Hebrews 11:1 - The EV uses the words 'assurance' and 'conviction'. Makes me think of the previous post. Earlier in the year as God was revealing my character to me, I prayed with tears that somehow I could overcome what was so ingrained in me, it seemed like trying to stop being male or quit having 10 fingers. Yet somehow, and I shared this with others, I firmly believed that I would be different by God's acting on me. Some where I lost that 'assurance of things hoped for', and now I just strive to get through each day. Did God get weaker? Did he loose interest? No, I just forgot. I've settled for things seen instead of having a 'conviction of things unseen'.
Hebrews 11:15-16 - God is not ashamed of us when we are seeking heaven. So, does this means that when we are world focused He is ashamed of us? Putting it that way, I guess it makes sense. Now, I'm not sure that means from one day to another, minute to minute. "This morning you were heaven focused and I was not ashamed of you, but then you turned on 'Deal or No Deal' and were thinking of the world and I was ashamed. Still, the lesson is that God may be ashamed of us when we think small, and small thinking is earth bound thinking. We ought to have our minds on greater things, things of heaven and things of God.
I guess it's obvious, but isn't that the essence of faith? We seek more than the obvious conclusions and possibilities. Isn't that what all these men did? The world offered some things, even some great things (Moses lived in the house of Pharaoh), but they were looking higher still. How easily I settle for the mundane or even the good and don't have the faith to look higher, to see what God is offering and go after that. Even more so, to refuse to settle for good or Earthly greatness.
I appreciate your faith Douglas; I think that sometimes you are harder on yourself than you ought. In truth, don't you have no doubt that Jesus died on the cross of the redemption of mankind? Don't you believe on the miracles of God that establishes the Word of the Lord? Don't you believe that through hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized brings conversion? I think that to have all these things is a remarkable amount of faith, and is greater than perhaps 90% of the world! Are there not also "Christians" who don't believe in the same conversion? Are there not also "Christians" who do not believe in the walking on water, parting of the Red Sea, and the Resurrection? Are there not also "Christians" that think that many roads lead to God? I think that brothers like you are far more remarkable than you give yourselves credit for.
Hi Doug,
Recently someone gave the following illustration. He held up a crisp new $100 bill and talked about its worth. He said that if he were to lay it down on the table, saying that whoever wanted it could come get it, there would be a mad rush (people would be injured!) Now, suppose that he drew a moustache on Benjamin Franklin, wrote graffiti in the margins, dropped it in a mud puddle, ripped the corner... Then what would it be worth? Of course it is still worth $100. Peole would still rush to the table to get it.
The point was that God values us the same whether we are crisp, new, and undefiled or whether we are dirty, defiled, and torn. God doesn't love us because of our deeds, but despite them. You are as loved, and as saved today as you ever were. Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient!
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