Sunday, September 23, 2012

A Servant's Prayer Answered

Genesis 24:10-21 Contemporary English Version (CEV) 10 Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham’s brother Nahor lived. 11 When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water. ' 12 The servant prayed:You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife for Isaac today.  13 The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water,  14 and I’ll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I’ll know she is the one you have chosen and that you have kept your promise to my master. 15-16 While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham’s servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back,  17 Abraham’s servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.” 18 “I’ll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank.  19-20 After he had finished, she said, “Now I’ll give your camels all the water they want.” She quickly poured out water for them, and she kept going back for more, until his camels had drunk all they wanted.  21 Abraham’s servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the Lord had chosen.
Today's scripture is a lesson about trust, faith and wondrous expectation.
Psalm 105:4 The Message (MSG) 105 1-6 Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name!     Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns,     translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,     you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;     be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made,     his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—         O seed of Abraham, his servant,         O child of Jacob, his chosen.
Our scripture begins “soon after that” It helps us to understand the importance of these verses when we study the nature of the man, Abraham, his special relationship with God and his relationship with this special servant. There was a lot of trust in today's scriptures. We should know that this was a trusted servant, a servant who knew about Abraham's God. This servant was witness to his master's devotion to God. This servant was trusted with all that Abraham had including the son through whom we all would be blessed. There is a lot of faith in today's scripture. Abraham had faith that God would provide a suitable wife for Isaac . He had faith that his servant would follow his instructions. The servant had faith that his prayers for guidance would be answered. There was wondrous expectation in today's scripture. When he had done as he was instructed, the servant waited patiently for God to manifest himself. As he waits at the well for the wife of Isaac to be revealed, he kept his eyes open for the Lord. He watched for His work; and he was alert for signs of His presence. Today we can rest in the assurance that God is ever present in our lives and that He answers prayers. With this confidence we can keep our eyes open for the Lord, watch for His work and be patiently alert for signs of His presence. May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Friday, September 14, 2012

This same Peter...

Luke 5:1-11 King James Version (KJV) 5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
This same Peter...
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Peter was a man with flashes of brilliant insight mixed with periods when he “just didn't get it”, yet, through it all he was and continues to be used by Jesus in mighty ways to spread the gospel. Peter's words told many stories. Peter's words acknowledged at his first meeting his recognition that there was something special about this man, Jesus. His words also conveyed his understanding of his own sinful nature. This same Peter, when asked in Matthew 16:15-16 “But whom say ye that I am?” was led by divine knowledge to respond, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Yet, it is this same Peter whom Jesus rebukes when he is not able to grasp the divine mission of sacrifice which Jesus willingly faced. (Matthew 16:23 (KJV) 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Peter walked on water with Our Lord, though, in a moment of doubt he began to sink. Yet this same Peter was volatile: John 18:10 (KJV) 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Peter was afraid. He denied the Lord not once but three times out of fear for his own life (Matthew 26:31-36, 69-74 ; Mark 14:27-31, 66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:1-11). Yet, this same Peter, on the day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, spoke with strength and conviction of the promises of the prophets which Jesus had fulfilled and opened the eyes and hearts of more than 3,000 (Acts 2). Peter is mentioned 154 times in the KJV of the bible. His life is inspiration to us because of the nature of his devotion as a servant of Jesus Christ. His life a beacon of hope to us because of our recognition that even this same Peter had his failings and had to depend on the same grace and mercy which enriches our lives. May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Transfiguration

Matthew 17 New King James Version (NKJV) Jesus Transfigured on the Mount 17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus
In three short years Jesus prepared a small group of men to head up the awesome task of bringing the gospel, the good news, to a dying people. He clearly understood the trials they would be facing when he was no longer physically with them and gave them glimpses of His true nature to sustain them in the days to come. “ Now after six days”.... This is six days following the time when the Pharisees and Sadducees had demanded a sign from heaven to prove the truth of Jesus' teachings, a sign he chose not to waste on those whose eyes were closed to the truth. This was after Peter had been led by the Holy Spirit to recognize Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This was after Jesus spoke to them clearly about his coming suffering and death and of his coming resurrection.
(Matt 16: 21 From then on, Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “I must go to Jerusalem. There the nation’s leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make me suffer terribly. I will be killed, but three days later I will rise to life.”).
We have glimpses of His true nature, the son of the Living God, to sustain us through every trial we face today. We can hold fast to the knowledge that he left the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, to be with us through every good or bad time. It's up to us to acknowledge his presence and to experience the peace he brings. My prayer is that we will all be “transfigured” by the Holy Spirit into vessels which shine as lights in our present world. May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!