Keep Looking Forward (Heb. 11:15-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-03-03

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Keep looking forward

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:15-16

 

            Message of the verse:  “15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”  (NIV)  “If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go 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 heavenly city for them.”  (NLT)

            The writer is making it clear to his readers that these early people of God, whom He called from another land into the promised land, were not thinking about going back to that land, they were looking forward to a heavenly home, a home that God has made for them.  I believe that one of the reasons that the writer has written in this way is to encourage the Jewish believers not to look back to Judaism, but to look forward to serving Jesus Christ in spite of the troubles that they were going through, and to look forward to going to the city that God has made for them.  He concludes verse 16, by saying that God is not ashamed to be called their God.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The song phrase that says “this earth is not my home I just a passing through” is a phrase that these early people of God must have known well.  As a believer I am not to become too attached to the things that this world has to offer because I can take none of it with me to my real home, and it would only slow me down in my work for the Lord.  The Lord is in control of all things in my life and I must say that in a very real way I am glade to live on less money for the simple reason that I am not responsible for so many things.  When our income was higher I can truthfully say that I had little peace about it, so if the Lord does bless us with the return of our money then I do believe that we will do better with less income, and even perhaps will be able to give more to the Lord’s work too.

 

The Word of God was challenging, refreshing, and convicting to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to believe in the promises of the Lord that He has graciously included in His Word for me as a believer concerning taking care of me and my family and also that He is control of all things and promises to work them out for His glory and for our good.