Valued Relationship

Valued Relationship

Genesis 5: ²¹ Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. ²² After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. ²³ So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴ And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

 

============

 

Six generations lived before Enoch was born. Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, and Jared. Hundreds of years passed. The garden was still there in plain sight with the angel guarding the entrance. Death was the sentence for all humans because Adam disobeyed GD’s instructions by eating from HIS tree instead of the millions of trees GOD had given humans. But humans began to pray by “calling on the name of the LORD.”

 

My Observations:

• Human mistakes can be overcome by calling on the name of the LORD.
• Walking with the LORD is special to HIM.
• GOD got so excited about Enoch, that HE spared him from death.

 

Okay, I am incredibly curious about what Enoch said and did. His conversations with JESUS must have been so exciting that HE took Enoch to heaven. Enoch would no longer have to walk on the cursed earth. He lived the shortest in this lineage so far, but actually lived the longest, because he never died.

 

I believe it was JESUS who walked with Enoch for three hundred years. They probably had exciting conversations that had nothing to do with punishment, good or bad offerings or needs. It was a valued relationship between Enoch and GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention that he took Enoch to Moses?
• Have you ever seen special treatment?
• Do you have a special relationship with GOD that excites HIM?

It Has To Make Sense

It Has To Make Sense

Hebrews 11: ¹⁷ It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. ¹⁸ God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.” ¹⁹ Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death—and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.

 

============

 

“Try praying more” someone told me. Another person said “Try fasting.” Yet another person said “Have you confessed any sin you did?” I was facing a difficult situation and well meaning people were trying to give e advice. None of their advice made sense to me at the time.

 

• I did not know what GOD was doing and I wrestled with going through pain.
• I had people trying to help me make sense out of a painful situation, but quick remedies did not make sense.
• I had to reason out what GOD was doing and when I did, I was able to place my faith in HIM.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, was truly impressed by Abraham’s faith. He provides another example of his faith. Abraham did not know what GOD was going to do. He was told by GOD to sacrifice his son. Abraham reasoned through the atrocity by believing GOD was powerful enough to raise Isaac from the dead. His reasoning brought on faith.

 

My Observations:

• My faith in GOD needs the illogical to become logical to me.
• In order for me to place my faith in GOD, it has to make sense to me.
• Even the things that seem out of the ordinary have to make senses to me in my heart.

 

Let’s face it, there are quite a few stories that seem unimaginable in the Bible. I mean, dead people getting raised, sick people being healed and murderers being converted to missionaries, seem a bit farfetched.  BUT GOD opens my eyes to HIS power and theses examples make sense.

 

HE shows us HIS love for us through many examples and HE let’s me know HE still can do the same for me. I can then put my faith in the unknown, more and more. I can look back at all the examples and relate them to my own. GOD helps me make sense out of today by providing HIS deliverance yesterday. I am glad HE wants me to see HIS power in action.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer chose this example?
• Is there a circumstance that you are going through that seems difficult?
• Will you ask GOD questions and seek answers from the Bible so you can be guided in knowledge to strengthen your faith today?

Question Answered

Question Answered

1 Thessalonians 5: 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.

 

============

 

Walking outside to the parking lot, I noticed my window had been broken out and my cassette tapes had been stolen. Yeah I said tapes. At work, I got news that the project was not going well. I got home and all I had in the fridge was eggs. I boiled them and fell asleep. I woke up to exploded burnt eggs. “What do YOU want from me!” I angrily said to GOD.

 

• I had plenty to complain about.
• I told people about one calamity, then another would hit.
• I questioned why I was going through this by asking “What do YOU want from me?”

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy gave some advice to everyone who asked the question “What does GOD want from me?” Their simple words are not so easy to put into practice, but the perspective can change how circumstances are seen.

 

• GOD wants me to be joyful versus happy because joy cuts through pain.
• GOD wants me to pray at all times, asking HIM how HE wants to handle the bad and good situations.
• GOD wants me to be thankful in all circumstances, seeing HIM work through very difficult situations as well as peaceful ones.

 

Joy, prayer and thankfulness do not seem like powerful weapons, but they are. I mean, when I seek happiness, fulfilled desires and accolades, I run into those who seek the same and would do anything to rob others of theirs. I also rely on my own thoughts and power which makes me run out of fuel and question GOD. BUT HE has another way.

 

GOD wants my life to have light burdens, but understands there is an enemy, Satan, who will stop at nothing to keep me from praising JESUS. GOD gives me joy, prayer and thankfulness to battle worry, hatred, doubt and all ills of life. I am glad GOD wants me to have a relationship with HIS SON and wants simple things from me.

 

Challenge

• Why do the writers use “always” and “all times” and “all circumstances?”
• Have you ever felt like not praying or wanting to be angry or wanting to just be alone in your pity?
• Will you take the burden off of yourself and replace it with joy through prayer and thankfulness so GOD can unite you with the power of CHRIST JESUS today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, thank YOU for this reader. Thank YOU for keeping him or her in the palm of YOUR hands. Thank YOU for joy and for opening the door to listen. We praise YOU today. amen

Irrational

Romans 3: ⁵ But what if our doing wrong serves to show up more clearly God's doing right? Can we say that God does wrong when he punishes us? (This would be the natural question to ask.) ⁶ By no means! If God is not just, how can he judge the world?

 

⁷ But what if my untruth serves God's glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I still be condemned as a sinner? ⁸ Why not say, then, “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Some people, indeed, have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They will be condemned, as they should be.

 

============

 

After sitting on my trunk for 15 minutes, a couple picked me up. It was dark and my car had broke down. Why did they pick me up? I thought to myself. I mean, they were a different race than me and in that state, it was rare to see racial line being crossed. “Do you know JESUS?” was their question to me as we pulled into the rest area where they dropped me off. “Yes” I answered.

 

• Many people have irrationally served me.
• Many people have shown me love and I did not ask for it.
• Many people have blessed me and I could not find a reason why they did it.

 

Paul explains faulty logic. He shows how people try to rationalize GOD away by asking “what if” questions. These questions try to prove GOD is not who HE is or even exists. Paul makes it plain that those who continue down that path will be condemned.

 

• GOD wants me to admit my sin to HIM.
• GOD wants me to recognize that I need HIM for forgiveness and protection.
• GOD wants me to know HE is concerned about this life and the afterlife.

 

Justifying evil seems logical. I mean, when I use the term “everyone else is doing it”, I am trying to join the crowd, who obviously is right. It wouldn’t be a crowd if it were wrong, right? Wrong. None of us choose GOD. Fortunately HE chose us.

 

When JESUS died for my sins, HE made a way for me to be forgiven. It was irrational for HIM to see that I would not choose HIM, yet HE died for me anyway. HE sees me blaming HIM, yet HE loves me. I am thankful JESUS chose love over human logic.

 

• Are you avoiding learning about GOD so you can continue doing what you want to do?
• Have you rationalized GOD out of your life and believe in humans who do not believe in HIM?
• Will you add faith and belief to your thinking and allow JESUS to irrationally guide you to an abundant life of purpose today?

Illogical Thankfulness

Luke 10: ²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²² All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

²³ Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; ²⁴ for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

============

Driving down the road, I hit a huge patch of water. The car spun all the way around then wound up sideways to oncoming traffic. I corrected the car and was able to continue without any harm to me or my family. I thanked GOD for HIS protection.

• Sometimes I am tempted to give myself credit.
• Sometimes I think “I” performed all of “my” accomplishments.
• Sometimes I think “I” am in control.

JESUS did something extremely strange. HE thanks the FATHER for hiding things from the “wise and prudent.” HE then thanks the FATHER for revelation to “babes.” Afterwards HE turns to the disciples and says HE reveals who, HE and the FATHER is, to whom HE chooses.

• GOD says to me “I accept your thankfulness.”
• GOD says to me “I enjoy your thanksgiving.”
• GOD says to me “I know it is difficult sometimes but I AM there for you and I appreciate your praise and thanks.”

Sometimes it is all about GOD. HE deserves praise whenever I can. Sin makes me want to run and hide from GOD, but HE appreciates illogical thankfulness, even after sin. HE enjoys my confession that I need and want HIM to cleanse me of unrighteousness.

HE is pleased when I credit HIM for “everything”, large and small. GOD is my protection, HE is my strength, HE is my savior. I owe everything to HIM.

• Is your logic larger than GOD?
• Do you believe in “some” parts of the Bible and not others?
• Do you think GOD made you incorrectly and that humans have a better answer than HE does?
• Will you yield your life to HIM today and know HE made you, only HE can cure you?