Where do we go from here? That might have been the first question the Israelites would have asked after coming up out of the Red Sea. The idea at issue is one of direction. We often fail to consider the subject of direction in our lives and therefore wind up going no where, or being dissatisfied when we get there. Israel had before them the subject of "Where do we go from here?" The fact remained that God had been directing them, and would continue to do so. However they were free moral agents, and would have to determine if they were going to go God's way or not. Going God's way is the plea of our study.
Looking behind, the Israelites could see a ghastly glimpse of carnage. The Egyptian army had been drowned creating a grotesque scene behind them. God "Overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea" (Psalm 136:15). Leaving one's hindrances behind, is what Paul encouraged in Romans 8:18 when he said, "Mortify the deeds of teh body." Further we are told to "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth" (Colossians 3:5). Like the Israelites when we look behind the Christian of today we would hope to see a trail of put to death "deeds of the body". Carnage that we have thrown to the side as we continue to live the life of a faithful Christian.
Prior to crossing the Red Sea, Israel uttered random faithless phrases of provocation to Moses, God's representative. "Hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:11). Further, they state that they would have "been better" to have continued serving the Egyptians as slaves (Exodus 14:12). In effect they would rather remain in an immoral, and pagan country than to have faithfully followed a loving, caring God. To often, this is similar to the way we try to live our Christian lives, in effect desiring to go back to our idolatrous past. Paul advised to put such ways to death. In our Christian lives we need to stop crying after our pernicious past, and look to the bright future we now have in Christ.
Where do we go from here? A tremendous question you and I as Christians must continually ask of ourselves at every juncture of life-"which way will I go?". Each morning when we awaken, ask and decide, with determination, "Today I will serve God"!
A Red Sea decision is twofold, first, how will I relate to my past? Second, how will I follow God in the future? With urgency, decide to continually turn your back on the past and seek to follow God in the future.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
THE TREASURY OF FRIENDSHIP
(Unless otherwise noted scripture quotes are from the KJV.)
Solomon said "Two are better than one... ...For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). This causes us to realize that friendship is a treasure. One would wisely remark that "A friend is a present you give yourself". Friendship is like "a soothing ointment for the cuts and bruises of life."
Do birds of a feather flock together? In nature they do and we must recognize in life this is true also. We need to learn that friendship requires maintenance. Solomon would again advise "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." (Proverbs 22:24-25). The lesson is, if you and I want to become angry and raging people simply make friends with this type of people. Paul addressing this from another angle would advise "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Beware of the influence that friends have on you, but also be thankful that you to can have influence on your friends for good. Being a light for Christ. Yes, birds of a feather do flock together.
Selecting and keeping friends is a job that we should not take lightly. After accepting the responsibility there are certain steps we can follow that will take us to the mountaintop of friendship where the TREASURY OF FRIENDSHIP can be found. Several "be's" that buzz around friendship include;
1. Be friendly "A Man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24);
2. Be helpful in adversity (Proverbs 17:17);
3. Be humble "...In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Philippians 2:3);
4.Be unselfish (Philippians 2:4);
5. Be sincere because Christ spoke of some that would "Say, and do not." (Matthew 23:3);
6.Be tolerant "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13).
Yes friendship is a ship that must be sailed. Sailing is indeed work, polishing the ship, keeping the "rigging" in order, launching the boat, and continually adjusting the sails so the ship sails true. If we will take the time, opportunity and responsibility to keep up our friendships of this life they will truly be a "Present we give ourselves." Begin now to enjoy the treasury of friendship.
Solomon said "Two are better than one... ...For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). This causes us to realize that friendship is a treasure. One would wisely remark that "A friend is a present you give yourself". Friendship is like "a soothing ointment for the cuts and bruises of life."
Do birds of a feather flock together? In nature they do and we must recognize in life this is true also. We need to learn that friendship requires maintenance. Solomon would again advise "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." (Proverbs 22:24-25). The lesson is, if you and I want to become angry and raging people simply make friends with this type of people. Paul addressing this from another angle would advise "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Beware of the influence that friends have on you, but also be thankful that you to can have influence on your friends for good. Being a light for Christ. Yes, birds of a feather do flock together.
Selecting and keeping friends is a job that we should not take lightly. After accepting the responsibility there are certain steps we can follow that will take us to the mountaintop of friendship where the TREASURY OF FRIENDSHIP can be found. Several "be's" that buzz around friendship include;
1. Be friendly "A Man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24);
2. Be helpful in adversity (Proverbs 17:17);
3. Be humble "...In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Philippians 2:3);
4.Be unselfish (Philippians 2:4);
5. Be sincere because Christ spoke of some that would "Say, and do not." (Matthew 23:3);
6.Be tolerant "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13).
Yes friendship is a ship that must be sailed. Sailing is indeed work, polishing the ship, keeping the "rigging" in order, launching the boat, and continually adjusting the sails so the ship sails true. If we will take the time, opportunity and responsibility to keep up our friendships of this life they will truly be a "Present we give ourselves." Begin now to enjoy the treasury of friendship.
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