Pastor Caroline - Your Prayer Time

 

Your Prayer Time.

Thessalonians Chapter 5 Verses 16 to 18 from the Good News Bible.

(16) Be joyful always, (17) pray at all times, (18) be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

 

When is a good time to pray? I say, anytime; night or day. Whenever you feel the urgency, need or want a conversation with the Lord, go ahead and pray. Prayer is simply conversation with God and He loves to hear from us.

 

Daily prayers keep us close to God. It blesses not only ourselves but those we pray for and with. Pray for family, friends, strangers, the sick, lonely, those imprisoned and especially the lost. We can invite God into each heart and life; and strengthen our own lives as we give ourselves over to prayer time with the Lord. We serve the Lord in a beautiful way when we pray for others.

 

Be sure to pray with a sincere and contrite heart. A sincere heart that is sorry and remorseful for a sin committed, comes to the Lord asking for forgiveness and should declare to the Lord they will refrain from such action in the future. This heart is ashamed because they know they have committed sin and are now repentant and humble before the Lord. God sees this heart and hears this prayer. Let God speak to your heart when you come to Him in a prayer of repentance.

 

Pray to God in worship. Praising Him in word and song. Oh how He loves to hear our voice in a whisper or shout; as we acknowledge His greatness. He is Lord of all, Almighty and Powerful, our Lord and Savior; glory to His blessed name!

 

What holds you back from praying? Some might say;

(1) I don’t know how to pray.

(2) It’s too late for me to pray

(3) I have too much guilt to pray to God

(4)  I fear I am not good enough.

(5) Don’t have time to pray, it takes hours right?

(6) Too many other things going on in my life. I am too busy to pray.

(7) God would never hear me…

These are just some of the reasons I’ve heard over the years when I ask people if they pray.

Then, I assure them that God is not wanting to hear excuses, He just wants them to speak to Him. He is waiting patiently for everyone to come to Him in prayer. He wants you to get to know Him for He already knows you and loves you. He’s waiting to have a conversation with you, hence, He listens morning and night, all day, all night for that one voice who will cry or call out to Him.  He is waiting for you!!!

His line is “Prayer – 24/7”. (Not a real number) 😊 Easy way to remember to pray. You do not use the phone, computer or any other device, you just close your eyes and speak. So easy!! You will feel yourself being made quiet from your day and a peace will come over you. It is so beautiful!!

 

Ask God to show you His will for your life. He has a purpose and a plan for every individual. It tells us in Jeremiah Chapter 29 Verse 11 and I quote from my Good News Bible:

(29) I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.

Then Verse 12 tells us:

(12) Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, I will answer you.

What a beautiful scripture to know and treasure. God cares for us, loves us, has plans for our lives, hears our prayers and answers them.

 

So today, I encourage you to take some time with the Lord pray to Him. Thank Him. Enjoy your time in His presence.

 

Let me get you started in prayer.

Heavenly Father, I come to you in prayer. Today I offer myself to You so please show me what You want me to do today that brings glory to You. Perhaps I can pray with someone, or run an errand, or be a listening ear. Show me Lord how to be a servant and move in Your ways. In the name of Jesus I pray Amen

 

Now be sure to lift your voice often – God is listening! He loves when you spend time with him. Enjoy your prayer time, every day.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 5

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SALT

 SALT

“You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13). Did you ever really consider the possible reasons Jesus may have said this to His followers just after His reciting of the Beatitudes? After all, salt is just a simple compound made up of two components: sodium and chloride. Independently, both are toxic chemicals but together a simple compound used every day and certainly common in the time of Jesus. So when He called His followers “salt” what point was He really trying to convey?

Salt was, and still is, used as a preservative. Was Christ calling upon His followers to preserve His teachings, His words and instructions? It was, after all, just after He had finished one of His most noteworthy teachings and, preserving these, even in their memories, would be important. But passing such teachings on to others and to future generations could and would be paramount. Was Christ, in referring to His followers as “salt” expecting them to do just that? 

Salt is also used as flavouring. He makes this point in the following: “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?” (Luke 14:34) Were His followers, including ourselves, being asked to send the flavour of His Message to everyone and thereby change the “flavour” or attitude of the rest of the world? If that was the intent, then we have not been very successful and it must be apparent that a considerable part of the flavour has been lost.

Salt was also a symbol of disobedience to God’s instruction and commandments. Perhaps He was giving a reminder to continually obey His instructions and commandments and for those listening not to be disobedient. If those listening were aware of the Old Testament scrolls, they would certainly be aware of the story regarding Lot’s wife in Genesis.  She was told: “…'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you or stay anywhere in the plain…’” (Genesis 19:17). Lot’s wife, however, did not obey this instruction and “…[she] looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).

There is still yet another use for salt in that it causes one to be thirsty. We know that salt attracts water because it tends to clump when it becomes damp and anyone who has eaten salty food such as peanuts or chips understands how thirsty one can become. So perhaps He was indicating the means by which others would have a thirst. He did, after all, say to the Samaritan woman that He “…would have given [her] living water” (John 4:10) and that “…whoever drinks of [that] water that I shall give him will never thirst…” (John 4:14). Was Jesus implying that His followers and ourselves were to be that ingredient which would cause others to thirst for the “living water” of Christ so that we might never thirst again? 

Lastly, having salt implies having peace and compatibility with each other. We see this in Mark 9:50 and Colossians 4:6: “…Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another,” and “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

With little apparent peace in the world and so much disobedience to God, we must consider whether we, as salt, have truly lost much of our flavour and how we are not causing people to thirst for the “living water” as we ought.

It’s at least something to think about.   

Pastor Caroline - Where Is God in the Suffering?

Pastor Caroline - Where Do You Spend Your Days?

 

Where Do You Spend Your Days?

 

In Psalm 27 verse 4 in the Good News Bible we read:

I’ve asked Lord for one thing; one thing only do I want:

to live in the Lord‘s house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance.

 

Wow, the Psalmist (David) asked to spend his days in the presence of the Lord. That’s exactly what we need to do! We must give ourselves the gift of God’s time in our day.  We should never be too busy to spend time with Him. His goodness and guidance are gifts He has for us. Let’s not rob God of the blessing He has for us today and everyday; so let’s spend our days with Him.

No matter what this world brings to us, we must look above and see the heavenly world. We must keep ourselves focused on God.

 

I know this world is most often not a great place to live. I often hear people say, myself included; I’m glad I’m closer to heaven than starting over in life. I’m sure generations before us voiced that same sentiment.

 

I remember my grandfather saying, “Lord help this next generation and their children get through this world for there are bitter days coming”.

His heart was tender for my Dad’s generation and mine. He lived through harsh times for sure; war, famine and virus. His daughter was born with cerebral palsy and spent the rest of her life, into her 60’s, as a cripple. She never developed to ability speak clearly and would get around the house on her bottom, scooting from room to room, as she could not walk. She could feed herself but most things she needed help with. I do remember she did needle point and embroidery. Amazing!!  She learned to type and enjoyed doing cards and / or notes for folks. She enjoyed life; loved music and family get togethers. She listened intently as people spoke or sang. She loved children and they loved her because as kids we were all on the floor together. Even as we got older we often would sit on the floor at eye level with her. I tell you this story because she was content, content in the Lord. I never heard her say, oh poor me, but rather every day she thanked God for the life and love she had.  I was 5 or 6 years old when I met her and only knew her a few short years before her passing. Back in those days travel was not as easy as it is today.

 

She marveled at the goodness of the Lord in her life. She enjoyed the scenery of the four seasons as she lived on a hill in Lochaber, and loved to sit in the window seat watching the goings-on around her. Kids playing in the snow, skating on the lake, swimming in the summer, the farm animals in the pasture were all a delight to her. The change of colour in the fall and the beautiful flower gardens in the summer captured her attention. The smell of fresh bread and pies from the kitchen, and a treat of chocolate or peppermints when Gramp went to town, would always make her day. I never saw her out of sorts, and even though I could not always understand her speech I could tell in her actions and smiles she was happy and content.

 

I would say she spent her days in the presence of the Lord, enjoying the life she had among her family. She loved an evening of praise, when we would be in the living room singing all the old hymns reminding us how important it was to be thankful to God for everything we had.

 

One thing I could make out when she spoke was; thank you Lord. She said it often. She was thankful for every day and as I look back I realize how grateful she was to have the years she did even in the crippled body she had. I do not remember her ever being sick (although a family member told me she had sepsis at one point and had cancer) and when her days were over she closed her eyes in sleep and went to be with the Lord.  I sure will be glad to meet her in heaven in her new body. What a delight it will be to be with her once again knowing God kept her in His care during her lifetime here and let her live in the Lord‘s house all the days of her life. What a testimony! Just as the Psalmist David here in Psalm 27, gave a prayer of praise, so did my aunt give praise. Even in her state of life. In spirit, she sang from her heart her love of the Lord. Even in her state of life. She looked up beyond what the world brought to her and waited for the day when she would be with Jesus, in His home – forevermore! She spent her earthly days in His presence and awaited her day of arrival to His heavenly home.

 

Where do we spend our days? Hopefully we can say, we live in His presence every day enjoying all we have in Him. As we marvel at His goodness and ask for His guidance may our hearts be ever grateful for the life we have, the blessings we receive and the work we can do in His name for His glory.

 

Ask the Lord for one thing and one thing only, to live in the Lord’s house all your life, to marvel at His goodness and ask for His guidance. Then you will have all you will ever need.

 

May your day be a blessing from the Lord and may you enjoy every moment.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 4

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Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FOUR FACTS

 FOUR FACTS

It’s Easter again, a time when we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s also a time when many people deny those events or at least disregard their significance. Perhaps it’s because, for many, the statements surrounding this time of year are like myths or simply stories that lack the meaning Christianity imparts to such events.

There may be a good reason for this because, in actuality, Easter (per se) has no connection whatsoever to Jesus. Easter is really a pagan celebration of Eoster, a goddess of fertility and spring whose feast varies with the spring Equinox. This was the occasion chosen by the church to commemorate the events around Christ’s death, whereas the actual events occurred around the Jewish feast of Passover which has a specific date each year. 

It’s also very doubtful if He was even crucified on Friday. The Passover event referred to in the Bible was a fixed day but not the usual Saturday that we think of “…for that Sabbath was a high day…” (John 19:31). If that was the case, then Jesus may have been crucified on Thursday or even Wednesday instead of Friday and might have risen Saturday night for as the Bible says: “…on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark…” (John 20:1) and found Jesus already gone. After all, the statement of Jesus has to be considered: 

A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, 

and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 

so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

(Matthew 12:39-40)

When you look at the entire picture, it would appear that there have been many fallacies which have crept into the events surrounding Christ’s death; fallacies which may have caused confusion and disbelief.  However, there are four facts which should always be remembered.

First, Jesus really was a living person. He walked, talked, taught, and ate just as everyone else. There is really no longer any doubt but that Jesus existed on this earth. All serious investigators agree on this as Dr. Bart Erhman, a non Christian states: “Jesus himself was not a myth. He really existed…[and] evidence matters…He did exist. There was a Jesus of Nazareth”*

Secondly, Jesus really was crucified. Some want to claim that He merely fainted and that He was spirited away before death to the tomb. But the evidence says otherwise. The fact is that the Roman soldiers, who guarded Jesus, were trained in crucifixions and their own lives  depended on them keeping prisoners alive until crucifixion thus ensuring subsequent death on the cross. If He died before being crucified, the Roman soldiers guarding Him would themselves be put to death. Also, Christ had been so thoroughly scourged and beaten before the cross that some believe it a miracle that He survived long enough to get to Golgotha. Dr. Zugibe** is certainly of this opinion and, being a Forensic Pathologist, he would have enough experience in this regard.

Thirdly, Jesus was really resurrected. If the evidence is seriously looked at, the conclusion must be that proclaimed by Wilbur Smith - “Let it simply be said that we know more about the details of the hours immediately before and the actual death of Jesus, in and near Jerusalem, than we know about the death of any other one man in all the ancient world”*** Thomas Arnold put it this way: “I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence…and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort…than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”****

Finally, Christ was seen and witnessed by many people after His resurrection. If one does not want to accept the word of the Bible, then they can accept the recorded recollections historians at the time. Josephus (37-100AD), in his Antiquities is reported to have said this: 

Now three was about this time Jesus, a wise man, 

if it be lawful to call him man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, 

a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure… 

this man was the Christ. And when Pilate had condemned him to the cross…

those who had loved him from the first did not forsake him, 

for he appeared to them alive on the third day, 

the divine prophets having spoken these 

and thousands of other wonderful things about him.*****

And Lord Darling, former Chief Justice of England is said to have stated that the evidence points unmistakably to the fact that on the third day Jesus rose. “In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true”******

Four facts which, in truth, encompass the whole of the Gospel. Paul said: “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23) because “…Christ is now risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead” (1Corinthians 15:20-21).

The Bible states that “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” (and so it remains today) but to those who believe “…it is the power of God” (1Corinthians 1:18).

Four facts - do you believe in them? It’s something we all must face and think about.

*Did Jesus Exist pg 6,7 By Dr. Bart Ehrman, Professor, Religious Studies, Univ. North Carolina

**The Crucifixion of Jesus A Forensic Inquiry by Frederick T Zugibe, M.D. Ph.D. former Chief Medical Examiner, Rockland County, New York

*** The new Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell pg 211 a quote from Wilbur Smith former Professor Moody Bible Institute, Fuller Theological Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 

****ibid pg 216 a quote by Thomas Arnold Oxford University

***** from the Testimonium Flavianum by Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews Book 18 Chapter 3

******The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell pg 219 a statement from Lord Darling, former Chief Justice of England

Pastor Caroline - Preparing the Way to Eternity

Pastor Caroline - In Peace

 

In Peace

 

Psalm 4 Verse 8 Good News Bible.

When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;

you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

 

How beautiful is this statement. When I lie down – I go to sleep in peace.

How many people lie awake at night for hours with a busy mind and a heavy heart? Their thoughts race with anxiousness over things they cannot change, prevent, or secure. Their hearts are heavy because of some actions, hurts, and / or sorrows they’ve had over their lifetime. Peace is the farthest thing from their mind.

 

You alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

When we repeat this statement over a few times it just seems to calm the soul. Only God, in His great wisdom, power and strength can keep us perfectly safe. In the wildest storm, in the most hostile attack, in your deepest sorrow and your greatest fear, only God can give you peace and keep you safe – perfectly safe.

 

Our peace is not found in possessions, money or success, I have learned over the years.  As we see right now especially in the war between Ukraine and Russia (please continue your prayers over this war and all the people it affects) all of these things, and life itself, can be stripped away in a moment. The banks can be shut down, grocery stores can have bare shelves, your money and success are totally useless. The older I get the more I realize every day that the peace of God is the one and only possession I have that I can really keep here on earth until I am called home, and then my peace will increase.

 

Today’s world is full of disaster, pain, sorrow, illness, war and whatever else can draw our attention away from God. However, in His infinite wisdom He gave us the Bible and all it contains concerning life here and life eternal. When the television has no good news turn it off and pick up your Bible because it is filled with Good News. Yes it tells stories of disaster, pain, sorrow, illness and war, but it also tells us how God supplied the needs of those who obeyed His word.

Those who chose to be attentive to His instruction were kept in His care. He then, took “to glory, in His timing”, those who were sheltered under His wing. Oh how He covered them and kept them perfectly safe.

In Verse 3 of Chapter 4 here in Psalms, we read:

(3) Remember that the Lord has chosen the righteous for his own,

and he hears me when I call to him. (GNB)

Where do we draw our peace? From the Lord and His word.

 

When we are faced with uncertainty, calamity, destruction and peril it is then we need to find our peace in Him. Read your Bible daily, be in prayer daily so that your mind and heart are set on the things of Heaven and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, as the old song says.

 

Just imagine if every night, all over the world, people laid their head to bed in peace because they were perfectly safe in the Lord. What a beautiful world it would be.

When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace; you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

Enjoy your day in the peace and presence of the Lord.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 3

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TRUTH

 TRUTH

One phrase often heard over the past few years has been: “fake news.” The overload of information makes it increasingly difficult to try and determine what actually is truthful and what is merely interpretations, opinions, and/or hype. Problems occur when truth and fiction are intermingled and therefore the determination of what actually occurred, or is developing, becomes even more tenuous. This is not just a challenge of today’s times; even back in Biblical times the problem of what is true or false was present. After all, did not even Pilate ask: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

One way to help separate truth from falsehood is to compare what actually has come to pass to what was said would happen. If the outcome of an event is one that has been previously forecast, then an individual would be safe in considering those previous statements as genuine. However, this implies that when we examine the past we must look at what actually occurred and/or was said without allowing any preconceived ideas to bias our interpretations. In other words, we must allow our data to determine our conclusions and not the other way around. Unfortunately, that has often been what has happened with the Bible. True events have often been mixed up with events not based in fact and thus, many people no longer look upon the Bible as reliable. In addition, there seems to be no real incentive to learn from past lessons as to what the future may hold. The truth gets so enmeshed with fantasy  that it all ends up being just a story or “fake news.”  

But isn’t that just what the Bible said would happen? “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). This would suggest that those who feel that the Bible is just “fake news” may have something to be concerned about.

So it is that the message, therefore, of what happened more than two thousand years ago just before Passover must also be scrutinized in the light of real vs. fake news. In the book of Zechariah, we read:

“…Behold, your king is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

(9:9)

  This scripture was written approximately 500 years before Matthew wrote:

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem,…

then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 

‘Go into the village…and immediately you will find a donkey tied, 

and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me’…

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 

They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.” 

(21:1-2;6-7)

This simple story from the Book of Matthew, relating some events which just preceded Jesus tumultuous entry into Jerusalem, refer back to the prophetic statement of Zechariah mentioned above. It’s really an insignificant detail in relationship to the whole event but it raises the question: why include it if it were not true? If it is true, does that not give credence to the rest of the story? If yes, then does it also not help give credence to the theme of the problem of sin and the need for salvation? People often don’t want to accept the theme of accountability and need for redemption because it interferes with their idea of freedom and their preconceived idea of what the world should be like aka that “…everyone (can do) what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

If ever things are to be right in this world, we have to get past the idea that the Bible is “fake news” and accept the fact that the sacrifice of Christ, over 2000 years ago, is the only plausible way that we can have true freedom in this world and also have hope of seeing the next.

And that is something we all should think about.

 

Pastor Caroline - His Arrival in Jerusalem

Pastor Caroline - A New Season

 

A New Season

 

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8: 37 NIV

 

At this time of year our minds think of planting seeds, for vegetables, flowers, new trees and fields of grain to mention a few.

 

Under the cold ground of winter lies life waiting to burst forth in the warmth of the sun and the gentle rains. We cannot see this life in winter of course but it is there. Much like the sun behind the clouds which we cannot see on a cloudy day but it is there!

 

Many times we meet people in our life and we cannot see the fullness of them because we do not know them. Even when we know them well we still may not be able to see what lies in their thoughts and their heart. Sometimes we hear people say – that person will be a great ____ someday. Or we hear, that person will never amount to anything. How do we know? Well we don’t for certain. We cannot possibly know the seasons of their life.  Only God knows.

 

To watch over, say the life of our children; it’s like waiting for the season of winter to come and go, and suddenly spring bursts forth and we begin to see the growth and direction of their life. We as parents watch many seasons of the lives of our children, and I’m sure we raise many prayers during the seasons that come and go. We are thankful to God for being ever present in every season of their life and we thank Him in advance for the purpose and plan He has over their life.

 

Today I am reminded of God‘s seasons. His season of love for instance, is a constant season. It does not increase or decrease based on what we offer. Before we could offer anything the love of God was proven to us in the gift of His Son Jesus, who died on the cross for all mankind. God knew mankind would go through many seasons of life; good, bad, indifferent and that sometimes we would all face a lifelessness in our faith, a dry season. There would be days, weeks, months or even years when we would be far away from God, but He is never far away from us. He is a constant God who tells us, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us”.  Romans 8:37 NIV.

 

During our seasons of difficulty, troubles, trials and tribulations; God is there with love, mercy, grace and kindness. His season of giving is forever before us. His love is constant and in His love we are given much. His forgiveness to us, and over our sin, is so powerful we see it in the resurrected Christ. “While we were still sinners Christ died for us”.  Romans 5:8 NIV

Even after we accept Christ, God’s season of love is with us until our day of going home to glory. His forgiveness is granted unto us when we come with a heart of repentance and He gives us new mercy and grace daily. God will see us through our seasons of life. As sure as spring brings new life,(after a winter of snow and frozen ground) year after year, season after season, we too shall conquer the frozen ground in our lives and bring forth the beauty only God can give us to share with others. God is our constant season and in Him we grow and flourish. He wants us to blossom with His beauty. Every day is a new day with Him and each season grows us closer to His garden of beauty that awaits us in heaven.

Remember we are more than conquerors through him who loved us and a season of resurrection awaits us because God’s love is from season to season; from now through eternity. Glory to His precious name.

 

Enjoy every season you have with Him.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 2

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FAITH-PROMISE

 FAITH-PROMISE

About 2100 BC, a man by the name of Abram was told by God to:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house

To a land that I will show you.”
(Genesis 12:1)

We don’t know what really transpired between Abram and God for him to be given these instructions. Did Abram protest or argue with God? Did he have a lot of questions? How long was it between the directive to leave and the compliance with that request? What we do know, however, is that Abram did accept God’s order on faith and departed for lands unknown.

Later on God said that He would bless Abram (now Abraham) and Sarah with a child. In spite of Abraham’s previous experience with God, he “…fell on his face and laughed” (Genesis 17:17) and so did Sarah. As a result, they took matters into their own hands and thus Ishmael was born. They did not have the faith to wait for God to fulfill His promise because it was about 25 years between when God had said: “To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7) and the birth of Issac, the only child of Abraham and Sarah. Perhaps that is what made Abraham realize the need to continue to have faith in God. But he again indicated his faith when God told him to: “Take now your son, your only son Issac…and offer him…as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). When Abraham went to make the sacrifice, his hand was stayed and God said: “Do not lay your hand on the lad…for now I know that you fear God…” (Genesis 22:12).

Although he evidently doubted in many instances, Abraham’s ultimate faith in God was stated this way: “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Doubting or questioning does not imply a lack of faith but needing absolute certainty does because “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Abraham evidently believed God when he left his homeland and when he felt that God would do something to avoid Issac bring sacrificed. After all, God had told him that: “…you shall be a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4) and also that: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…” (Genesis 22:18); difficult promises to keep if your son is sacrificed.

Likewise, Moses was reluctant to go when called by God to return to Egypt to free His people. “…‘But suppose they will not believe in me or listen to my voice…’” for “…‘I am not eloquent…but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue’” (Exodus 4:1&10). In spite of his protestations and reluctance, Moses did go in the faith that God would do what He had promised.

Going in faith to receive a promise about which God had spoken is much of what the Bible is about. Going on in spite of doubts and questions to situations unknown and having the strength to rely on God’s promises and His Word has not changed over the centuries, even if the world has. That is why we must “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) for “…the just shall live by faith…” (Hebrews 10:38) and “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

So as Abraham, Moses, and the other patriarchs relied on God’s word and promises in the past, so must we today. After all, “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” (John 1:14) and the promises given through the Word still hold. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The key word here is “should” because if one really has the faith, then, as in the past, appropriate action needs to follow. As Christ stated, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). James puts it this way: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (1:22) because “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). 

Just as the ones of old had evidence in support of their faith walk, so do we today. Historians and researchers state that there is more evidence to support the death, burial, resurrection, and subsequent sightings of Christ than there is to support the writings of Julius Caesar or almost any event in ancient history. Thus as we approach the time we commemorate Christ’s death and resurrection, let us remember that doubts and questions often accompany faith but true faith results in action in spite of those uncertainties. True faith also still leads to the promises that God has stated: “…that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6) and that such a person “…should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

It’s a promise worth having faith for and certainly something to think about. 

 

Pastor Caroline - A Time for Hope