Tag Archives: Faith

Words of Encouragement: How Great is Our God

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In dire circumstances we may find ourselves filled with doubt. How can God get us out of the messes that we find ourselves in? We forget that God is the creator of Heaven and Earth! He made all the stars and all the planets and everything in them. So in times of trouble, we can be assured that no trouble is too large for God to deliver us from, and no problem to small to appeal to Him for help with. Nothing is greater than our God. This reading is from Isaiah.

 

 

Isaiah 40:21-26

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing,
Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
24 Scarcely have they been planted,
Scarcely have they been sown,
Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth,
But He merely blows on them, and they wither,
And the storm carries them away like stubble.
25 “To whom then will you liken Me
That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing.

The Centurion (Luke 7:1-10) Commentary

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A centurion was an officer of the Roman Army, in charge of 100 soldiers. This one’s servant was suffering a life-threatening illness. The centurion had heard of a man named “Jesus”, who could perform healings and miracles. Though he had never met or seen him, Jesus became his hope. He did not feel worthy enough to approach Jesus, because he was sinner. The centurion was a friend to the Jews, and even built their synagogue, but was not a Jew himself.
He sent some elders of the synagagoue, to go on his behalf, and ask Jesus to heal his servant. At this time, it appears these elders had no issue with the ministry of Jesus. They certainly cared for their friend to approach Jesus for his sake. They appealed to Jesus and present the man as “deserving” because of his works for the Jewish nation. Jesus went because he was asked. Prestige and works did not influence who he healed.
On his way, Jesus is stopped by more friends of the centurion who have a message from him. The centurion was apparently well respected among his peers, to have so many concerned for the well being of his servant. Likewise, the centurion cared much for his servant, to enlist so many to his aid. The attitude of the centurion toward himself is much different than those around him. He humbles himself, and says he is not worthy to have Jesus in his house. The centurion identifies himself as a man under and of authority, and knows the power of words of those in authority.  He acknowedges the power of Jesus, as given authority from God.
The words then, would be enough to heal his servant. Jesus is amazed at the man’s faith. The centurion had never even seen Jesus, or his work. Jesus says he had never seen such faith in Israel, the land of God’s people. No one trusted in the power of God as this man did. We should have the same faith in Jesus. We only ask someone to do something if we believe they are capable of doing it. Nothing is impossible with God. The humility of centurion had exalted him, not just among his friends, who unquestioningly came to his aid, but also to God.

Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24) Commentary

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Abraham was now very old, well over 100 years and the Lord had blessed him in every way fulfilling His promises He said to the senior servant in his household, likely Eliezer, who would have inherited Abraham’s estate had Isaac not been born (Gen 15:2) the one in charge of all that he had, A trusted servant  “Put your hand under my thigh. This is a curious method of swearing an oath, but it demonstrates a the servants submission. It has also been conjectured that the hand was placed under the thigh because it was close to the covenant of circumcision.  I want you to swear by the Lord, It is serious, if not dangerous to swear by God. For the implications of this, see Matthew 5:33-37  that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, because the Canaanites were corrupt  but will go to my country and my own relatives whom he felt were better suited, and likely with the guidance from the Lord

The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Being bound to the oath, the servant did not want to fail it Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from? To show that indeed he was searching for a wife

“Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said.  Under no circumstances was Isaac to go. Abraham believed in the promise of God, that Isaac would inherit the land they were in, and he did not want Isaac to wonder from his inheritance.

If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine.   Therefore the servant would not suffer the repercussion of not keeping an oath he made before God.

Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. For dowry

Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. The servant is right to call upon God for guidance, and likewise prays on behalf of his master. Too often we pray selfishly; We should serve God as this man served Abraham. We should obey the Lord in what He asks of us, and pray His glory is seen through us.

 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ This would demonstrate kindness, compassion, diligence, industriousness, servitude, humility, gentleness, willingness, love—traits we should all possess and admire

Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out How quickly God can work when we abide by his Will!  After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” Drawing water for ten camels was no easy task;

Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord  Ask and it shall be given; the servant was grateful for success; He witnesses the power of God to Laban and his family, and how he was guided to Rebekah; Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. They were convinced by the servant’s witnessing, and submitted to the Will of God.

When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.” As agreed upon; Let us go to Christ, our master  But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.”  Only yesterday they were ready to submit to God, yet today they are hesitant. Commit to Christ, and do not falter.  But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”  This is God’s Will, do not fight against it; Those who hold anyone back from Christ do so at their own peril.  Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.”  Perhaps expecting her not to agree.

“I will go,” she said. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1) Rebekah in faith went to Isaac, and loved him. Will you go with Jesus?


Jesus Wept (John 11:25-25), Commentary

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I am the resurrection and the life- Jesus is resurrection, the way to eternal life.    The one who believes in me will live- will live a righteous life, a faithful life, a spiritual life filled by Jesus, and even though they die they will be granted eternal life;  and whoever lives by believing in me- whoever lives their life by faith in Jesus  will never die. Jesus asks, Do you believe this?- Do you accept Christ as your savior? Do you believe He is the Son of God? Do you believe He suffered and died on the cross for your sins? Do you believe He was raised from the dead? Do you believe he ascended into heaven?  This is the question Jesus asks you.

The Teacher is here and is asking for you- Jesus is here, asking for you, calling for you to follow him, to believe. Mary got up quickly; we should all rise quickly and haste to our Lord, and then fall at his feet to worship him.  Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. - Yet it would show the Glory of God when Jesus would resurrect Lazarus.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled- How great is the compassion of Christ, that he is troubled and moved by our pains. The King of all creation is troubled by your sufferings! Where have you laid him?- Jesus asks, that he may see and resurrect Lazarus, but in a larger sense, that He may heal the hurt of those close to Him. Jesus will search out the source of our pains, the holes in our spirit, and fill them. This is the Glory of God. Come and see, Lord, see our afflictions and spiritual wounds, that you may heal us, resurrect our souls from sin.

Jesus wept.- One of the most beloved verses in all of the Bible, our Lord Christ, shedding tears. This is a complex verse, enveloping much in its short length. Tears of compassion, tears for his lost friend, tears for the suffering of mankind, tears for having to bring Lazarus from his peace; perhaps  tears for what He himself would endure, that we might all have eternity. Your Lord wept.  There is no other like Him.

The Christian Life (Romans 12:9-21) Commentary

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Staying on a righteous path is can be a difficult challenge in a world of evil. We are faced with temptations, with terrible events putting us in difficult situations. If we know to hate what is evil, we will know to stay on the right path. Love one another, and love your enemies,  as Jesus asks. Stay humble, as He was, and you will be exalted. Give freely to those in need, remembering always what God gave to you. Be devoted to Jesus above all else! Times will come when you feel discouraged and weary, but in those times we need to be more dedicated to our God, and stand firm in our faith. Love your neighbor, celebrate their good times and support them in their troubles. Be Peaceful. Pride comes before the fall, and leads to sin. Do not let sin take hold, but focus on what is good, which is healthy in all aspects of life. Love must be sincere. Love God, Love your neighbor. Consider the qualities of love:   

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  - 1Corinthians 13:4-7

 

Amen.