What Is Faith Part 2

 

On my previous post, I wrote about faith and why we should place our faith in God alone. I wrote about the different attributes of God and no other deity past, present or future exhibits the qualities that God alone possesses.

For today’s post, I’m going to share the different Bible characters who exemplified faith and which is the compilation of what faith really means.

Hebrews 11 shows us great examples of faith:

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying – “he disappeared, because God took him.”  For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith-for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who as good as dead-a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red  Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

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REFLECTION:

The characters in the Bible showed exemplary faith but did not receive the promises of God. An example is the promise of Abraham where his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. (Genesis 22:17). We can all testify that this promise was just fulfilled in our lifetime. But look at how Abraham’s faith is. He did not see God but aligned his life to following God’s will.

Another is Joseph. He died with the promise that his people, Israel would go back to their promised land. He was so sure of the promise that he even told his people to carry his bones when they leave Egypt.

These people did not have the Bible to rely on nor other people before them to emulate. They each showed such faith that they were willing to die for it. Some were tortured, thrown into the lion’s den and even sawed in half. They were willing to give up their lives and not enjoy the momentary pleasures of this life but were looking for the great price ahead.

In our time, we have numerous Bibles, examples of faith-filled people but oftentimes we still fall short of our belief in the Almighty. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So whatever he did in the past, He will surely follow through because he has no sin, can’t lie and is perfect. There is no shadow of him turning. (James 1:17).  Whatever He says in his word, he will complete it with surety.

 

Psalm 23

This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series A Psalm of David

The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

THERE’S PEACE IN THE VALLEY (PSALM 23:4)

Joseph Addison was one of the finest English essayists of the eighteenth century. He dabbled in politics but because he was shy and embarrassingly clumsy, he never went any farther than being a cabinet member. Once he tried to speak before Parliament, but he stuttered, stammered, blushed, coughed, apologized, sat down, and never tried it again.

F.S. Boreham notes that there were two things Addison was passionately fond of. He loved the fields and streams of his home county, and he loved Psalm 23. In fact, Addison wrote paraphrases of both Psalm 23 and Psalm 19, which were published in the Spectator Magazine in 1712.

Addison had learned Psalm 23 at his mother’s knee. As a writer he always treasured its exquisite writing, and as a Christian he revered its message. Lord Thomas Macauley eulogized Addison in this way: “He loved the psalm which represents the Ruler of all things under the endearing image of a shepherd, whose crook guides the flock through gloomy and desolate glens to meadows well watered and rich in herbage.”

As Addison lay dying at the age of forty-seven, he clung to the promise of Psalm 23:4: “I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Knowing his death was imminent, he sent for his son-in-law, the earl of Warwick, who was a sheep gone astray. When the earl arrived, Addison said, “See in what peace a Christian can die.”

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bower’s bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ‘tis his hand that leadeth me.
JOSEPH H. GILMORE

 

Reference:

Petersen, William and Petersen, Randy. One Year Book of Psalms. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1999.

 

 

I Have Another Blog Guys

Yes, you read it right. I have another blog and I’m so excited to share it with all of you. I won’t be revealing much, just check it out by clicking here. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for everything. Here’s to all of us. MWAH!!

 

What is Faith?

What is faith? Faith is often heard in churches and in conversations among Christians. But do we really know what faith means?

Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11: 1 and 3).

Faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ, the source of Truth. For Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

God has given everyone a measure of faith. That means that the level of each person’s faith is different from that of another person. You may have little faith while the other might have more faith than you do. But whatever the case, whatever measure you’ve been given, we each have to nurture it for God’s glory and for our own benefit.

A story depicts this example.

A boy was demon possessed and the disciples couldn’t drive him out. When the boy’s father came to Jesus for healing, Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him and was healed at that moment. Then the disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Then Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing is impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:14-20).

A mustard seed is the smallest seed of all and Jesus said that if we have faith as small as the seed, we can move the mountain from its place. This doesn’t mean the actual mountain, though God can do that but this could be referred to sickness, habit, attitude or anything that holds you back. If you put your faith towards your healing, change in habit or attitude and you ask it in Jesus name with faith that He will do it without any doubt in your heart, then He will do it. Your faith should not be on yourselves but on the Lord who will do the work on your behalf.

Why should we have our faith in God alone?

Let us examine God’s attributes who is the object of our devotion:

1. Omniscient – God is all-knowing. He knows the end from the beginning. The psalmist said that God’s understanding has no limit. (Psalm 147:5). The riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God is so deep. His judgments are unsearchable and his paths are beyond tracing out. (Romans 11:33).

2. Omnipotent – God is all-powerful. Nothing is impossible for Him. Job 42:2 says God can do all things; no purpose of His can be thwarted. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. (Genesis 18:14).

3. Omnipresent – God is everywhere. He is not contained in one location. Proverbs 15:3 says that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. God is both far and near. No one can hide in secret places that the Lord can’t see them. He fills both heaven and earth.

4. Immutable– The Lord changes not. He is God from everlasting to everlasting. He existed before the mountains were brought forth and even before the earth and the whole world was formed. (Psalms 90:2).

5. Holy – There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (I Samuel 2:2). When God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush God told Him, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:5-6).

6. Righteous – The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. (Psalm 145:17).

7. Sovereign – God’s sovereignty represents his holy will and will do whatever he pleases. This is the attribute by which He rules his entire creation being all-knowing and all-powerful.  In His Word, God declares: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me … I say: ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'” (Isaiah 46: 9-10). The sovereignty of God is infinite and the use of His power is defined by His other attributes. Characteristics such as truthfulness, goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, and love define God’s every action. While we are given a free will and are able to make choices and decisions that shape our lives, we can surrender our hearts, souls, minds to ways that are consistent with His holy will. In this way, we honor the Creator and Sustainer of all things, recognizing that  God is truly sovereign.

8. Love – God is love. This is exemplified at the cross in Calvary. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13). We only have a glimpse of His love but can’t fully comprehend the depth and height of God’s love for us.

9. Merciful – It is through God’s mercy that we are not consumed. God did not give us what we deserved as sinners but offered a way of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-5).

10. Trinity – God manifests Himself in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are a hundred percent fully God. Romans 1:7 speaks of the Father, Hebrews 1:8 refers to the Son, Jesus Christ. And the verses the speak about the Holy Spirit are Acts 1:8, Galatians 5:22 and John 14:26.
With these incredibly wonderful God’s attributes, it sure makes sense to put our trust in God alone.

If you still have some doubt about it, let Romans 10:17 speak to you which says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Knowing the Lord through His Word every day is the proven way to improve your faith. So gear up and dig deep and enjoy the journey.

 

References:

Peach, David. (2012, February 29). Re: 10 Awesome Attributes of God. Retrieved from http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-awesome-attributes-of-god

Attributes of God.(n.d) Retrieved from http://www.allaboutgod.com/attributes-of-god.htm

 

Rest in the Almighty

A peek into my daily habit

As you probably know, I read my Bible on a daily basis together with the book of Psalms (a separate book on its own) with side notes and background which is divided into 365 daily readings.

And yesterday, I read Psalm 91 and was smitten by it that I want to share it in this post. It is so timely as we are now living in the age of terrorism and danger that we are angst in our very core. We want to know where and who to cling to for safety. And I just have the answer for it. It’s found in Psalm 91:1-6.

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A SOLUTION FOR TERROR

     Terrorism has been a disconcerting reality of life recently – Oklahoma City, the World Trade Center, the Unabomber. Terrorists have various causes, but they share a common weapon – fear. If you can get people worried about taking a bus, going to the market, or even opening their mail, then you’ve dismantled the normal systems of life. You don’t need an army to support your cause – just terror.

All the media’s frightening coverage about the food we eat, the fluoride in our water, and global warming makes us want to just stay home – but then there’s probably radon gas building up in our house right now!

But the psalmist offers us a better response: Rest secure in God. Let him protect you. The terrors of the night, the dangers of the day – none of these are too great for the Lord Almighty. Trust him to get you through.

That sounds great, but weren’t there any Christians who died in say, the Oklahoma City bombing? Sure there were. But the people of God have a greater, eternal security. We know that death will just give us a new address even closer to God than we are now. With the apostle Paul, we say, “For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better” (Philippians 1:21). With this assurance, we need not be terrified by anything or anyone. God is with us, and we are safe in him, no matter what happens. We are safe forever in his protective care.

Psalm 91:1-6

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from the fatal plague.
He will shield you with his wings.
He will shelter you with his feathers.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terror of the night,
nor fear the dangers of the day,
nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

A Word on Words

The first two verses use four names for God. “Most High” implies a status beyond the gods of any enemy. “The Almighty” emphasizes God’s great power to protect his people (see Exodus 6:3). “The LORD” is the personal name Yahweh, the God who had chosen Israel. “My God” shows the intimate nature of the psalmist’s relationship with him. Combined, these names for God give us a picture of ultimate protection.

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Now I want you to reflect on the paragraph above. The four names of God – Most High, The Almighty, The LORD and My God – gives us a clear picture of the sovereignty of God.

Most High – He is above every god, power or force in this world.
The Almighty – He is the most powerful and nothing can withstand Him.
The LORD – The God of the Jewish people who brought their ancestors out of Egypt with
a mighty hand.
My God – This is your God – your personal Savior. The one who personally lives in you.

With these attributes of God, this is a surefire way to be protected from all evil in the world today.

 

Reference:
Petersen, W. & Petersen R. One Year Book of Psalms. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. 1999. Print.

 

How To Be Beautiful

 

This post will not only make you beautiful on the outside but will leave you glowing too. This is not a quick and temporary fix using lotions, creams or any other beauty products but something that will make a permanent change in you that only gets better and better in time.

I’m talking about beauty that is made on the inside first. This is your spiritual beauty. When you read God’s Word, you are being transformed internally in your ways and character as you get to know God and the way He thinks and acts in certain situations. The Holy Spirit will bring into remembrance what you have read and will work in you as you align your ways with God’s character.

It has been said that ‘beauty is only skin-deep’ and it really is. Physical beauty only lasts for a certain time and once you age, your outside beauty follows too. But with internal beauty, this lasts for a lifetime and only gets better and better and you can’t help it but it will also show on the outside. People will soon notice that you have peace despite problems, joy even when plans go crestfallen and self-control even when you feel like giving someone a piece of your mind.

Now we’ll just take these three traits as an example though there’s more.

Can you imagine how your physical countenance would look like? Let’s see. You would look more relaxed, peaceful and not be carried away with the stresses of life. This is why it is so important to read God’s Word daily, spending quality time with your Maker for Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When you are weighed down, relax in Jesus care and give all your burdens to Him and watch Him work on your behalf. God is open 24/7 always and I say again, that He always has a listening ear to those who draw near to Him. No matter how insurmountable your problems are, the burdens become light and just like the footprints in the sand, you only see one set of footprints, for it is now the Lord who is carrying you. Isn’t that wonderful? We have a Father who would never leave us nor forsake us and is there with you no matter where you are, and He’s just waiting for you to communicate.

Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” All you need to do is ask. Maybe the reason why you don’t have what you need is because you don’t ask or maybe you do but your asking for the wrong reason. Whatever it is, just say what is in your heart and mind for we have Jesus, our advocate for the Father who speaks on our behalf.

There’s more.

Read Proverbs 3:1-10. If I were to enumerate it, it would look like this.

1. If you follow God’s commands, you will live a long and satisfying life.
2. Being loyal and kind to your spouse and others will give you favor with both God and people and will earn you a good reputation.
3. Trusting in the Lord and seeking His will always will direct you to the right path. This will lead you to the road that will lead to fulfillment and not for destruction.
4. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil, then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. This is medicine for your whole body and well-being. No more medications and outrageous money spent on doctor’s visits.
5. Lastly, Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barn with grain and your vats will overflow with good wine.This refers to tithing where you give the first 10% of your income and He in turn will make the 90% go further than the full 100%. This is your seed for the Lord to work on your finances. This is more that 401K and other retirement portfolio.

   Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

   Do you believe this? I do for I always do this and have seen it work in my life. And every time, the Lord provides for our needs and so much more. The LORD said to ‘test Him’ – why don’t you try it and see for yourself.

   These are just some of the promises found in the Bible, and once God said it, it is settled and you can bank on it.

   Before I go, one more thought that I would like to leave.

When you spend time in God’s Word, you glow. And I mean glow as in shine. Look at yourself in the mirror and you will see that you are just beaming.

 

 

The Way

There are so many religions these days like Scientology, New Age Religion, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Baptist, and the list goes on and on. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and confused who is right and who is worthy to be followed. Let me make things clearer and easier for you.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). When you read a sentence and you have the word, the, it simply denotes something/someone as definite. In other words, Jesus is saying that He is the Only way to the Father and no one else. He is the One.

Let us take a closer look at the words of  Jesus:

The Way – this means that Jesus is the only Way to the Father. No other religious person can save you no matter how pious he is. Salvation is found in Him alone. Your religion, righteousness or good works can’t save you either. If it can, God would not have sent His Son to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Romans 3:23  says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  This is the reason why Jesus came, to serve as the bridge between us and a perfect God. Without Him, we wouldn’t have any direct access to the Father.

The Truth – Jesus is the Truth. He is perfect and therefore cannot lie. Everything that he says is the truth. His Word is the source of truth. If you trust your truth elsewhere, then you are misled. I know that people nowadays have different beliefs about the truth. Whatever you believe in doesn’t negate the truth of the Bible, and you are not exempted in whatever shape or form on the coming judgment because you believed in a certain kind of truth.

Don’t be contented with Sunday worship service and hand-me-down information by preachers, though that is good, but do your own diligent personal Bible study and find out the truth for yourself. You will grow faster and the Lord will reveal Himself more and strong in your life as you seek Him through His Word.

The Life – Jesus is Life. If you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, then you have eternal life. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Even if you die, you will be resurrected just like how God the Father raised Jesus from the dead on the third day.

To help you start on your journey, I’ve listed below the following verses for your study.

Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 11:25
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Acts 2:38
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 2: 8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 3:5
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

So the next question is, how do you get saved? I’m glad you asked.

You say this prayer (you can say it in your own words but the context is the same)
Note: You have to say this sincerely in your heart not just intellectually.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God. I’m a sinner and you came to die for my sins and was raised on the third day. Forgive me of my sins and I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. Come into my heart and lead my life from now on. Jesus, thank you for saving me. Amen.

Once you’ve said this prayer, I urge you to be a part of a Christian church and ask the minister to baptize you.

Once these 2 things are done, I congratulate and give you a warm welcome to the family of God.

I would love to interact with you and if you have questions about this post, make a comment or use my contact form.

 

 

 

 

Wisdom of Proverbs

There are six things the LORD hates –
no, seven things he detests:
haughty eyes
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.
(Proverbs 6:16-19)

Solomon, son of King David, wrote the book of Proverbs. It is a book full of wisdom to guide us in making good decisions and a path for rightful living.

Now, let’s take a closer look at this Proverb and dissect it line by line. Webster defines the word, detests as hate, abhor, abominate, having a strong aversion or intense dislike for.

First, haughty eyes mean a proud look. This is a person who is arrogant, shows an insulting attitude who exalts himself as better, smarter or more important than other people. Pride is like a trunk of a tree where all other sins spring forth. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   We have to be careful about this especially if you’re rich,  educated, have been blessed with a lot of skills and talents that you look down with those who have less. Whatever skill or resource that is used improperly will ultimately be taken from you and, I don’t think you would like that.

Second is a lying tongue. It’s easy for us to lie as if it’s normal and acceptable. It is not. This is detestable in God’s eyes.

Third, hands that kill the innocent. You might say this does not refer to you, for you can not kill innocent people. You haven’t had any abortion or never will. But, this verse also refers to killing your enemy in your mind without acting out the evil per se. If murder is done, this also implies to the making of laws to justify the act when you are in the position to do so.

Fourth, a heart that plots evil. In our heart and mind is where everything is first manufactured. Whatever you devise in your soul (soul refers to your mind, emotion and will) will ultimately be acted out in any form that will bring harm to your neighbor.

Fifth, feet that race to do wrong. This is the carrying out of the evil thoughts which have been fabricated in the heart. You can’t wait to shed blood with eager anticipation. You seize every opportunity to bring harm to another.

Sixth, a false witness who pours out lies. This is the willful giving of false testimony under oath in court. A person who perverts justice wrongs the innocent and releases the guilty. He is disloyal to his country and opposes his own conscience.

This also refers to slander. Giving of false statement to harm someone’s reputation or business. It’s very easy to fall into this trap, especially if you’re envious of other’s status in life. You want to have what they possess, but since you can’t get it, you mar the reputation and integrity so you won’t feel so bad about yourself. You also give inaccurate information to gain friends and put the other as an outsider.

Seventh, a person who sows discord in the family. This is dissension and strife among members in the family. Always promote love, forgiveness and unity for this bring God’s blessings.

We shouldn’t take lightly what God detests. If he hates it, we should, too.

 

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

When I read the book of Matthew especially on Jesus genealogy, I find it hard to know whose father and child is such and such because of how it was written. So for better understanding, I’ve decided to graph it in a family tree to have a better visualization of it.

So here goes the genealogy of Jesus:

ABRAHAM
↓
ISAAC
↓
JACOB
↓
JUDAH & HIS BROTHERS
↓
PEREZ & ZERAH
(Parents: Judah & Tamar)
↓
HEZRON
(Father: Perez)
↓
RAM
↓
AMMINADAB
↓
NAHSHON
↓
SALMON
↓
BOAZ
(Parents: Salmon & Rahab)
↓
OBED
(Parents: Boaz & Ruth)
↓
JESSE
↓
KING DAVID
↓
SOLOMON
(Parents: King David & Bathsheba)
↓
REHOBOAM
↓
ABIJAH
↓
ASA
↓
JEHOSHAPHAT
↓
JEHORAM
↓
UZZIAH
↓
JOTHAM
↓
AHAZ
↓
HEZEKIAH
↓
MANASSEH
↓
AMON
↓
JOSIAH
↓
JECONIAH & HIS BROTHERS
(Father: Josiah at the time of the exile to Babylon)
↓
SHEALTIEL
(Father: Jeconiah after the exile to Babylon)
↓
ZERUBBABEL
↓
ABIHUD
↓
ELIAKIM
↓
AZOR
↓
ZADOK
↓
AKIM
↓
ELIHUD
↓
ELEAZAR
↓
MATTHAN
↓
JACOB
↓
JOSEPH – Husband of Mary
↓
JESUS (Who is called the Messiah)

I hope this would help you too as you continue reading God’s Word and in memorizing the names and their stories and how it can be applied in your own life as you go along in your study.

 

Scriptural Rx: REST

 

We now live in a fast-paced world. It looks like riding a train picking up passengers which I would like to compare as technological advancements from computers, iPhones, iPads, tablets, etc. The train also picks up new strain of viruses and bacteria. It also includes stresses at home, work, church and other civic organizations aside from our own personal issues. We are constantly pulled in different directions.

I know it’s quite inevitable at this time and age but we are not made to be on the go everyday with little rest.

So how do we rest?

1. God said, “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall  cease from labor.” (Exodus 23:12)

2. On the seventh day, we should observe a holy day,  a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD.  (Exodus 35:2)

3. God’s presence shall go with you and He will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)

The 3 pointers could be summed up in having one-day-a-week of rest for ourselves and at the same time a holy day for the Lord by giving him praise and worship in the church. If you are spending time in the Lord’s presence, you will immediately feel refreshed for His Word doesn’t come back void when spoken. It has a spiritual power of giving us rest for our souls. God said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

You see the Bible has a lot of promises and covers everything that you are facing with. You just have to spend time with the Word and talk to him in prayer for your Father in heaven is not only interested in the big issues but in every detail of your life. He is open 24/7, and all He’s waiting for is for you to act.