The Reproach of Christ PT-1 (Heb. 11:26)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-08-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The reproach of Christ

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:26

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.”  (ASB)  “26 Judging a part in the shame of Christ to be better than all the wealth of Egypt; for he was looking forward to his reward.”  (BBE)

            I am following the outline in Warren Wiersbe’s book “Be Confident” and so I will only discuss the first part of this verse, and then Lord willing, will do the rest of it tomorrow.  The words “reproach of Christ” are the key words in this section.  The question is what indeed are the reproaches of Christ?  And example is found in the Strong’s concordance, which says, “1) a reproach 1a) such as Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his enemies.”  Jesus suffered at the hands of the enemies of God so that God would be pleased, and that we could be saved from our sins.  The Egyptians reproached Moses in the case that the writer is pointing out in this verse because he gave up the riches of Egypt to live with God’s people who were in bondage. “Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”  This is an example of how believers, in this case the apostles, were giving thanks that they were worthy to suffer a reproach for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  This is the way that I believe that I am to live my life each and every day, not being ashamed of to live my life for the cause of Christ, the One who was not ashamed to suffer the reproach of men for me.

 

The Word of God has presented a great challenge for me, a challenge that I can only accomplish by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit living within me.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  It certainly takes faith to suffer any reproaches for the cause of Jesus Christ, for the verse that I studied this morning if from the “faith chapter” of the Bible.  I want to continue to trust the Lord in the area of our investment problems.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:16,17

 

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation continually say, “The Lord be magnified!”

17.  Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me; Thou art my help and my deliverer, Do not delay, O my God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moses Refusing the Pleasures of Sin (Heb. 11:24-25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-07-03

 

My Worship Time      Focus: Moses refusing the pleasures of sin

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:24, 25

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (ASB) “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.”  (NLT)

            I am not sure as to how Moses knew of the promises that God had given to Abraham, but he may have learned them from his mother who came to the Egyptian palace where Moses was living to nurse him, and during that time women nursed their children for a long period of time.  He also may have had contact with some of the Hebrews while growing up.  At any rate Moses knew the promises of God, and God worked within his heart to give him the kind of faith to be able to say good-bye to a “successful career” as it were at the palace in Egypt and to go and live with the Hebrews who were in slavery.  Dr. Wiersbe says, “True faith causes a believer to hold the right values and make the right decisions.”  This was surely true in the life of Moses.  The passage speaks of “pleasures of sin.”  Dr. Wiersbe comments on this phrase this way, “The phrase describes a way of life that we today would call ‘successful’—position, prestige, power, wealth, and freedom from problems.”

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I get out of this passage what it is to be a man of faith in terms of how the Bible would describe it.  Moses had the faith to see past the “stuff” of this world, the pleasures of this world and live a life that, though it may seem stupid to many people, it was exactly the life that God wanted him to live.  He gave up an earthly palace for the hope of a heavenly palace, and he gave up a lot more to receive by faith a building whose builder, and designer was God Himself.  I hope that as I read and study more about the people of faith that my faith will increase and that I would be willing to do what ever it is that God would want me to do for the cause of Jesus Christ!

 

The Word of God has surely brought a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To love my wife as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for it.  I do not want to be in competition with my wife today, nor seek to argue with her today about the things that are going on with our investments with Andrew Leck.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation continually say, “The Lord be magnified!”

 

The Faith of Moses' Parents (Heb. 11:23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-06-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Faith of Moses’ Parents

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:23

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.”  (ASV)  “It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months.  They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid of what the king might do.”  (NLT)

            Some of the ideas I have concerning this verse may not be exactly what happened in the lives of Moses’ parents, but it seems to me that they could be what happened.  I believe that Moses’ parents knew that God would send a deliverer to take the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt as was passed down by the patriarchs, and that they knew how many years it would be before God would give him to them.  I also believe that when Moses was born that his parents saw something different in him, and that probably it was God who showed them that Moses was a special child.  I also believe that because they were godly people that Moses’ parents knew that it was surely wrong for the Egyptians to kill all of these young boys, and so they had faith that God would care for their precious, special son.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This story of Moses’ parents shows me that God has a plan for everyone, an although not everyone will be like Moses, we, as God’s children are all special to God.  He has molded me to be able to accomplish the special tasks that He has for me to do, and I would pray that I would accomplish all of these tasks for the glory of God.

 

The Word of God was challenging to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I continue to trust the Lord with the investments that we have through Andrew Leck, and I continue to pray over this situation, and doing the things that I believe that the Lord wants me to do, and I try to stay out of God’s way and not interfere with His work all of this.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because or their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation continually say, “The Lord be magnified!”

 

Isaac, Jacob's and Joseph's Faith Described from Heb.11:20-22

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-05-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph’s Faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:20-22

 

            Message of the verse:  “20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.  21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.  (NASB)  “It was by faith that Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau.  He had confidence in what God was going to do in the future.  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.  And it was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, confidently spoke of God’s bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.  He was so sure of it that he commanded them to carry his bones with them when they left!”  (NLT)

            These three verses speak of the faith that these men of old had in their God, the God of Israel.  None of them had a written copy of the Word of God to learn from, yet they had great faith in God, and believed the promises that were first given to Abraham.  Isaac was the promised child of Abraham and Sarah, and was the one in whom the line of the coming Messiah would come through.  Isaac had his weak moments as all of us do, but he did believe the promises of God and passed them on to his two sons, of only one, Jacob would believe and act upon these promises.  Jacob, who became Israel after wrestling with God, had twelve sons who would become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel, also believed the promises of God that had first been given to Abraham.   Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and was a favorite which got him in a lot of trouble, but that trouble was what the Lord used to get the children of Israel into Egypt where they eventually became a might nation 400 years later.  “Joseph was tried by temptations to sin, by persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried by honors and power in the court of Pharaoh, yet his faith carried him through.”  (MHCC)

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is easy to come down on the things that these men did wrong in their lives, and although no sin is recorded about Joseph he did surely sin, but the point of what the writer of Hebrews is making is about their faith, faith in the promises of God in spite of the circumstances or consequences that they would find themselves in.  In some ways I believe that it is harder to live by faith when things are going easier in life, and there are no storms to go through, and that is because all believers need to be purified by storms in their lives that God brings about.  He does this for our own good, and for His glory.  Joseph is a wonderful example of a man living by faith and who kept living by his faith in God when the Lord gave him charge over Egypt, for when he was about to die he told his family to deliver his bones into the promised land when God called the nation of Israel into that land.

 

The Word of God was both challenging and refreshing to my heart this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue and act upon the promises of the Lord concerning the storm that we are going through, to continue to pray about this and believe that God’s will, will be accomplished through this for our good and for His glory.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” 

 

Abraham's Testing with Isaac (Heb. 11:17-18)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-04-03

 

My Worship Time      Focus:  Abraham’s testing with Isaac

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:17-18

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

18 even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”  (NIV)  “17 By faith, being tested, Abraham offered up Isaac; and he receiving the promises was offering up the only begotten, 18 as to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your Seed shall be called;’ (Gen. 21:12) 19 reckoning that God was able to raise even from the dead; from where indeed he obtained him in a parable.”  (Green’s) 

            I would say that this event in the life of Abraham, that is described here, (the entire story is in Genesis 12), is, in my opinion, one of the greatest descriptions of faith that is found in the entire Scripture.  It surely fits the description of faith that Warren Wiersbe has in his book, “Be Confident.”  “True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word ins spite of circumstances and consequences.”  God has previously told Abraham that he would bring the true Seed through Isaac, who was indeed the miracle child, and now God tests Abraham by asking him to offer up his “only begotten” as a burnt offering.  Abraham’s tremendous faith in God and His Word that He has spoken to him gave him the confidence to do as God instructed him to do.  Strong’s says of the “only begotten” the following:  “1) single of its kind, only 1a) used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents) 1b) used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God” 

            I want to move to verse nineteen and talk about the word that is translated figuratively in the NIV, and is translated parable in the Greens LIT.  The word in the Greek is “parabole par-ab-ol-ay'” for which I can see why Green’s uses the English word parable.  This word as described in the Strong’s Concordance has many meanings, and one of the is parable.  Here are some of them:  “2) metaph.

2a) a comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude

2b) an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated

2c) a narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God's kingdom are figuratively portrayed

2d) a parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning

            The point in all of this to me is that Isaac was surely a picture of Jesus Christ, for Isaac was the one whom the promised Seed was to come through and Jesus Christ was the promised Seed, and it is said of Isaac that in fact, God did in a sense raise him from the dead, and of course God did raise His only begotten, Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can see some principles of this section of Scripture that portray in the storm that I am going through.  I see a tremendous example in Abraham as he believed God’s promises pertaining to his son Isaac, and standing on those principles in spite of circumstances and consequences.  I see God honoring His Word and also honoring the faith of Abraham in believing God in this circumstance, or storm of his life.  This section of Hebrews has been a tremendous help in my life as I go through this storm.

 

The Word of God was a wonderful blessing to me as I read it this morning and it has also been a challenge to my heart to have faith in God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:   To believe God will see me through this storm that He has led me into, and that He is praying for me as I go through it, and that He will come to me in the storm as He has already through His Word, and that He will cause me to grow and become more like Jesus Christ because of this storm, and that He will see me safely through this storm.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all those Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, “The Lord be Magnified!”

 

 

 

 

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

 

            1.  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.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The 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.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee, Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”   

           

 

Living by Faith (Heb. 11:13-14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-02-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Living by faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:13-14

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  (NIV)  “All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promise of God.  They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth.  And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own.”  (NLT)

            I can see a number of things that kind of stick out at me when I read this passage.  The first one it the phrase “all these people were still living by faith when they died,” and this is something that encourages me to find this out.  It has taken me a long time to change my thinking about the situation that is described in these verses and from the original story that is written in Genesis.  I thought all along that all of these people did not ever receive the promise that God had given to them, but now I believe that they did receive it because the promise was not only for an earthly city and home, but also a heavenly city, which is the true home of all those who have believed the promise of salvation that God has offered to all.  All of these people were still living with true Bible faith even up to the point of their death.  This text even says that they did not receive the things promised, but only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  I do think that the writer is talking about the earthly promise here.  The writer also includes the truth of these people being aliens and stranger on earth, and this is true of all believers, because believers are different in so many ways that cause them to be strangers while upon this earth.

 

2.Spiritual meaning for my life today:  To live by the kind of faith that is described in the Scriptures, and also not to become to attached to the things of this world, so that I will be able to hear the still small voice of the Lord, and then obey that voice.  I must admit that I am still to much a part of the world, however the Lord is surely dealing with me in this important area of my life, and I am thankful for that.

 

The Word of God was so very insightful to my heart as I read it this morning.  It was very appropriate for the storm that I am going through with many shipmates at this time in my life.   The Word of God offered challenges to my heart and it also brought conviction to me as I read it this morning.  The Word of God is truly quick and powerful, and it is also living.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I would have the Biblical kind of hope that the Lord is going to continue to work in my life through this storm that He has chosen to send me, along with others.  I want to surely live as an example to others who are going through this storm, and live in a way that will bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all those who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”