SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 06-23-03
My Worship Time Focus: Faith in troubled
times
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Hebrews 11:35-38
1.
Message of the verse: “35 Women
received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting
their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 and others had
trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder,
they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in
sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering
in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.” (ASB)
“Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others trusted God and were tortured,
preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to
a better life. Some were mocked, and
their backs were cut open with whips.
Others were chained in dungeons.
Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed
with the sword. They were too good for
this world. They wandered over deserts
and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” (NLT)
In the first part of verse 35 we see
that there were some women in the OT who received their loved ones back from
the dead. This is probably referring to
when Elijah and Elisha were on the earth as prophets of God: “1 Kings 17:22 And the LORD heard the voice
of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 2 Kings 4:34 And he went up and lay on the
child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on
his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became
warm. 2 Kings 4:35 Then he returned and
walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on
him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.”
These were wonderful answers to
faith and trust in the Lord, but the remaining events described in verses 35-38
are not as pleasant for in them we read of much persecution and pain because of
their faith in God. I do not know of all these incidents, and to where there
are found in the OT for it does not recorded all of them as they are described
here. What I do want to do is focus in
on the first part of verse 38 which says “the were too good for this
world.” It has been well said that earth
is not my home, I am only passing through, and there are times when believers
need to understand this. In this world
today it is said that on the average of 400 believers die each day for the
cause of Christ, and others are tortured for their faith. As stated in and earlier diary, I believe
that Hebrews chapter 11 is continuing on with the events that are taking place
in the Church since this letter has been written. There are people who have had wonderful
miracles happen to them and then there are others who have suffered greatly for
the cause of Christ, even up to today’s time.
Jesus Christ suffered and died for the Church and He said that there
would be some that would do the same, and it is comforting to know that He has
been through this and can give comfort to those who are going through it
now. Hebrews says of Abraham that he did
not receive all the promises that God had made to him while he was on the
earth, however he will receive them along with all believers, because those
promises were also about a heavenly kingdom and a city that is being built by
God. See John 14:1-3. “1 ¶ "Let not your heart be troubled;
believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are
many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to
prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you
may be also.
2.
Spiritual meaning for my life today:
For many years of my Christian life I have not clearly understood the
story of Abraham concerning all of the promises that God had given to him. It had always seemed to me that some of them
were not fulfilled and that is what I did not understand. Now I believe that these promises of a land
and a city were that of the one that Jesus mentions in John 14:1-3 and this
gives new meaning to me because It shows me that indeed this is not my home,
and even though there are times when things seem to be going good that can all
change in a moment, however I am encouraged by the truth that God is in control
and that He is preparing a place for me, and that He has given a Person to me,
and that He has given a peace to me.
The Word of God was
full of challenges as I read it this morning, yet it was also very refreshing
to me too.
My Steps of Faith Today: I want to live my
life like this is not my home, but to do things that have an eternal value to
them. I want to be sensitive to what the
Lord has for me to do each day of my life, and by His grace do it for His
glory.
Memory verse for the
week: Psalm 121:1
1. I will lift my eyes to the mountains; From
whence shall my help come?
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