The Flourishing Life--Listening and Obeying

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks.” Hebrews 12:25

“…this warning brings to us Christians the reminder that it is possible for us so to tamper with what we know to be the uttered will and expressed commandment of God, as that our conduct is tantamount to saying, ‘Be silent, O Lord! and let me not hear Thee speak any more to me.’ The reason for that refusal, which thus, in its deepest criminality and darkest sin, can only be made by men that recognise the voice to be God’s, lies just here, ‘they could not endure that which was commanded.’ So, then, the sum of the whole thing is this, that it is possible for Christian people so to cherish wills and purposes which they know to be in diametrical and flagrant contradiction to the will and purpose of God, that obstinately they prefer to stick by their own desires, and, if it may be, to stifle the voice of God.” Alexander MacLaren

God never instructs us in ways that would lessen the fullness of our lives, but rather, the opposite. Yet, too often we choose to listen to our own will and as a result find ourselves in deeper misery than we had imagined. We can never improve on the simple words of trusting and obeying God; no life can be more flourishing than that.

We have a change of venue this Thursday morning as we gather for our final study of the spring. We will meet at my house (6120 51st Ave. NW, Gig Harbor)—just 2 blocks from the church. Following our time of study we will have lunch together. So bring your favorite lunch food to share with the other ladies. Summer is planning to be here also to help with the children.

The Great Race

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,…” Hebrews 12:1b

When we look back over the past couple of years and then look ahead to our plans and goals for the coming years, what general picture do we see? Are we more clearly seen as sitting under a shade treat sipping our favorite beverage, or are we actively, passionately serving the One who saved our souls and gave us eternal life? The beautiful words of Hebrews 12:1-2 call to us to put aside the things that slow us from being able to live for God with our whole being. We need to consider what things unnecessarily keep us from being and doing all that God would want.

Plan to join with us this Thursday morning to dig into Hebrews 12 and find ways we can better live for God. Chapter 9 will be the lesson for this week.

Are We Living By Faith?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11 uses the words “by faith” previous to telling us what amazing things ordinary people accomplished during the Old Testament days. I want to emphasize the word “ordinary” because I am convinced that these giants of faith dealt with sin and weakness just like we do. In fact another great man of faith was Elijah and in James 5:17 we read of his commonness to us as well as his faith. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.”

Could there be such an amazing list of “by faith” people found in New Testament times; ordinary people who really trusted God concerning their lives? Two important thoughts need to be considered. First, faith is never developed apart from great adversity; all of Hebrews 11 shows this. Secondly, we have received the “promise” of Hebrews 11:39 (true salvation in Jesus Christ) and so we have such a greater advantage in being able to trust God. Could it be said of us, “By faith she…”?

Ladies, I’m so excited to meet this Thursday morning to discuss this wonderful chapter of God’s Word. Even if you have missed most of our classes, plan to be present for this challenging time of encouragement to live by faith.