10 ESV).”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Here's the clincher that God, through the Old Covenant, provided His
people an opportunity to experience His presence and to understand His mindset
from a distance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Paul states the law was
only meant to be our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24 KJV).
The law does not create a sense of frustration and failure to leave us there.
What it does is make us aware that we are incapable of meeting the demands of
the law so that we are driven to Christ, the only one who fulfills in us what
the law demands</i>.”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">When the right time came, Jesus introduced the New Covenant with His
shed blood on the Cross. During his Passover meal with His disciples, “<i>He
said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant by demonstrating how to live the
demands of the laws of God and maintaining a higher standard of living as
Christians through His grace and mercy alone. “<i>For the law was given through
Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ</i>” (John 1:17<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>ESV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">What does the New Covenant represent?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>When Christ instituted the New Covenant with His shed blood
(Luke 22:20), He made it possible for us to be truly cleansed from sin (Hebrews
9:13-14; 1 John 1:7). The result was that animal sacrifices were no longer
required as symbols because Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of that
symbolism.</i>”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">What does the New Covenant mean for us today?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Contrary to the belief of many, the New Covenant does not
abolish all the terms of the Old Covenant. Both covenants include provisions
for a sacrifice for sin, a priesthood serving in a tabernacle, obedience to
God’s laws, and promised blessings from God. However, in each case, the changes
in the New Covenant amplify the terms of the Old Covenant! Under the Old
Covenant, God presented the Israelites with two options and told them to
“choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). What makes the New Covenant “new” is that
it is a far better agreement than the one entered into at Mount Sinai</i>.”</span><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Another revelation is that God, through the New Covenant instituted by Jesus, provided His people an
opportunity to experience His presence intimately through Jesus and the Holy
Spirit’s indwelling presence daily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">In the end, God’s
promise declared in Genesis 3:15 covered the Old Covenant pages towards the fulfillment of the promise through Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial,
resurrection, and coming back again for those who believed and trusted Him
called the New Covenant. Thus, from Adam to Jesus Christ, God’s plan was
fulfilled at the right time and by His plan and purpose (Galatians 4:4) for
humanity and His glory alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Jack Zavada shared
this insight: “<i>Both the Old and New Testaments are the story of the same
God, a God of love and mercy who gave his people the freedom to choose and who
gives his people the opportunity to come back to him by choosing Jesus Christ</i>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]<br /></span></span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/old-covenant/">https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/old-covenant/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.learnreligions.com/moses-giver-of-the-law-701173">https:
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/old-covenant/ //www.learnreligions.com/moses-giver-of-the-law-701173</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<div id="ftn3">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://livingtruth.ca/blogs/devotionals/the-old-covenant">https://livingtruth.ca/blogs/devotionals/the-old-covenant</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/the-new-covenant/">https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/the-new-covenant/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/the-new-covenant/">https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/the-new-covenant/</a>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Feb%205%20-MEDIATOR%20OF%20THE%20NEW%20COVENANT.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US">(2021, December 6). Old Covenant vs. New Covenant. <a href="https://www.learnreligions.com/old-vs-new-covenant-700361">https://www.learnreligions.com/old-vs-new-covenant-700361</a>
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</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-55368643820443279502024-01-30T06:33:00.000-08:002024-01-30T06:46:05.083-08:00Releasing Forgiveness as God Intended<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51DUl2svWAkl9W0BHraREd2EJTEntLu-PmE-xDJ_cgZHpiQ3yBzhhlkNMN1WiTRzsRB6HnJuPzOi2xeP_UoYj4-PVxGerSg7JHjGdvTKvoJV_44_oSj_x9UudqSoxWfxg2MkWr1VwmxmBA1GklZITrZzT8or67bBR9jx4YjVny23g56KEixlsstsRhBM/s319/IMG_0033.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="319" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51DUl2svWAkl9W0BHraREd2EJTEntLu-PmE-xDJ_cgZHpiQ3yBzhhlkNMN1WiTRzsRB6HnJuPzOi2xeP_UoYj4-PVxGerSg7JHjGdvTKvoJV_44_oSj_x9UudqSoxWfxg2MkWr1VwmxmBA1GklZITrZzT8or67bBR9jx4YjVny23g56KEixlsstsRhBM/s1600/IMG_0033.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div>The story of Joseph and the scene of forgiving his brothers is familiar. This episode conveys redemption, healing, and a firm decision of forgiveness. In Genesis 45:1-15, the story unfolded and seemed unreal. However, it became the occasion where God set up shocking everyone and having disbelief in the story.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Nowhere in this chapter is the sin of his brothers minimized. Joseph identified the treatment they had given him as sinful, yet his words were filled with hope and encouragement. Verses 5-8 assure these men that their sin had not thwarted the purposes of God. “<i>You sold me,” Joseph said, “but God sent me</i>” (verse 5). Their purpose was to destroy, but God’s was to save.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Somebody said, “<i>Reconciliation heals the soul. The joy of rebuilding broken relationships and hearts. If it’s healthy for your growth, forgive and love</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The lingering question many asked: “Was Joseph in Egypt because of the sin of his brothers or because of the good plan of God?” In effect, they are both true. If this is the case, forgiveness made sense in both aspects because of what they represent. We forgive because people sin and need it. And most importantly, seeing them from God’s perspective, as the apostle Paul declared, “All things work together for good…” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">In releasing forgiveness, Joseph summarized how forgiveness becomes possible when understood from God’s perspective. In releasing forgiveness, Joseph realized that God ruled his life, not good or evil individuals, not circumstances or fate. Because God was in control, God made sure all things worked together for the best of everyone involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The story of Joseph is a prophetic picture of what Jesus fulfilled at the cross of Calvary when He prayed, “<i>Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice</i>” (Luke 23:34 NLT). Enduring Word Commentary explained the rationale of this prayer:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>In this Jesus fulfilled His own command to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good for those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Jesus recognized the blindness of His enemies in His prayer. However, this prayer did not excuse the guilt of those who put Jesus on the cross. Instead, Jesus set His enemies in the best possible light in His prayer to the Father</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Because Jesus forgave His enemies, He provided the platform to His genuine disciples on how forgiveness becomes a way of behaving towards people who wronged us. In releasing this forgiveness, Jesus paved the way for future disciples that it is impossible to live for Jesus without doing what He did. Thus, Stephen, the first martyr and disciple of Jesus, imitated this attitude during his stoning (Luke 7:60). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Gary Smalley provided a picture of how forgiveness works as Jesus intended:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Forgiveness involves pardon. Basically, it is like erasing offenses toward us from a marking board. We immediately wash their offenses away like a wave washing away a message in the sand. Second, forgiveness involves caring for the offending person because most people who offend us have something in their own heart that needs healing. When we forgive others, they are released from our anger and we are healed by God</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">C. S. Lewis wonderfully summarized what forgiveness really means for the followers of Jesus: “<i>To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!</span></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-34495770055154143962024-01-22T18:38:00.000-08:002024-01-22T18:38:58.715-08:00Sold for the Price of Slaves: The High Price of our Redemption<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiftMOrXdKqinfT-L25Cg7mHAFvInpXtCiDLwB5v24hSR3A-7kYIiF3zNSMtlfcQaYOBxiX_HcThU0AkWxR1TPAJNg82V0OvrB1jNqldiIGNma5RxZRY0gSul4OxRWnpkCIgEK4gtj25vNJCuv3eqw7jbVysyDhtMLU1QNMAsL_kfsmsT13lEawPmMGQ/s474/30%20Pcs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="474" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiftMOrXdKqinfT-L25Cg7mHAFvInpXtCiDLwB5v24hSR3A-7kYIiF3zNSMtlfcQaYOBxiX_HcThU0AkWxR1TPAJNg82V0OvrB1jNqldiIGNma5RxZRY0gSul4OxRWnpkCIgEK4gtj25vNJCuv3eqw7jbVysyDhtMLU1QNMAsL_kfsmsT13lEawPmMGQ/w200-h139/30%20Pcs.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Many of us have never experienced becoming a slave or being sold as one. However, people are going through this experience in our modern times. Did it change throughout these many years? It is unlikely because the reasoning behind it comes from the same motivation Joseph experienced from his brothers. Thus, one of the worst experiences in the life of Joseph came from his brothers when they sold him for the price of a slave. In the book of Genesis, we find this record:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<a name="_Hlk121918028"><i>Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. </i></a><i>28Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt</i>.” (<span style="color: #0070c0;">37:26-28</span> <span style="color: #0070c0;">ESV)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“In Hebrew culture, thirty pieces of silver was not a lot of money. In fact, it was the exact price paid to the master of a slave if and when his slave was gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The slave’s death was compensated by the thirty pieces of silver.”</span><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> What went wrong in this scenario? The odds between them, whether Joseph became aware or not, caused undue friction leading to Joseph’s outcast: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 72pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US">From Joseph’s point of view, these dreams were evidence of divine blessing, rather than his own ambition. From his brothers’ point of view, however, the dreams were further manifestations of the unfair privilege that Joseph enjoyed as the favorite son of their father, Jacob (Gen. 37:3-4). Joseph’s failure to recognize this put him at severe odds with his brothers.</span></i><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[2]</span></b></span></span></i></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #407f83; text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Isaac Khalil in his article “Lessons From the Life of Joseph” (December 15, 2021) shared, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Remember the dreams Joseph had when he was young? The brothers had interpreted the dreams as Joseph ruling and lording it over them (Genesis 37:8, 10). So they attacked him based on this interpretation. It wasn’t until Joseph revealed himself that they realized the dreams weren’t about lordship, but about salvation and service. God sent Joseph before them to save them from a terrible famine that was coming. Joseph told his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).</i>”</span><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">In this case, they took offence without understanding the whole picture. When people look at any situation, the immediate reaction comes in a positive impact or taking offence. However, God is always looking at the long view of His plans, and no matter what happens, He’s got a plan for you and me regardless of what people think or feel about us. Joseph’s life provided a parallel truth in Jesus’ betrayal as Matthew shared it: </span><a name="_Hlk121918244"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0070c0;"> </span><span lang="EN-US">“<i>Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him</i>” </span><span lang="EN-US">(<span style="color: #0070c0;">Matthew 26:14-15 ESV</span>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">For many, it is unthinkable what Judas Iscariot did to Jesus. G. Connor Salter, in his article, “Did Judas Iscariot Have a Choice to Betray Jesus?” (March 14, 2022) shared:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>We know from historians that various people claiming to be the Messiah were active in Judea at the time, many trying to overthrow the Romans or change the religious order. Therefore, it’s possible that Judas figured Jesus was going to seize authority for himself soon and being part of Jesus’ “in-group” would benefit him. Once he realized that Jesus’ goals didn’t fit his own agenda, he may have been angered by that and wanted Jesus out of the way</i>.”<a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[4]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The betrayal of Jesus for the paltry price of a slave became the ultimate price of our redemption from the slavery of sin, Satan, and death’s power at the cross of Calvary. It is the message the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers: “<i>You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies</i>” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Jesus redeemed us from a life of slavery and set us free, although not set free to do whatever we want. Rather, being free in serving Jesus, the One who died and redeemed us for His purpose and plan (1 Peter 2:16). Jesus went through it all so we can become more than conquerors for His glory and praise. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">In the end, Judas Iscariot, and many others like him confirmed that an outward devotion to Jesus is hollow unless Christ is followed wholeheartedly as a genuine disciple. Following Jesus is having His agenda front and center of our lives while our agenda becomes set aside. When we do it His way, our lives are enriched from an eternal perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/thirty-pieces-of-silver.html" style="color: #2b8073;">https://www.gotquestions.org/thirty-pieces-of-silver.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-12-50-and-work/joseph-genesis-372-5026" style="color: #2b8073;">https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-12-50-and-work/joseph-genesis-372-5026</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #407f83; text-decoration: underline;">)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/blog/lessons-from-the-life-of-joseph/" style="color: #2b8073;">https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/blog/lessons-from-the-life-of-joseph/</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="color: #707070; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="applewebdata://A222C91B-E957-4D87-9435-AC53613EE4C0#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="color: #2b8073;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17.6px;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/did-judas-iscariot-have-a-choice-to-betray-jesus.html" style="color: #2b8073;">https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/did-judas-iscariot-have-a-choice-to-betray-jesus.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-64044631580024966242024-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:002024-01-16T17:58:11.817-08:00The Sustaining Power of Jesus Christ<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggij0cy0-96_-Vl0n7Fu9gOqOxVLOYBplpd4MTMNzFC_t-Xudjg9VcjbaNhl59TGGQ2uU0l2p2NWLTY57wfo6RG8aoPJvDAPTx0ppLoStJuu-kxavYd4LC3nyVyCwin-jQoHS5V-js_eAxLg0yEoNGEd8uq-fUDswQGad4Su7wLfneZ42e1Kg9XXkfiuI" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="403" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggij0cy0-96_-Vl0n7Fu9gOqOxVLOYBplpd4MTMNzFC_t-Xudjg9VcjbaNhl59TGGQ2uU0l2p2NWLTY57wfo6RG8aoPJvDAPTx0ppLoStJuu-kxavYd4LC3nyVyCwin-jQoHS5V-js_eAxLg0yEoNGEd8uq-fUDswQGad4Su7wLfneZ42e1Kg9XXkfiuI" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>No copyright infringement intended.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>“<i>The power of
God will take you out of your own plans and put you into the plan of God</i>.“
~<span style="color: #0070c0;">Smith Wigglesworth</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;">In his Christian journey and during one of the
worst times of his life, Paul acknowledged the<br /> empowerment of Christ. He then
shared what he learned with the Corinthian believers and wrote: "For the
sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2
Corinthians 12:10 ESV). And from this experience, there are two principles for
our reflection today:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 90.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Being content with
Christ provides empowerment that can drastically change how we face various
challenges in life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 90.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->During times of
weakness, submitting to Christ becomes an opportunity for Him to empower
us with His strength.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm;">Maybe you are
wondering how the Lord empowered Paul after experiencing the worst<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span>possible
attack of his life. How does the strength of God manifest during the weakest
point of life? However, in his letter to the Philippian congregation, he shared
how he grew stronger in his relationship with Jesus despite experiencing
various encounters of the worst kind: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;">“<i>Not that I am speaking of being in need,
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be
brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have
learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do
all things through him who strengthens me</i>.” (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;">Charles Spurgeon shared how God empowers His
people: “<i>Great tribulation brings out the great strength of God. Oh, there
must be the weakness of man, felt, recognized, and mourned over, or else the
strength of the Son of God will never be perfected in us</i>.” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;">In other words,
God sustains with His power what He expects to accomplish during the worst
times of life. It is about keeping our perspective aligned with His plans and
purposes for everything that matters. And in doing so, it increases our faith
and motivation moving forward. Moreover, every little and big thing that
happens comes with a specific purpose for fulfilling His mandate given to us.
Thus, never miss what God reveals each moment because He promises everything
will be alright!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;">What matters is seeing things from the perspective
of God and the reasoning behind it all. Unfortunately, we diminish the bigness of
God when we focus on the problem, thus making it bigger than God. Remember, God
is always in control of what He wants to accomplish in our lives and trusting
Him is the only option during the worst times. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm;">Finally, let me share this statement for us to
think about: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>God’s
strength is made perfect in weakness when we put our faith and trust in Him.
The Lord’s presence is all we need in times of weakness. His great power and
sufficiency rest on us as we find our strength in Him, and He is glorified. We
can say with the psalmist, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26)</i>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Jan%208%20-Power%20of%20Jesus'%20Life%20for%20the%20New%20Year.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e05fbe0dfe69efc2/ACN/2024/Articles/Jan%208%20-Power%20of%20Jesus'%20Life%20for%20the%20New%20Year.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/strength-made-perfect-in-weakness.html">https://www.gotquestions.org/strength-made-perfect-in-weakness.html</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-1165083683328733072024-01-07T10:00:00.000-08:002024-01-08T07:35:40.939-08:00The Blessing of God’s Glory for the New Year<p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1h2OU2hXBGd4Tpdb7BCvAyCK59bSQER0YgYZAxt-fV3-ahWpmpwa0Uuj5Dzk9FjOFeK0uyljvKiamjqCBv-lMnFOF6sMNOU2MLphhjBP5kniWU0-RV6bExMHv1TuN4CNuOX7xj2UyY_DLdMdTg_0DCUX4H1UPS2Q4WQFeBQo2tLjY8KLsAx1BwWldpg/s270/IMG_0032.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1h2OU2hXBGd4Tpdb7BCvAyCK59bSQER0YgYZAxt-fV3-ahWpmpwa0Uuj5Dzk9FjOFeK0uyljvKiamjqCBv-lMnFOF6sMNOU2MLphhjBP5kniWU0-RV6bExMHv1TuN4CNuOX7xj2UyY_DLdMdTg_0DCUX4H1UPS2Q4WQFeBQo2tLjY8KLsAx1BwWldpg/s16000/IMG_0032.jpeg" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>No copyright infringement intended</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Stephanie Englehart shared:</p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">“<i>God’s original design for His people was to reflect His glory—to multiply and fill the earth with His glory. When He first designed humans, He created us with the intent to glorify Himself. Even though humanity has sought its own glory, God’s purpose for His creation is not lost. We are still called to glorify God in all we do and say and become ever more satisfied in God as we do so</i>.”</p></blockquote><p>Even if sin, committed by our first parents, Adam and Eve, tarnished the glory of God in our lives, Jesus restored it completely when He died at the cross of Calvary, paying the penalty of sin as required by God. Thus, when we accept Him in our lives, we begin a continual transformation from sinfulness towards righteousness in Christ and through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, experiencing the glory of God becomes a reality. With this in mind, this is an enduring good news for today and throughout our existence.</p><p>What does the Scripture say about the glory of God: “<i>Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.</i>" (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV). </p><p>In restoring the glory of God in our lives, the Holy Spirit came for our benefit and His purpose. Penny Noyes provided this insight:</p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">“<i>In ancient times, a seal was a “legal signature” attesting ownership and validating what was sealed. The Holy Spirit is our mark of adoption as God’s children. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers so that they could be confident in their salvation. Just as you might make a deposit or a down payment on a new car to make sure the salesperson doesn’t sell it to anyone else, the Holy Spirit is a deposit in our lives confirming the validity of Christ’s message and that we belong to Christ.</i>”</p></blockquote><p>Having the Holy Spirit present in our Christian life provided empowerment in living the life of freedom in Christ as Christian believers. As God promised, the role of the Holy Spirit leads us closer to living the life of Jesus solely based on godly standards. Everything by the Spirit of God, and only through the Spirit of God, we experience the blessings of the glorious revelation of God. Most importantly, having the Holy Spirit aligns us with the plans and purposes of God through Jesus Christ towards manifesting His glory in our lives daily.</p><p>The coming of Jesus in the affairs of humanity played a significant role in bringing the glory of God. Here are key aspects of our learning:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The Glory of God manifested at the birth of Jesus as John wrote, "<i>And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth</i>." (John 1:14 ESV)</li><li>The Glory of Jesus manifested in us through the new birth: “<i>Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as He is.</i>" (1 John 3:2 ESV)</li><li>The Glory of God manifests in a continual progression throughout our Christian life as Paul wrote, "<i>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.</i>" (Romans 12:2 ESV)</li></ol><p></p><p>After all, the only thing that matters in an ongoing cycle is receiving the glory of God in every aspect of our life. Therefore, becoming a vessel is a must where Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. Finally, I urge you to invite Jesus and begin experiencing the glory of God in its fullness. </p><p>Let’s talk again!</p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-57204454601281196872024-01-05T21:28:00.000-08:002024-01-05T21:28:54.710-08:00Happy New Year!<p> It’s been a while since my last post. After the pandemic, various changes occurs. However, life goes on and so must this blog. </p><p>Thank you for being here. New post will be coming once a week. It’s my pleasure to share with everyone messages of encouragement from God’s Word.</p><p>Never give up because God’s purpose remains intact for us all.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let’s talk again!</p><p>Aldrin Navo</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-52485152737824101892022-02-12T18:15:00.002-08:002022-02-12T18:17:59.094-08:00Tribute to my Father-in-Law: Antonio Cayanan (January 17, 1935 – January 26, 2022)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Lato, Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(74, 60, 49); color: #4a3c31; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">You're the father-in-law that anyone would love to have. Your loving sacrifice will be remembered, especially since the day you joined our family here in Canada, together with Mommy. You're a huge blessing to myself, Monette, Jappy, and Alyssa. You've made an impact on our lives, especially in how you gave your time and effort to support us in many ways. Thank you for taking care of Jappy and Alyssa (together with Mommy) while we were travelling doing ministry when they were younger. You're one of the best cooks that I know, I enjoyed every meal you served every time we had fellowships after the worship services at your house in Manila and every time you cook for our family here in Canada. You will be remembered and never forgotten. Your kindness and your smile made everyone comfortable and happy in your company. Many will miss you, Daddy Tony. Your impact on my family is immeasurable and filled with remarkable things. Thank you for being such a blessing to us and to others throughout your lifetime. Now heaven is yours to enjoy. You're home now and we'll see you someday. With much gratitude to your life and legacy, rest in peace Daddy Tony Cayanan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(74, 60, 49); color: #4a3c31; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Staycation at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver (December 2019) with Aldrin, Monette, Mommy Flor, Daddy Tony & Jappy." class="contain entered loaded" data-ll-status="loaded" data-memory-id="memory-antonio-cayanan-burnaby-bc-memories3" data-src="https://d5nffgciuchtn.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/1/6/6/3/10553661/Condolences/20220209_003847_01_orig.jpg/-/antonio-cayanan-burnaby-bc-memories3.jpg" height="271" src="https://d5nffgciuchtn.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/1/6/6/3/10553661/Condolences/20220209_003847_01_orig.jpg/-/antonio-cayanan-burnaby-bc-memories3.jpg" width="322" /><span style="text-align: left;">https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/burnaby-bc/antonio-cayanan-10553661</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(74, 60, 49); color: #4a3c31; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-26772759170778206022021-05-30T12:31:00.025-07:002021-05-30T18:27:32.227-07:00 Stewards of His Resources<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhUrhwyVLVI-nT-EAvGFj3NVjP1R0M0vsa5VebWqlpLJ4tQ4-8mTSOw1t7r3Ah1dq6oYkbT3J0Ogxq8rm5u5Ujl-GpGiC2vCmYx6JzRMQdHPJr6T9-FNegouneTURa-JQ2VIkzktTo9s/s474/Stewards11.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="474" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhUrhwyVLVI-nT-EAvGFj3NVjP1R0M0vsa5VebWqlpLJ4tQ4-8mTSOw1t7r3Ah1dq6oYkbT3J0Ogxq8rm5u5Ujl-GpGiC2vCmYx6JzRMQdHPJr6T9-FNegouneTURa-JQ2VIkzktTo9s/w254-h132/Stewards11.jpeg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #010f18; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">What’s our personal view about money? Somebody said, “Money has been defined as that something which buys everything but happiness and takes a man everywhere but to heaven. But money used in the right way confer a great deal of happiness and be the means of starting many on the path to heaven.” Personally, is money a means or an end? Is money a part of your life or your life? These are valid questions needing clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Interestingly, the way we handle personal resources reflects our relationship with God. A.W. Tozer provided four questions on one’s view about treasures:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What do we value most?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What would we most hate to lose?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What do our thoughts turn to most frequently when we are free to think of what we will?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What affords us the greatest pleasure? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Here’s an interesting tidbit from history: <i>When Saladin died, he left directions that his empty hands should be on view outside his coffin. By this, he meant to teach that, of all his vast wealth and conquests, he could take nothing with him</i>(Source Unknown). How does this story affect our perspective about money and its stewardship?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s begin by defining stewardship as JoHannah Reardon shared:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The word stewardship comes from the Greek word oikenomous, which means somebody who manages a household. A person doesn't own the household but manages it. And stewards in the ancient world, of course, were trusted with everything from seeing that the floors were clean, to the finances, to the public face of that household. Joseph is a good biblical example of that. </span><a href="applewebdata://F9BE724C-D801-4B1A-8B7F-DA88FA420135#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></b></span></i></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">From the above definition, key principles arise from a spiritual perspective. Most importantly, stewardship is God’s sole idea. Our role as stewards is systematically instituting God's stewardship idea. It only occurs when biblical stewardship is applied in every aspect of life. Matthew shared, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (6:21). In addition, Scriptures are highlighting its importance for our information:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. John 3:27<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Next, stewardship is God’s initiative. Therefore, our role is influencing others about it personally. How? By teaching others the means of applying biblical stewardship of God’s resources appropriately. Paul reminded Timothy, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Lastly, stewardship is God’s invitation. Therefore, our role is impacting every generation purposely. It only occurs when people learn about biblical stewardship correctly. Thus, the work of the enemy towards loving and trusting in money is weakened. However, let’s clarify that having money is not the problem but the love of money is. Paul shared this principle to Timothy: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1 Timothy 6:10).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Knowing what we know now, changing our attitude as stewards becomes a priority. Here are Scriptures highlighting the value of having the right attitude that every steward of God must live by:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. Titus 1:7-10<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Serve with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men. Ephesians 6:7<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Harvey Nowland shared this wonderful insight as a summary of God’s expectation from His stewards: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Christians need to understand that opportunities to achieve God’s agenda in building His kingdom involve not only our material possessions but also our abilities, knowledge, skills and relationships. To make it simple – everything from your backyard and bank accounts to your mind and body - is a resource that you must manage for God. No false humility required here, you are an important member of God’s management team – stewardship.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><a href="applewebdata://F9BE724C-D801-4B1A-8B7F-DA88FA420135#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">When we acknowledge God’s role in our lives as the Owner of everything, He is honoured and when He is honoured, He honours those who honour Him. Would you be His steward today?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><br /></p></div></div></div><div><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="applewebdata://4FC944B5-2A2B-4431-AE90-BE0ACB589850#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"> https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/churchhomeleadership/accountablegod.html<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="applewebdata://4FC944B5-2A2B-4431-AE90-BE0ACB589850#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"> https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith-based-family-finances/stewardship/stewardship-being-co-managers-with-god<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-64714759304984547002021-03-31T07:35:00.005-07:002021-04-11T07:46:12.856-07:00Praying to God and Receiving from God<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuRVGLsW9wvZzaaGG494NClHF5OfgKbC9oJWkqRxF22o_k6TMiXTylnlwZXyRAgIc0CIVLaXbmn4VfX-egVK_Ya4kGD1zKlFvcPfpb4ZoPcCK-GXVzOi0qHQ7cgZGYNXofWpQzK1QFOk/s480/IMG-20200911-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuRVGLsW9wvZzaaGG494NClHF5OfgKbC9oJWkqRxF22o_k6TMiXTylnlwZXyRAgIc0CIVLaXbmn4VfX-egVK_Ya4kGD1zKlFvcPfpb4ZoPcCK-GXVzOi0qHQ7cgZGYNXofWpQzK1QFOk/s320/IMG-20200911-WA0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />Due to the modern perception of entitlement and immediate gratification every time, there’s an assumption that God will bend over backwards in overruling His good, eternal desires in responding to self-centred desires. This attitude, unfortunately, manifests when we pray. Thus, in correcting this idea, William Barclay reminded us three things when we pray and to remember:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The love of God that wants the best for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The power of God that can accomplish it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In His teaching from the mountain, Jesus provided how we must approach God and the right attitude when we pray:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:7-12 NKJ<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Three important keywords to consider in this bible text, namely, ask, seek, and knock. Each of them represents an impact as far as God’s answers are concerned. Lawrence O. Richards, a theologian, shared this wonderful insight, “<i>Jesus describes prayer as asking, seeking, and knocking. “Ask” is the act of prayer in its simplest form. “Seek” conveys intensity, and “earnest sincerity.” And “knock” pictures persistence. We knock on the door of heaven and keep on knocking!”</i>Knowing these three components give us the necessary edge when we pray, including assurance of God’s response according to His sovereignty. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What was Jesus talking about when He taught this prayer concept? When people pray, God is at work. Understanding God’s character and sovereignty are crucial to the prayer equation. What then is needed? Jim Cymbala shared, “<i>Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God.”</i> Therefore, giving up is never an option. Praying with knowledge about who God becomes advantageous to us because God intends for everyone who prays accordingly, receives a definite and timely answer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">When we pray, we seek God Himself! The Psalmists encouraged, “<i>Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!</i>” (Psalm 105:4). Contrary to what many think, God is not hiding from anyone. He is longing for a persistent prayer anchored in faith in His power. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Samson, blinded by his enemies, prayed because he realized God is the only source of His strength: Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “<i>O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes</i>” (Judges 16:28). God answered Samson’s prayer and gave him strength for the last time and died with his enemies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There were situations that God declined a prayer. When this happens, God is exercising His prerogative according to His sovereignty. After receiving judgement from God, David prayed for his firstborn son’s healing and God said no: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">David, therefore, begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them. On the seventh day, the child died (2 Samuel 12:16-18). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">However, David didn’t receive a favourable reply and lost his child: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-left: 72pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">David understood and accepted God’s judgment on his situation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Is prayer a one-way monologue or a dialogue with God? These two examples showed the dynamics that occur when we pray. No matter what we receive from our prayers, positive or negative replies, let’s trust God at all times. He knows best!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-63428951874784535452021-02-10T18:03:00.001-08:002021-02-10T18:03:30.407-08:00Marriage is Designed as Companionship <span style="font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TGVE7j3wB8yOf_ktO-JtwwnuizVOfe064XeICqMUo3EFGwHYO8r43863Fxj2TNNcQuv2qb8GiB5ElgUs3WbvOUyWm65cSZyMnEZcPMQL1s2qvSA0tstO-zwu0GGsuZApIwacGbuVe8o/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TGVE7j3wB8yOf_ktO-JtwwnuizVOfe064XeICqMUo3EFGwHYO8r43863Fxj2TNNcQuv2qb8GiB5ElgUs3WbvOUyWm65cSZyMnEZcPMQL1s2qvSA0tstO-zwu0GGsuZApIwacGbuVe8o/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
Debra Evans of Focus on the Family shared this insight about companionship, “Given the dictionary's definition of a companion as "somebody who accompanies you, spends time with you, or is a friend," do you currently see you and your husband companionably drawing together or separately drifting apart.” </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">What does the Scripture say about it: “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18a, ESV). God recognized the simple fact of Adam’s need for companionship at the time. While every animal God created a pair, Adam’s pair is not found yet. Genesis 2:20 wrote, “The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam, no suitable helper was found.” However, it is not a permanent situation for Adam because God‘s plan was at work, “I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18b). The fact that God created the woman as a helper points to her supportive role to her husband. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">From this beginning, the various cycles in marriage as husband and wife are discovered perpetually as God designed it.
1. Wedding Day: It is a ceremony for the beginning of marriage as husband and wife. No longer two people but as one.
2. Family: Having children creates a family, becoming parents (father and mother) in addition to taking care of husband and wife status.
3. Empty Nest: After some time, children leave home while the relationship of the husband and wife remains.
4. Grandparents: They become grandparents (if children get married) in addition to being husband and wife. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> From the above scenarios, marriage continues until the last day of each other’s breath. In the meantime, let me share two ways of securing companionship in marriage daily. Firstly, companionship in marriage is primarily strengthening friendship throughout the marriage years. C.S. Lewis said of friendship: "It is when we are doing things together that friendship springs up — painting, sailing ships, praying, philosophizing, and fighting shoulder to shoulder. Friends look in the same direction." How do we strengthen friendship in marriage? Become appreciative of your spouse whenever possible. Another is a constant encouragement and boosting one another’s capability. Remember that success is achieved mutually. Finally, avoiding power struggles and wresting control from the other. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Companionship in marriage is about honouring one another throughout the marriage years. James Dobson provided this insight about how honouring one another works, “Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without.” Here’s how the Scriptures addresses this application: Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). How does honouring one another works? It begins by cherishing what your spouse values before and during the marriage. Another valuable trait is discovering your mate's "love language" and learning to speak it. Finally, it is about maintaining a lifelong commitment wholeheartedly and filled with affection for one another. Someone said, “You invest in whatever it is that you esteem.” Also, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word wholehearted as "marked by complete earnest commitment." </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Proverbs 18:22 declared a powerful truth to live by: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Marriage is not just about the number of years accumulated together. Most importantly, it is how by being together, overcame various challenges and achieved success with God’s help and guidance. When God is involved, anything is possible, and everything is achievable. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Let’s talk again!</span></div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-91665337554386292262020-12-20T10:57:00.001-08:002020-12-20T10:57:24.987-08:00From Heaven to the Manger: God the Creator Born as a Baby<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjafrAZ7w5SlGfDKB2ZKbLkhdr1NSMZJGYXr5tSAeVEsOKRSos7Yb2mx_U-11VwnbEAnWfBVUkHtlDL460AwQO6TpwBnD8TQK7Ya2bTBIQQ3w-5iy9YO_DwYWuASn8XX1GHLDNMFePVA/s225/Manger.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjafrAZ7w5SlGfDKB2ZKbLkhdr1NSMZJGYXr5tSAeVEsOKRSos7Yb2mx_U-11VwnbEAnWfBVUkHtlDL460AwQO6TpwBnD8TQK7Ya2bTBIQQ3w-5iy9YO_DwYWuASn8XX1GHLDNMFePVA/s0/Manger.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Somebody shared this wonderful insight: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Jesus became flesh on His own volition and lived among us! And without ceasing to be God, He became a human being like us. This is the main reason whenever we display a manger.</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The apostle Paul explained it this way: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Philippians 2:5-7. NKJ). In a nutshell, Jesus, the Creator of everything, came as a baby, born in a poor stable and grew up in a poor carpenter’s home. From a spiritual standpoint, Jesus came as a poor man to make us rich: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJ).</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Why does the manger's story matter now? Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, Micah accurately prophesied Christ’s birthplace and His preexistence: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, </span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">from ancient times</span></u></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Micah 5:2).</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Let me share specific reasons why the manger matter today. Primarily, the manger matters because of the revelation of Jesus and His incarnation. John Stott shared, “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If Jesus was not who the apostles say he was, then he could not of done what they say he did. The incarnation is indispensable to the atonement</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.” Read the lyrics of “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">God rest ye merry, gentlemen</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">” and you’ll know what I mean:</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">God rest ye merry, gentlemen</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Let nothing you dismay</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Remember Christ our Savior</strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Was born on Christmas Day</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">To save us all from Satan’s power</strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">When we were gone astray</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">O tidings of comfort and joy</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Comfort and joy</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">O tidings of comfort and joy</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Next, the manger matters because this is how we understood the revelation of God’s plan of salvation for humanity. Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world as John the Baptist proclaimed (John. 1:29). Most importantly, becoming part of humanity is an unavoidable circumstance in fulfilling God’s plan of salvation. This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom as you read the lyrics of “Hark! The herald angels sing” and you’ll understand what I mean:</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hark! The herald angels sing</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Glory to the newborn King!"</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hail the Son of Righteousness!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Light and life to all He brings</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Ris'n with healing in His wings</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Mild He lays His glory by</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Born that man no more may die</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Born to raise the sons of earth</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Born to give them second birth</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hark! The herald angels sing</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Glory to the newborn King!"</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Finally, the manger where Jesus laid as a baby in the manger became an indicator of His nature, as the God-Man and His purpose, as the Messiah of Humanity. Rather than coming to earth with pomp and majestic arrival, the King of Creation and God's own Son chose His birth among the animals in a stable, having lowly shepherds from the fields, as His first visitors. However, this humble God-Man would grow up to one day sacrificing His life on a cross for sinners, rise again, and then return to His Father's side in power and glory. Thus, from a woman’s womb and a manger, the story of God’s salvation started. The story began in Genesis, fulfilled in a manger and God’s plan of salvation through the birth of Jesus unfolded. From the manger, Jesus started His journey towards the Cross of Calvary. Billy Graham summarized it wonderfully: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The very purpose of Christ's coming into the world was that He might offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. </em><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This is the heart of Christmas</em></strong><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.</em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Let’s talk again!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-38064457458021962022020-10-26T20:23:00.000-07:002020-10-26T20:23:42.392-07:00The Cost of Following Jesus<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In pursuing spiritual growth as a Christian believer, it involves navigating various challenges along the way. Here’s how Jesus simply put it: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Luke 9:23). There’s a cost in following Jesus and we must learn to count the cost in doing so. Somebody described what is and what is not about the cost of following Jesus:</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Counting the cost means recognizing and agreeing to some terms first. In following Christ, we cannot simply follow our inclinations. We cannot follow Him and the world's way at the same time (Matthew 7:13-14). Following Him may mean we lose relationships, dreams, material things, or even our lives.</span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bMYDEt-jsSvhpSOZC3rUgbRUvdG7FwfH953yl82yH91cC3lW6-8mbo6kzul8cPsG8xBXJbVTV2b_R2PrP4i2H_3hXKnt2QtK74vbh2Gl4nDaNac1-VKlF7KBiJTVlcseH2LqRyiJTEw/s275/Following+Jesus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bMYDEt-jsSvhpSOZC3rUgbRUvdG7FwfH953yl82yH91cC3lW6-8mbo6kzul8cPsG8xBXJbVTV2b_R2PrP4i2H_3hXKnt2QtK74vbh2Gl4nDaNac1-VKlF7KBiJTVlcseH2LqRyiJTEw/s0/Following+Jesus.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No copyright infringement intended</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Allow me to expound on what Jesus meant and the prerequisites involved in following Him. When Jesus spoke then (“</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And he said to all</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">…”), He still speaks today with the same challenging message of choosing Him above anyone and anything in this world. When an individual hears and heeds the calling of Jesus, it is a wholehearted decision with an unwavering determination of choosing Jesus above oneself (“</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself…</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">”). The apostle Paul illustrated it similar to an athlete: </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. ~1 Corinthians 9:26-27</span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Next, it is a resolution made daily (“…</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">take up his cross daily and</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">…”) with a clear view of what’s ahead and a willingness of forsaking distractions in following Christ. The apostle Paul shared his heart on this matter: </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Galatians 2:20). Finally, there’s a focused destination ahead with Jesus (“…</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">follow me</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">”). The apostle John shared a wonderful picture of this decision: “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">” (1 John 2:28).</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Even if more than two thousand years since Jesus came, the prerequisites of discipleship never change today. In attaining victory, we need to look to Jesus! Jonathan Parnell</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="#_ftn1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">[1]</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> shared, “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Looking to Jesus means relying on him. The word translated “looking” has the idea of zeroing our gaze on something with confidence. Looking to Jesus means looking to him alone. Looking to Jesus means he is our reward</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.” In knowing what’s ahead, we need to listen to Jesus! </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">J. G. Machen, an American Presbyterian New Testament scholar and educator in the early 20th century (Wikipedia) shared, “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.” </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Lastly, in discovering the lessons of spiritual growth. We need to learn about Jesus! Jesus Himself encouraged us, “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Take my yoke upon you and learn from me”</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Matthew 11:29a). I found this enlightening insight from Bits & Pieces (April 2, 1992): “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Learning usually passes through three stages. In the beginning you learn the right answers. In the second state you learn the right questions. In the third and final stage, you learn which questions are worth asking</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.”</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In summary, while salvation is free, Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave this stark reminder “</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">but discipleship will cost you your life</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.” When all is said and done, the prize of following Jesus outweighs the price of following Jesus because He is worth following. He gave His life and died for us and that’s more than enough reason for giving our life to Him. After knowing this truth, what’s holding you back in following Him?</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Let’s talk again!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="#_ftnref1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">[1]</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> http://fighterverses.com/blog-post/what-does-it-mean-to-look-to-jesus/</span></p></div><br /><p></p>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-20762865870127202422020-10-03T20:05:00.004-07:002020-10-03T20:07:53.586-07:00The Significance of the Names of God Today<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUKSBRX9ncIjiCqtMEiLWhkcwdq01PB4xBihlFOMfSkiWW2npmwur3DSvIbgNS0g7S28VzRdPAQ3vy6_6IZ-yXQccUpFflQu3NwxnlmHhTu_v_yKYy10Ts8-q00ivDfvC6pVG_x04R0A/s355/Names+of+God.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUKSBRX9ncIjiCqtMEiLWhkcwdq01PB4xBihlFOMfSkiWW2npmwur3DSvIbgNS0g7S28VzRdPAQ3vy6_6IZ-yXQccUpFflQu3NwxnlmHhTu_v_yKYy10Ts8-q00ivDfvC6pVG_x04R0A/s320/Names+of+God.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The absolute truth of the matter<span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">is this: God provided His people with the means to call on Him using</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">His various Names that fully represents His attribute and His</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">power. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Somebody shared this wonderful</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">story: </span><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">The early</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">church leader Augustine was once accosted by a heathen who showed him his idol</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">and said, "Here is my god; where is thine?" Augustine replied,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">"I</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">cannot show you my God; not because there is no God to show but because</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">you have no eyes to see Him."</span></i><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">There are three Names of God revealed</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">and associated with significant events. When God redeemed Israel from Egyptian</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">bondage, Moses heard God’s name as the “Great I</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">AM.” </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">“<i>Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel</i></span><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">'What is his</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>AM WHO I AM"</i> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">(</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Exodus 3:13-14).</span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">During the New Testament, God sent</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jesus as the Saviour of fallen humanity: </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">She</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">from their sins"</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> (Matthew 1:21). Then,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">when Jesus returned sometime in</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">the future, He will come back as the “Word of God” and the “King of kings.<i>”</i></span><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Word of God.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">down</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">thigh he has a name written,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>King of kings and Lord of lords”</i> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">(</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Revelations 19:11-16).</span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Thus, in understanding the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">significance of God’s Name today, there are three things for our learning</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">perspective. First, God’s Name </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">connects</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> us to His power. Next, God’s</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Name</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">conforms</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> us to His</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">character. Lastly, God’s Name </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">communicates</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> His</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">faithfulness. Accessing them becomes a key to discover God’s reality in our lives</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">today, tomorrow and until he comes. Furthermore, when we</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">understand the value</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">of God’s Name in our lives, we can avoid how the world deals with God’s Name as</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">E.A. Robinson shared, <i>“The world is a kind of spiritual kindergarten where</i></span><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">bewildered infants</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>are trying to spell God with the wrong blocks.” </i>Let me</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">challenge you to study further the Names of God because each Name of God</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">reveals one aspect of His revelation to His people who believe in</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Him. When we</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">do, God becomes personal in His dealing to each of us.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">As a final note on this topic, allow</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">me to share a fascinating revelation of God’s Name explained using the Chinese</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">character for “GOD” from </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">www.bible.ca: </span><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">God is represented</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">in the Chinese language by the word </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Shén</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">. This word may be written in</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">two different forms (see to the right and below). The etymology of this image</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">reveals</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">details about God's work in creation. On the left side of the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">character, we see an image meaning to REVEAL or DECLARE. Over and over in the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Biblical creation account, we are told</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">that "...God said..." (Genesis</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, NKJV). On the right side of the character, two</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">images are intertwined. There, we find a MAN and a GARDEN. Man, the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;">crowning</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> jewel of God's creation (Genesis 1:26), was placed in the garden of Eden.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhASWOz32UiaAOuDIoWpcxsbxjPu3KIUGmp78lZPc8I2-gZ4reZQiRGLh1_KaT9dzS0Qs4OZA5CXG9yPXjsmuZH-Yn14pPRVEep9pCjUYqCn1lPdqzGZ6j5iYrxQ3iR7tLzeXBHeuN2vc/s342/Shen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="76" data-original-width="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhASWOz32UiaAOuDIoWpcxsbxjPu3KIUGmp78lZPc8I2-gZ4reZQiRGLh1_KaT9dzS0Qs4OZA5CXG9yPXjsmuZH-Yn14pPRVEep9pCjUYqCn1lPdqzGZ6j5iYrxQ3iR7tLzeXBHeuN2vc/s320/Shen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px;">Let's talk again!</span></span></div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-80514730311487506782020-08-31T18:27:00.000-07:002020-09-02T18:28:41.050-07:00Lessons from Job: Facing Unexpected Storms <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In facing unexpected storms, Mildred Witte Struven shared this wonderful insight, “</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">” (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bits and Pieces</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, September 19, 1991, p.6.).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">If you haven’t read about the story of Job, it provides an excellent overview of the battle we face when facing unexpected storms. The setting of the book of Job began with God and Satan having a conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To begin with, God boasted about Job’s faith (Job 1:8-12) and shared His pleasure over his faith:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“<i>Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil”</i> (1:1, 4-5,8). However, Satan disagreed and looked at Job’s faith with contempt: “<b><i>Does Job fear God for nothing</i></b><i>?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” </i>(1:9-10). Then Satan proposed a plan in proving Job’s faith as fake: “<i>But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face</i>.” (1:11). Instead of defending Job, God agreed to Satan’s proposal: “<i>The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord</i>” (1:12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">What did Satan unleash against Job? Satan targeted and decimated his properties and possessions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-13.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">13</span></i></b></a><i>One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, </i><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-14.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">14</span></i></b></a><i>a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, </i><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-15.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">15</span></i></b></a><i>and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”</i><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-16.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">16</span></i></b></a><i>While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”</i><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-17.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">17</span></i></b></a><i>While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In an instant, Job’s first three storms made him poor in an instant from being the richest man in his time” (Job 1:3). The worst of it all came when a tornado hit where Job’s children gathered and killed on one swoop:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-18.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">18</span></i></b></a><i>While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, </i><a href="http://biblehub.com/job/1-19.htm"><b><i><span style="color: #0f7cee; text-decoration-line: none;">19</span></i></b></a><i>when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”</i>IN an instant, Job lost his ten children.”<b> (Job 1:2)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In their next encounter, God filled with pleasure at Job’s integrity, proved Satan wrong about Job:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“<i>Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. <b>And he still maintains his integrity</b>, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason</i>.” (2:3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Satan disagreed and blurted out another accusation “<i>Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.</i>” (2:4). Then he proposed the action of turning Job against God: <i>But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.</i>” (2:5a). God agreed to the proposal with a specific restriction: <i>The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life</i>” (2:5b). Armed with another opportunity, Satan immediately, “…<i>afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes”</i> (2:6-8). In this unexpected storm, Job’s next storm was a physical attack of painful sores all over his body” (Job 1:2). Losing children, Job’s wife snapped and with anger confronted Job: <b>“</b><i>His wife said to him,</i> “<i>Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish<b><sup><span style="color: #0f7cee;"> </span></sup></b>woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?</i>” <i>In all this, Job did not sin in what he said</i>” (2:9-10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Job’s next storm was losing moral and spiritual support from his wife” (Job 1:2). Yet in all of these things, Job stood on his faith and integrity. Somebody said, “<i><span style="color: windowtext;">In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job. <b>To realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the storm</b></span></i><span style="color: blue;">.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">What are the lessons we can learn from Job’s journey in facing unexpected storms? Primarily, we need our faith in God as <u>reliable</u> as it can be <b><i>through</i></b> the storms of life. Oswald Chambers reminds us, “<i><span style="color: windowtext;">Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace</span></i><span style="color: windowtext;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Next, let the integrity of our faith in God’s ways and means becomes <u>resilient</u> <b><i>as the storm intensifies</i></b>. J.C. Ferdinand shared an interesting illustration relevant to this situation: <i>A bell buoy rings only during storms. The beating of the waves and wind bring out the music that is within it, so too do trials reveal what is inside a person</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Finally, let our commitment to maintaining God’s honour becomes <u>resolute</u> <b>in the midst of</b> the storm. How do we accomplish all of these things? Overcoming is not our goal when facing unexpected storms. It is showcasing our faith in a God who promised His provision, protection and power. Here’s something I found in seeing God at work and how we must respond in the middle of unexpected storms:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">God has not promised skies always blue,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Flower-strewn pathways all our life through;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">God has not promised sun without rain,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">But God has promised strength for the day,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Rest for the labor, light for the way;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Grace for the trials, help from above,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #010f18;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Unfailing sympathy, undying love</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">. ~</span><span lang="EN-US">Source Unknown.<span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-55540441965174553712020-07-31T10:36:00.032-07:002020-08-11T10:48:49.892-07:00 Rhythms and Routines of Christian Life<div class="separator"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="No copyright infringement intended" border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa-k0cXhtvBsCtoWeBtFwbyPUAWvZ2ObtDohtXDpfVzK9vzje9t_7_vrkjSKEnRJUGWrwAGjGKlzoFpxjMC40tkNv6csyfXuEoosv-CZRVaTuecZHu8V5DmlHxmOgBCFEcG9bIFvBMCU/w250-h209/Rest.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="No copyright infringement intended" width="250" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No copyright infringement intended<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0cm;"><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I</span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> found this article of Dr. Danielle Forshee</span><a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #954f72; font-size: 12pt;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> describing the “Psychological Benefits of Routines” as an affirmation of its value from a medical perspective. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Routine in adults is very similar to routine in children. It is crucial to set routines to enable yourself to get better at the things you do.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Routine helps us cope with change, it helps to create healthy habits, and more importantly, it helps to reduce stress levels.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Routine helps alleviate stress. Creating routines will allow you to set times for specific tasks, and allow you to set times for fun, or things that you enjoy or make you happy. </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Alannah Francis<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a> added:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Routine is essential if we're to develop a strong and substantial faith and relationship with Christ. When we think about how we're defined by what we do every day in so many other areas of our lives, it makes sense that this carries over into our spiritual life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis" style="color: #4472c4; font-style: italic;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis" style="color: #4472c4; font-style: italic;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal;">From a biblical perspective, “How did God provide the means to keep our rhythms and routines working flawlessly each day?” Looking back at Genesis (</span></span><span style="background: white;">1:14, NLT)</span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis" style="color: #4472c4;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal;">, God provided, “</span><span color="" style="color: windowtext;"><i>…</i></span></span><span style="background: white;"><i>the seasons, days, and years.”</i> With this in mind, God marked the rhythm and routine between day and night with the 24-hour cycle on a weekly basis before Adam was created. Ever since that day, everything operated this way. God, in his Omniscience, thought about the pattern for us to live by on a weekly basis as far as daily rhythm and routine is concerned</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: white;">Another significant provision is the Sabbath Day or the 7<sup>th</sup> Day. This is the day where God rested and declared it a holy day:</span><span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: white;">So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. </span><span class="reftext"><b><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/2-2.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">2</span></a></b></span>On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested f<span style="background: white;">rom all his work. </span><span class="reftext"><b><a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/2-3.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">3</span></a></b></span>And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation (Genesis 2”1-3, NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Moses, in giving the law, reiterated the Sabbath day principle: <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: white;">“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. </span><span class="reftext"><b><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/20-9.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">9</span></a></b></span>You have six days each week for your ordinary work, <span class="reftext"><b><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/20-10.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">10</span></a></b></span>but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. <span class="reftext"><b><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/20-11.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">11</span></a></b></span>For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.<span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;"> Exodus 20:8-11, NKJ)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">What does the Sabbath law mean for us today? Simply put, the <span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;">Sabbath Day is God’s reset button as part of the rhythm and routines He set up for us to follow. </span></span>Following the Sabbath Day is not being dogmatic or even about rule-keeping. It’s more than these two things, as many subscribed to. If it’s only these, then we’ve missed the whole point of God altogether. I believe it to be a very simple system intended for our benefit personally and spiritually, from God’s standpoint. God gave us rhythms and routines to follow but also a day of rest from it as a reset. <span class="Heading2Char" style="color: #2f5496;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; line-height: 18.4px;">Here are some valuable perspectives on this matter:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><h2 style="break-after: avoid; color: #2f5496; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.9333px; margin: 2pt 0cm 0cm 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">God knew the rhythm of life needs a reset button. In providing one day where we rest, God declared the 7<sup>th</sup> day as a day of worship, reflection and reset.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h2><h2 style="break-after: avoid; color: #2f5496; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.9333px; margin: 2pt 0cm 0cm 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Observing the Sabbath Day removes our attention to ourselves after six days and instead focused on God, our Creator, who gave us everything for one day. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h2><h2 style="break-after: avoid; color: #2f5496; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.9333px; margin: 2pt 0cm 0cm 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span color="" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Having one day reserved as a day of worship impacts our children and their future. What we sow is what we reap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">How did the early church follow God’s prescription on a daily basis? Michaelle Justice shared this wonderful insight:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">In the early church, how they acted in their daily lives and interactions with others defined their Christian life. The ministry of daily life is about living in the Word, walking the path with Jesus whether we’re behind a desk, or pushing our grocery cart down the frozen food aisle. It can be how we act, without words, how we treat others – even those we might only meet in passing as we go through our daily routines. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">That’s why, <span style="background: white;">Steve May shared, “<i>The Christian life isn’t about flashes of occasional spiritual brilliance. It’s about day-to-day consistency</i>.” </span>God is concerned with our personal and spiritual health, thus, the provision of a reset for us is given. Try it and you’ll never be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Let’s talk again!</span><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://drdanielleforshee.com/psychological-benefits-of-routines/#:~:text=Routine%20helps%20us%20cope%20with,alleviating%20the%20symptoms%20of%20anxiety." style="color: #954f72;">https://drdanielleforshee.com/psychological-benefits-of-routines/#:~:text=Routine%20helps%20us%20cope%20with,alleviating%20the%20symptoms%20of%20anxiety.</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/a-christ-honouring-daily-routine-5-things-every-christian-can-do-every-day/86184.htm" style="color: #954f72;"><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">https://www.christiantoday.com/article/a-christ-honouring-daily-routine-5-things-every-christian-can-do-every-day/86184.htm</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-24088491386229573272020-06-29T20:26:00.000-07:002020-07-02T20:28:50.966-07:00Loving our Neighbor and our Enemies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 12pt;">I found this wonderful post, “Ten Commandments of Human Relations” as a way to begin our conversation for our information and guidance:</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting. Smile at people. It takes seventy-two muscles to frown, only fourteen to smile.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Call people by name. Music to anyone's ears is the sound of his/her own name.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be friendly and helpful.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is genuinely a pleasure, and if it isn't, learn to make it so.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be genuinely interested in people. You can like almost everybody if you try.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be generous with praise, cautious with criticism.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be considerate with the feelings of others. There are usually three sides to a controversy: yours, the other fellow's, and the right one.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Be alert to serve. What counts most in life is what we do for others.</i><o:p></o:p></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>Add to this a good sense of humour, a big dose of patience, and a dash of humility, and you will be rewarded manifold through life. </i>Adapted from the <i>Bible Tract Bulletin</i>.<o:p></o:p></li>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus stated a very clear commandment in Mark 12:31 about loving others, specifically for those we consider as neighbours: “<i>The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these</i>” (NIV). And if you want to understand who our neighbour is, read the Parable of the Samaritan where Jesus provided a picture of the most unlikely person to assist a person in need during that time. After reading it, I hope and pray it would change the way you approach this matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus stated an unequivocal truth for our modern-day understanding about fulfilling God’s Law daily, i.e., “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Somebody said a wonderful summary of what’s expected of us:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">The reality is that I can only ever love and accept others to the degree that I have learned to love and accept myself. What so many of us need from God and loving friends is help to love and accept ourselves in the same way that God loves and accepts us -- totally and unconditionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">We need to remember that before God asked us to love our neighbour and others, He manifested His love to us through the death of Jesus Christ. While we were considered an enemy of God, He loved us despite our sinfulness. Because of this simple reason, it’s our turn to employ the same mindset of loving others and our neighbours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">How do we begin? Let’s start in becoming mindful of others above our own interests: “<i>Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves</i>” (Philippians 2:3). In dealing with those we consider as our enemies: <b>“</b><i>If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you</i>” (Proverbs 25:21-22). Why? Jesus provided something for us to consider: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:46-47)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Simply means, loving others we like is easier, but it takes a toll on us when our enemies are concerned. In this way, applying Jesus’ words becomes a reality and its application makes or breaks us as believers of Jesus. The only thing holding us back in loving anyone, especially our enemies, is pride, plain and simple. To bring us out of pride, remember how Jesus, at the cross of Calvary, prayed for His enemies and forgave them as well. And no matter what we think or say about it, it’s a choice we must make daily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Holly Mthethwa<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5059868521604763322&useLegacyBlogger=true#_ftn1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">[1]</span></a> provided some practical ways to love our neighbour as yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I will love my neighbours, whoever they are, by truly seeing them. I will look past the obvious, the outer shell, and I will look into their eyes, their hearts, and their circumstances. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I’ll ask for forgiveness for the strongholds within my own heart that keep me from sympathizing with or loving another. If I need to ask for forgiveness from my neighbour, I’ll humble myself and apologize. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I’ll love my neighbours by praying for them—even if it’s through gritted teeth at first. I will pray for my neighbours, especially the ones I least want to pray for.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I will walk alongside my neighbours. I will rejoice when they rejoice and mourn when they mourn. I’ll bear the burden of the pain and anguish, because I know that Christ is the ultimate burden-bearer, and I’ll shout for joy in tandem with their cries of thanksgiving and praise.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I’ll allow my neighbours to challenge my heart without taking offense or becoming bitter. I’ll accept constructive criticism as the pathway that draws me closer to Christ. <o:p></o:p></li>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">In the end, we’ll face God and He’ll be asking us how we did in this area. What would you answer then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5059868521604763322&useLegacyBlogger=true#_ftnref1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">[1]</span></a> http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/7-ways-to-love-your-neighbor-as-yourself.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-28770291040054350322020-06-19T19:47:00.001-07:002020-06-19T19:47:39.030-07:00Just thinking out loud...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are indeed living in the end times. As Christian believers living in his world, how are we to act and react to the various opposing sides vying for our attention? First, what does the Scriptures say about this: "You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. <a data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbiblehub.com%2F2_timothy%2F3-2.htm%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3exMZqLZdXKmTdF7K5qQFKBaXbNrvju9RqvvLlDMSZ4PQSTl7A-dxBFQc&h=AT2aQbjbbUe3TLH-XynvB_ENe1SPjs69oTsa0JYJnHjJ7_oJqWq6RAkv3Qn_XVwN1bLgowtidcfxk3suRECJlvzZ3zr4bjz1obMQcSpTDfwXMCV6aT19hk3BqI6TChErVWrrq_xrXdYNSXNTmJXwf64o" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;">2</span></a>For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. THEY WILL CONSIDER NOTHIN<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">G SACRED. <a data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbiblehub.com%2F2_timothy%2F3-3.htm%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2iATdFsixg-R7GLqDK5-P0Bv5yBfKvzxMhwtkK8iRE2gJu6U2I1TH-ZpE&h=AT3u0Me34HYjvhd1lKvNZpBC6EF4A0M81P8at5ECriotYjOrV_WXuSaoX0_YnWK4ExsCCAOcAHQpIrHQ31q4N23gOEZ0hW-R7xz73h7YxbCh_6DcqrkDOazSjtaFWPYiTb4qrqkt0h9N_hBH3NIXjtG5" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;">3</span></a>They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good." 2 Timothy 3:1-3, NLT. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Should we take sides in what's happening? Should we adopt the current ideology permeating the landscape of the nations? As a matter of Scriptural fact, we ARE called to become salt and light of the world, therefore, the banner we carry at all times in the Name of Christ. However unpopular it might be, this is our identity. We hate injustice and all sorts of wickedness as people of God, yet Jesus told us about this. The only remedy is God's offer of salvation to everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Great Commission encapsulates the whole message of God's Kingdom. Many would not hear our message because it is unpopular and doesn't go well with the current trend. As always, God's message is always irrelevant to them and rejected. Is "loving your enemies" irrelevant? To a world filled with hate and anger, it is because loving your enemy is not the answer but destruction of the enemy. This is where we need to make a stand as far as identifying with any movement. Can we reflect Christ's message while carrying another banner with a different message? We need God's wisdom and only prayer counters any attacks of the enemy (John 10:10). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What am I saying? If you are burdened with what's happening, read about it and be informed. Then do what's appropriate as a Christian believer and pray for God's wisdom in all your actions and reactions. If you choose not to be involved, don't just watch but pray for God's intervention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time!</span></div>
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Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-68413182049566415802020-05-21T22:48:00.001-07:002020-05-21T22:48:19.002-07:00Living by Faith through God's Grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In this pandemic, it’s easy to look up to God and ask various questions of inquiry and concern. Some might become frustrated in moving forward without any idea of what’s next. We feel being in limbo at what’s transpiring around us. People are suffering in many ways and feeling helpless. What does the Scripture speak in this time of uncertainty? The apostle Peter reminds us, “</span><i style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you</i><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (1 Peter 5:10). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">God is at work even when we do not know how He is doing it. He is the God of all grace and we need His grace to endure a seemingly bleak and unknown future. It is only through God’s grace that we are secured and assured daily. The simple fact is this: God’s grace is His provision especially given to those He called to live for Christ, in Christ and with Christ until we meet Him face to face in eternity. We need His grace to face anything that comes our way. Connecting to God’s grace is our guarantee of sustainability until Jesus comes again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">G.W. Knight shared this illustration of how grace works:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favour. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Allow me to share these great insights in reminding you that God’s grace is sufficient for us at all times and in every season of life:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">When uncertainty comes, God’s grace will confirm us.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">How do we access such a bountiful supply of God’s grace? God’s grace is always accessible through faith in Jesus. There’s no other way of appropriating it except through Jesus and Him alone. Something mighty occurs when God’s grace and our faith intersect. Grace provides mileage to our faith and faith sees grace ahead to attain victory at all times. Most importantly, it produces great things to those who believe. Remember, nothing is impossible for this who believe sustained by God’s grace. Somebody said these wonderful words to encourage us in our current journey during this pandemic:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">He giveth <i>more </i>grace when burdens grow greater, He sendeth <i>more </i>strength when the labours increase; To added affliction, <i>He </i>addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted <i>our </i>store of endurance; When <i>our </i>strength has failed ere the day is half done; When we reach the end of <i>our </i>hoarded resources; Our Father's <i>full </i>giving is <i>only </i>begun. His love has <i>no </i>limit, His grace knows <i>no </i>measure, His power <i>no </i>boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth and giveth and giveth again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In the end, we can only anchor ourselves under the mighty hand of God’s grace and through faith we can overcome anything. No matter what we face, we are never alone because God’s grace sustains us all the way through. Believe it and you will never be the same again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-28900571836184401012020-05-14T11:20:00.002-07:002020-05-14T11:20:51.153-07:00JRAM You Tube Channel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are looking for videos to encourage you during this pandemic, v</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">isit JRAM You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYHSFRS3cHq1E85SooNmjw</span></div>
Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-32792992794282758312020-04-26T14:04:00.002-07:002020-04-26T14:04:49.631-07:00JRAM Church Online – April 26, 2020 “Shifting Mindsets: Experiencing God’s Best in our Worst Situation”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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How does God shift people’s mindset? God has various ways of causing a shift of mindset among the people. Whether through literal imprisonment or through a specific judgment or fear of punishment of death, there’s always an expected response. Hopefully, it is the right response.</div>
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JRAM Church Online – April 26, 2020 Speaker – Aldrin Navo – JRAM Senior Pastor</div>
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Please click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEesQi1E7_g</div>
Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059868521604763322.post-68330902485581689302020-04-15T20:07:00.000-07:002020-04-15T20:07:07.607-07:00Faith in God’s Reality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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William Jennings Bryan shared a powerful illustration in proving God’s reality: </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I have observed the power of the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of it a white rind and within that again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight--when you can explain to me the mystery of a watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The main reason many cannot comprehend the reality of God is due to a simple fact: “…<i>anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him</i>” (Hebrews 11:6b). Belief in the reality of God involves faith in His existence. Although, whether we believe in God’s reality or not, His reality never diminished anyway. Not believing in His reality is our lost not His. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">What do the Scriptures say about God’s reality? We begin with the visible creation. God’s creation secures our faith in an invisible God: “<i>For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse</i>” (Romans 1:20). Furthermore, God’s creation strengthens our faith in the power of God’s word: “<i>By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible</i>” (Hebrews 11:3). Finally, hear what Jesus described faith in God’s reality: “<i>Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed</i>” (John 20:29).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For everyone’s benefit, having a firm belief in God’s reality is an initial requirement of faith: “…<i>because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and</i>…” Em Griffin shared this wonderful story: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There's a story about a kindergarten teacher who asked a boy what he was drawing. Without pausing to look up, he said, "A picture of God." The teacher smiled and responded, "But nobody knows what God looks like." The boy carefully put down his crayon, looked her squarely in the eye, and declared, "After I'm finished here they will." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Next, our belief in God’s reliability is an ongoing requirement of faith “…<i>because anyone who comes to him must believe that he rewards those who earnestly seek him</i>.” Here’s a story t0 illustrate such truth: <i>The early church leader Augustine was once accosted by a heathen who showed him his idol and said, "Here is my god; where is thine?" Augustine replied, "I cannot show you my God; not because there is no God to show but because you have no eyes to see Him</i>. (Author Unknown). Like Job, we need to see God’s reality during the toughest times of our life. And only with eyes of faith, one sees the existence and reality of God: <i>You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you</i> (Job 42:4-5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In facing any crisis, the significance of our faith in exhibiting God’s reality becomes much more significant. Why? People must know our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us (John 3:16). People must see how our faith operates in public scrutiny (Matthew 5:16). Finally, people must encounter our faith by engaging them as Jesus’ witnesses (Acts 1:8). When we know these things, it keeps us aligned in our faith God. Most importantly, people are watching us live our faith life. God is counting on us in displaying the reality of His power daily. Don’t just show it, live it as a witness for His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Let’s talk again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Aldrin Navohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300294221666604253noreply@blogger.com