Jean Kirk - January 7, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 13

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CROSSROADS

 CROSSROADS

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less travelled by, 

And that has made all the difference.

This poem, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost* gives some indication of the decisions we all must make as we travel any road whether it be a highway or the road of life. As we start a new year, it’s prudent to consider that every decision we make is, in fact, a potential crossroad in our lives. In most cases, these may be well marked and, whether it be in life or on a highway, the signposts can show us the way to go.

But often, the course is not as well defined, and this usually means that we have to make decisions by our insight, intuition, or experience. This may not be as clearcut as it may seem. If, when travelling down a highway or crossroad, the path is not marked, which branch do you take? Most people would probably take the road that seems to be the most used. If one branch is paved and the other not, then the paved road would most likely lead to a desired location. Likewise, if one branch is well worn or wide and the other only slightly worn or narrow, most would take the first branch. After all, most would like to be where everyone else is and the majority can’t be wrong can they?

So considering all this, most of us go on the paved road, the wide road, and the well used road regardless of what our innermost intuition would indicate. We follow the crowd.

The Bible talks about this when Matthew states:

Enter by the narrow gate; 

for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction,

and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

(Matthew 7:13-14) 

As we enter into a new year, perhaps it would be good to realize that the paved road or the wide and well-travelled road may not be the right way after all, and the masses may just be following each other in the wrong direction. Perhaps that inner voice implying that there is something better in the less popular route should ultimately be listened to. After all, as Frost said:

I took the road less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Taking the less travelled road in today’s world is certainly something to think about.

*The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1915) - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken

Caroline Barclay Christmas Eve 2023

Christmas Break

 

Dr. Barclay will be taking a well-deserved break over Christmas, so there will be no "Something to Think About" or Bible study next week.

We will look forward to hearing from him in the new year.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 12

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - HIS TRUTH

                                                                         

                                          HIS TRUTH

At this time of year, we often hear of the prophecies that predated the birth of Christ. We hear of Micah, the prophet, who, approximately 750 years before Christ, wrote that:

“…Bethlehem Ephrethah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from old,

From everlasting.”

(Micah 5:2)

And we often hear about what Isaiah prophesied when he said:

   

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given…

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)

…He will teach us His ways,

And we shall walk in His paths…

He shall judge between the nations,

And rebuke many people… 

(Isaiah 2:3-4)

We hear much less about prophecies such as the one in Daniel:

“I was watching…and behold, One like the son of Man,

He came to the Ancient of Days…

Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

Which shall not pass away,

And His kingdom the one

Which shall not be destroyed 

(Daniel 7:13-14)

The prophecies regarding the birth of Christ are ones which are frequently repeated in churches at this time of the year. But the others are often not mentioned as much at this or any other time of the year, and this is unfortunate because understanding the prophetic nature of scriptures can lead to a greater awareness of the full meaning of the Bible itself. After all, it is estimated that there are over 1800 prophetic utterances in Scripture and the likelihood of these being fulfilled entirely by chance is staggeringly small. In fact, it has been estimated that Christ fulfilling only 17 of the prophecies relating to the Messiah by chance and not by being who He said He was is in the range of 480x10 to the 30th power.*

When you consider this it really does give one something to think about.

*Adapted from The Signature of God chapter 8 by Grant R. Jeffery