MyBeloved

Abraham's military expedition to rescue Lot tells us that he loved his family and that he was willing to do all that he could to help them. It also tells us that he was a wise warrior and that he was respected by his neighbors. Like Abraham we should love our family members and do all that we can to rescue them when they are in danger.

I have to disagree that Abraham's material was GOD's blessing on him. Chapter 12, verse 16 tells us that "Pharaoh entreated Abram well for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he *****, and menservants, and maidservants, and she *****, and camels." This tells me that Abram received his riches from Pharaoh because of his beautiful wife, Sarai. Material wealth does not reflects GOD's blessings. There are many people who have served GOD their entire lives and do not possess material wealth. Physical poverty does not reflect GOD's curse. GOD has promised to bless us spiritually, not to give us material wealth.

This story teaches us that GOD hates adultry and it will be punished. GOD condemned it in the Old Testament and Jesus condemned it in the New Testament. Once the act is committed if the persons will stop it and confess the sin in repentence GOD will forgive that sin. It is important that the guilty parties accept GOD's forgiveness and seek to serve Him. He doesn't remember the sin and neither should those who were involved.

Pharaoh and his household became sick because Pharaoh took Sarah, Abraham's wife into his harem. Eastern Kings claimed the privilege of doing this and their royal right was not resisted or questioned. When the pharaoh learned why they were sick he called Abraham to himself and questioned him and then sent him away. The pharaoh sensed that he was being judged so he did not punish Abraham or Sarah. GOD was rebuking Abraham and showing Him that He is still in control. In the first place GOD did not tell Abraham to go down to Egypt. Abraham was not in GOD's will at this time. If Pharaoh had not gotten sick Abraham might have wanted to stay in Egypt and forget GOD's promise to make a great nation of him. The desired effect was accomplished.

Abraham faced the dangers of evil people who would try to take advantage of him, and the wrath of the Pharaoh in Egypt. There are many Mexicans who live in our community who came here for a better way of life. They work in the citrus groves where others will not work. Sometimes they are robbed and beaten by other Mexicans and many live in substandard conditions. Our church has a Spanish speaking class and we have a good ministry to the children. We have missions in the area that provide food, clothing and day care to many who are in need.

When Abraham called on the name of Yahweh he was worshipping the one true and living GOD. He had come to understand and believe in a living GOD Who could hear his prayers. He believed GOD and worshipped Him. I call on the name of the LORD as soon as I awake every day and many times during the day. I praise Him for Who He is and for all that He has done and continues to do. He is my LORD and Savior and without Him I would be nothing.

Abraham was blessed with faith to believe GOD, with material wealth, a son by Sarah in his old age, his descendents became a great nation, his name is famous and revered. Out of all of those who worshipped the moon in Ur GOD chose Abraham for His servant. All of the peoples of the earth have been blessed by our Savior who came through the physical line of Abraham. Also GOD's Word came through Abraham's seed. Abraham is our spiritual father.

The study on 2 Peter and Jude has meant a great deal to me. Powerful truths in GOD's Word have been brought out to me in a new way. This study has helped to remind me of how great, loving, kind, and merciful our GOD and Savior is. It has been a blessing to me.

To know that GOD is guarding me from falling makes me love Him even more and it gives me a sense of security. I know that there is no way I can be true to Him on my own because I still have a sinfull nature. There is no way that I can explain GOD's exultant joy towards me unless it is because I am in Christ. GOD will present me to Himself "blameless" through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ's righteousness that I will ever be blameless. Colossians 1:22.

We keep ourselves in GOD's love by talking to Him in prayer and reading His Word and meditating on it. A daily walk of fellowship with Him reminds us of His wonderful love for us. We just went through a category four hurricane and even though I wondered at times if our house would still be standing when it was over I knew that I was in His love and care. It was not easy being without electric for three days and sometimes without water but I never doubted for a minute that I was not in His love. He is truly wonderful! It would help to "keep me in GOD's love" if I was a better witness to others.

GOD makes me responsible to "build up" my Christian faith so that I can become more like Christ. I am studying GOD's Word on a regular basis, spending time in prayer, and sharing with others truths from the Bible. I should be a better verbal witness to help build up my faith better.

The privilege that catches my attention more than the others is the fact that GOD by the power of His Holy Spirit called me to Himself when I was far from Him and going my own way. His love and keeping power are really included in this fact. This privilege is special to me because He loved me when there was nothing in me to love. It encourages my faith because I belong to Him and he is never going to let me get away, He will always be with me.

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8 Believing in Christ's return should cause me to seek to please Him in my daily life and to be telling others of His saving Grace. An underemphasis on Christ's return will cause a Christian to become lazy and careless in our Christian life. Other things will become more important to us.

Our culture resists the ideas of sin and repentance because people do not want to accept the fact that they are sinners and they need a Savior. The average unsaved person sees himself or herself as a good person not deserving of judgment. When we see ourselves as lost sinners and that we need Jesus Christ to save us from our sins we are repenting when we come to Him for salvation. There have been times in my own life when it was difficult to repent but GOD's Holy Spirit convicted me until I asked for forgivness. It was difficult because I did not want to admit that I had done wrong.

Christ's coming has not been delayed. "For in just a very little while, "He Who is coming will come and will not delay." Hebrews 10:37 GOD knows when that last soul will be born from above and He will come at just the right time. This teaches us that GOD is longsuffering and that He does not want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to receive His gift of salvation but He knows that not all will.

It is important for us to understand what it means to perish so that we see the need of salvation. The night I heard Billy Graham preach from the book of Daniel I saw myself on the very edge of falling into hell. Believe me, I didn't want to perish. These truths are underemphasized today because they might offend someone. Another reason is that some who are standing behind pulpits today do not know Christ as their personal Savior. We can get an understanding of judgment into proper balance in our churches and teaching if we preach and teach the whole Word of GOD. Teaching that all who know not Christ are lost and need to be saved.

Reminders for Christians are important so that we don't forget the price that was paid for our salvation. We must not be unthankful for that wonderful gift, it should be fresh in our minds. This reminded me of my mother who always witnessed to anyone who would listen and even to some who didn't. The last two years of her life she did not know any of her children but she still talked to people about Jesus. GOD's Holy Spirit did not let her forget about Him. I remind myself of GOD's promises by staying in His Word daily. When I write letters I remind others by putting Scripture verses in my letters.

Some churches have stopped talking about open sin because they are no more than a social club. GOD's Word is not preached in truth "line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little" Isaiah 28:10. Praise GOD that we have a pastor who preaches the whole Word of GOD no matter where it falls.

Flagrant, defiant sin enslaves a person so that they will continually give in to it even sometimes to death. Paul asked who shall deliver him and in Romans 7:25 he answers: "I thank GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord." Jesus is the way out of sin that enslaves. The path to freedom from sin that enslaves is to come to Christ in repentence and to receive Him as Lord and Savior. It is only through GOD's Holy Spirit that we can truly love the sinner and hate the sin.

Sexual sin denys Christ because it is the exact opposite of what He taught. Living in sexual sin or any other sin is incompatible with salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Christians have become so complacent about sexual sin in our culture today because it is everywhere and the world honors it instead of condemning it. It is easier to go along with the culture than to fight it. When we go along with it we are not taking our stand for Christ and what He taught.

We must defend the faith because it is GOD's truth and when someone is undermining the faith they are leading souls to hell. The danger in not challenging the doctrines of false teachers is lost souls and believers deceived. We can keep the correct balance by speaking in love and quoting Scripture. II Timothy 2:24-26 "And the LORD's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that GOD will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Since the holy Scriptures are "breathed" by GOD they are the very words that He has spoken. They will draw us closer to Him if we read and obey them. The Scriptures set us on the right track in our walk with the LORD. Without the presence of GOD's Holy Spirit we cannot understand what we are reading. GOD's Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes of understanding.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD . . ." (II Timothy 3:16. GOD actually spoke through those men who wrote the Scriptures. He breathed the words through them. The image of a ship being moved by the wind helps us see that those men who were set apart for the writing of the Scriptures were moved along by the Spirit of GOD.

The Old Testament prophesies the coming of the Messiah and the New Testament reveals Him. The Word of GOD is a light, a source of light, like the sun in the sky. As the sun gives out its light to the universe, the Word of GOD sends out a light. The Word of GOD is the only physical miracle that we have from GOD today. The darkness represents sin and mankind without a Savior. The light represents our Savior Who brings us out of the darkness into His eternal light.

Our culture often avoids talking about death because it is final and if one is without Christ there is no hope of resurrection. Having been reared in a Christian home knowing the truth of eternity without Christ I never wanted to discuss physical death until I received the Lord Jesus into my life. Knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I look forward to eternity with Him. As Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD." Describing my body as a "tent" is freeing and motivating because it is only temporary. It is not a lasting physical structure. One day my spirit will leave this "tent" with its sin and pain. My new body will be free of sin and pain. Peter was saying that his spirit would depart from his physical body. The body would be lifeless and his spirit would be with Jesus just as we who know Him as our personal Savior will be.