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Archive for the ‘Bible Characters’ Category

No Logical Connection

Posted in Bible Characters, Explanations, Moses, Winston Churchill, tagged on May 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed – Exodus 17:11

There is just no logical connection between what Moses did with his hands and what Joshua did on the battlefield — yet there it was, whenever Moses’ hands lowered the battle turned for the worse!

I probably would never have noticed, or if I did I would have wasted time trying to logically think it through first. Not Moses or his companions, they were focused on the results; if raised hands worked they would keep them raised.

Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during World War Two, had an old saying,

“However beautiful the strategy,
You should occasionally look at the results.”

God is the senior partner, here; he does what he wants the way he wants.

Are there things you do that help or hinder your spiritual growth and victory? Whether there is a logical connection or not, go for what encourages and avoid what hinders.

You can figure out why later after the victory is won.

– fritz@langgang.com

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Jesus Passing By

Posted in Belief, Bible Characters, Calling, Hymns, Jesus, tagged , on May 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Two quick stories about Jesus with the same lesson:

The first, after feeding the multitude, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him by boat but they ran into trouble. A terrible storm was sinking their boat when, to their shock, Jesus was walking past them on the water. Mark records that detail the others missed.

“…about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But they saw him” – Mark 6:48

The second story involved two lesser known disciples who encounter the risen Lord without recognizing him. They walked and talked but then

“[as] they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: … he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us” – Luke 24:28-29a

Without some sort of personal response it seems Jesus is quite content to pass right on by.

Don’t let him do that!

Blind Fanny Crosby put it this way in her famous hymn:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Refrain.

– fritz@langgang.com

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How Abraham Became the Father of Faith

Posted in Abraham, Bible Characters, Explanations, Faith, tagged , on May 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The biblical story of Abraham’s sacrificing Isaac disturbs a lot of people. God finally gives him the promised child to make his descendants as numerous as the stars, then asks Abraham to sacrifice that child before he is old enough to have descendants.

Now, Abraham’s a rational guy! If Isaac dies before having children then God’s promise is toast! But scripture tells us about Abraham’s thought process on this.

Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son… Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. – Hebrews 11:17a,19a (MESSAGE)

Abraham’s obedience was more than an act of devotion, it was an act of faith – confident God would still follow through on his word even if it required Isaac to be raised from death.

So Abraham wasn’t lying to his servants when he told them on the way out that he AND Isaac would return from the sacrifice (Genesis 22:5) – he believed it and became the father of faith!

– fritz@langgang.com
Related Post: Swallowing Frogs – March 24, 2011

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