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 Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:08 pm
The Traveler and the Monks Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16 THE STORY IS told of a mysterious traveler who once visited an old, run-down monastery. At one time the monastery had thrived; it was known for the devotion of its monks. Young men came from far and wide to join the monastery. At the time of the traveler's visit, however, all that had changed. Only a handful of monks remained, and they could hardly stand each other. The once-spotless buildings had begun to fall down, and the worship of the monks was uninspired. The monks told the traveler the dismal story of their monastery. They begged the traveler to stay and help them rebuild, for if something was not done, the monks and monastery would soon die. But he refused. "I cannot help you to rebuild your monastery or restore hope to your order. All I can do is to tell you that one of you is a true apostle of God." And with that, the mysterious traveler left. The monks were amazed at the traveler's words, and each one began to secretly ponder their meaning. Could it be? each thought. Could one of us actually be a true apostle of God? Could it be the abbot? If not the abbot, who? Perhaps Brother Phillip. Or Brother Thaddeus? Or perhaps... perhaps even...even me?Little by little that old monastery began to change. The monks began to treat each other with new respect, not knowing which of them was a true apostle. In fact, each monk even began to treat himself differently, not knowing if he were the one of whom the traveler had spoken. Over the course of time, the monks began to repair the monastery's decaying buildings, to make them suitable as a home of a true apostle of God. Their worship became charged with passion and praise; after all, they knew that a true apostle of God was worshipping among them. As more time went by, people who passed by and visited the monastery noticed something that had not been there before. Although their number was small, these monks truly seemed to love and respect each other. Before long, people began to visit the monastery to worship with the monks. Younger men began to arrive at the monastery, asking questions. Many chose to stay and join the order. Within a few years, the monastery was thriving once more, and without realizing it, each of the monks had himself become a true apostle of God. Reflect:*What effect did the traveler's words have? *How does the story relate to today's Bible reading? *The story of the traveler and the monks is a nice story, but do you think treating others with respect can change things that much? *Why or why not? *Do you think it can change you? your family? school? church? *If so, how?
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:48 am
Trust and Obey Bible Reading: Galatians 3:10-14 "THERE ARE JUST too many rules and commandments to remember. No on can be expected to remember all that stuff!" Have you ever heard someone say something like that? Have you ever thought it yourself? Have you ever said it yourself? It's true, in a way. There do seem to be a lot of commandments in the Bible: "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," "Do not blaspheme God or curse anyone who rules over you." It seems as if it would be impossible for anyone to remember all those commands, let alone obey them all! As a matter of fact, it was impossible for hundreds of years. Century after century, men and women tried to fulfill God's law, but century after century, they failed. Even the most godly people in the world failed: Abraham, Moses, David. If they couldn't keep all God's commands, who can? No one--except Jesus. He's the only one who fulfilled all the commands and requirements of the law. He's the only one who never sinned. So if you're hoping to obey every one of God's commands, give it up. It'll never happen. You can't do it. But Jesus can. You see, that's one of the wonderful things about Jesus. He not only lived a righteous life two thousand years ago, he's living a righteous life right now. And if you are a Christian, he is living that righteous life in you through the Holy Spirit. You don't have to force yourself to obey all of God's commands. All you have to do is give yourself daily to the control of Jesus Christ. He will live the righteous life you couldn't live. You can never hope to remember all of God's commands. But you don't have to. Jesus will do it for you and in you if you just trust him and follow him every day. Reflect:*Do you think you could obey God's commands all by yourself? *Why or why not? *What's the difference between trying to obey God's commands and trusting Jesus to do it for you and in you? *Which have you been doing? *How can you start trusting Jesus every day to live his righteous life in you?
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:38 am
Protective Gear Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 6:20-25 THE BASEBALL COACH dug six shiny new batting helmets out of a cardboard box in the back of his van. Several players stood ready to carry the helmets to the baseball diamond where they practiced. Three players took two helmets apiece and walked away. They turned the helmets around and around in their hands as they walked to the diamond. Each player noticed that these helmets were different from the helmets they'd always used. They were heavier. They had earflaps on both sides. And a clear piece of plastic curved around the front of each helmet like a football player's face mask. Every player on the team looked at the new helmets. Every player knew that these helmets were different. Every player inspected the new face mask. But no one complained. No one said, "Hey coach, do we have to wear these new helmets?" No one said, "Those face masks are gonna be a real pain!" No one said, "Why do we have to wear helmets anyway?" No one said, "They're so confining." No said, "We could have a lot more fun without them." No one said any of those things because they had all been at the game last summer when their teammate, Tad Rohmer, was hit by a pitch that shattered his jaw, a pitch that would affect his speech and hearing for the rest of his life. No one said anything because they were thinking of Tad and knew that the helmets were intended to protect them. Those batting helmets are like the commands of God. He tells us to "love one another," "be self-controlled," "flee sexual immorality," and all those other commands because he loves us. His commands aren't intended to confine us or make us miserable; they're intended "for our own prosperity and well-being" (Deuteronomy 6:24). Just as a batting helmet can protect an athlete from a broken jaw (or worse), God's command protect us from guilt and shame, from disease and disappointment, from all sorts of problems and pain. Living our life according to God's commands won't guarantee that we'll never get hurt or have problems, but it will bring about prosperity and well-being in many ways. Reflect:*Have you ever felt God's commands were a nuisance or a bother? *Why or why not? *Do you think God gave us commands to do us good or to do us harm? *Do you think living your life according to God's commands helps you? *If not, why not? *If so, how? *Should we be upset with God or thankful to him for giving his commands to us? *Why?
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:33 am
Hide - and - Seek Bible Reading: Isaiah 65:1-2 IT MAY BE a while since you've played a game of hide-and-seek, but can you remember what fun it was? Searching out the perfect place to hide. Not moving a muscle so that you wouldn't give away your hiding place. The rush of adrenaline when you were finally found. And then there were all those amateur detective skills you had to put into use when it was your turn to be "it." Keeping your ears open for the slightest sound. Figuring out where others thought were the best places to hide. Watching for the slightest clue that would reveal a player's location: a piece of clothing sticking out of a closet door, a pile of laundry piled a little too high, a slight movement behind some drapes. While most people who play hide-and-seek don't want to be found, if you ever play the game with God, you'll soon discover that he doesn't seem to know the rules. Instead of making himself hard to find, God always seems to give away his "location." Sometimes he makes it almost impossible to miss him! Although you may not be looking for God, God is constantly looking for you and trying to reveal himself to you. Over and over again, God tells us that he loves us. Over and over again, he tells us in his Word that he wants to do good to us. God's patience with us is infinite. His desire to make us his own will never end. If your relationship with God has involved a little more hiding than seeking lately, why not decide now to turn that around? The Bible says to " Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6). Seek God through prayer and reading his Word. You'll be sure to find him. Reflect:*If God really wanted to hide from us, do you think we could find him? *If we tried to hide from him, do you think we could succeed? *Are you hiding from God right now or are you looking for him? *What are ways you can actively search for God today?
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:01 am
A Letter to Joan Osborne Bible Reading: Philippians 2: 3-7 DEAR JOAN OSBORNE, I know it's been a little while since you wrote your hit song, "What If God Was One of Us?" But I wanted to write you today and share some great news with you. I know a lot of Christians were upset by that song, particularly by the words of the chorus: What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home? Now, I should tell you that I've never been much of a slob. I'm a God of order, not of disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33). But you should be really excited to learn that the words of your song actually came true! God did become one of you (John 1:14)! I had the same thought you did, only it was about two thousand years ago. I left my throne in heaven and was born as a human baby. I lived thirty-something years, then I died on a cross so you could be forgiven and saved from the punishment your sins deserved. You see, Joan, God is "one of us"! Your wish came true-long before you wished it. And I want to tell you something else, too, Joan: When I humbled myself and left heaven for earth, I showed everyone that humility is a godly trait. I humbled myself, so it's a good thing when humans are able to put aside their pride and become humble. In fact, the biggest problem most people face today isn't believing that God was humble enough to become a man - it's humbling themselves enough to trust me with their lives. That's a problem for them - and for me, because I love them. I love you, too, Joan. I just wanted you to know that. Love,
Jesus Christ Reflect:*Have you ever heard Joan Osborne's song "What If God Was One of Us?" *If so, what did you think when you first heard it? *How do you think Joan might respond to Jesus' letter? *How do you respond to Jesus' letter? *Why (according to Jesus' letter) is humility right? *Do you think you're able to put aside your pride and become humble? *How can you show a Christlike humility today?
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:12 am
Fish Pond Bible Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 HAVE YOU EVER been to a carnival or county fair? The games are great, aren't they? Of course, in most games, you take your chances. You might try throwing balls at a stack of cans or milk bottles, hoping to win a stuffed bear as big as you are. Unfortunately, the only way to knock all the cans or bottles off the platform is to hit a mere one-inch spot on the right side of the middle milk bottle on the bottom row. Miss that spot by a tiny bit, and you lose your money. Or you might roll a bowling ball in a curving metal frame, trying to make a ball come to rest in the middle of the frame between the two little slopes. Unfortunately, the ball must be rolled at exactly .0178904 miles per hour and be pushed with exactly 1.5829 pounds per square inch of pressure on the exact center of the ball, or you lose your money. Usually, the only sure way to win at a carnival or county fair is for you to try the fish pond. Using a tiny fishing rod, you try to hook a magnetized fish floating in a canal of water or, in some fish ponds, simply pick a floating fish (or duck) out of the water to reveal a number on the bottom. Either way, you always win a prize: a rubber worm, a plastic ring, a friendship bracelet. It's not much, but at least it's something, right? There are some people who go through life playing "fish pond," even when they're not at a carnival or fair. And what they're fishing for are compliments and approval. "Did you see that home run I hit? Knocked it clear into the woods! I don't think anyone else has ever hit a ball that far! Do you?" "When the lady finished cutting my hair and I looked in the mirror, I couldn't believe how good I looked. Don't you think so?" Of course, you'd never be guilty of such "fishing expeditions," would you? You'd never fish for compliments. You'd never brag or boast like that, would you? Actually, almost all of us do it at one time or another. But God is very clear in telling us that we should not fish for compliments or brag about ourselves. He wants us to be humble. He wants us to be like Christ Jesus. Although he was God, Jesus humbled himself in order to become our Saviour (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 12:2). So the next time you find something you're good at, or a new outfit you look wonderful in, leave your fishing pole at home. As the Bible says, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." (Proverbs 27:2). Reflect:*Do you ever fish for compliments or brag about yourself? *Which do you think would be better: to be complimented because you "fished" for a compliment or to be complimented when you weren't "fishing" for a compliment? *Why? *Think of some ways you can obey the commands in today's Bible reading ("Don't be selfish," "Be humble," "Be interested in others").
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:32 am
The Faith of Ferdinand and Isabella Bible Reading: James 2:14-20 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND his brother, Bartholomew, wanted to find a way to Japan, China, and India by sailing west. In 1482 Christopher went to King John II of Portugal, asking for money and ships, but King John refused Columbus's request. In 1485 the brothers tried to enlist the support of King Henry VII of England, but he also turned them away. Finally, in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted Columbus's request. On August 3, 1492, he sailed from Palos, Spain. On October 12, 1492. Columbus became the first European explorer to set foot in "the New World." Only Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain had faith in Columbus and his mission. King John of Portugal obviously didn't have much faith in the man or in his mission. King Henry of England didn't have such faith either. How do we know that? By their works. Or, in Columbus's case, their lack of works. It's not hard to see that if the kings of England and Portugal had believed in Columbus, they would have acted quite differently, right? If they had any faith in Columbus, they would backed up their faith with money, ships, and titles, like Ferdinand and Isabella did, right? Faith in Christ works the same way. As James wrote in the Bible..What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?.......Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead; being alone. (James 2: 14, 17). You swee, we aren't saved by doing good works, or even by making right choices. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8 ). A real saving faith in Christ, however, should produce right choices-just as Ferdinand and Isabella's faith in Columbus and his mission produced ships, money, and a whole new world! Reflect:*Are you a Christian? *If so, how did you become a Christian: by doing good deeds or by trusting Christ to save you by his grace? *Does being a Christian mean you can do anything you want to? *Why or why not? *According to today's Bible reading, what kind of "works" should your faith produce?
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Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:40 am
Bad News, Good News Bible Reading: Genesis 40:1-5, 12-23 IMAGINE HOW YOU'D feel in this situation.... Joseph had been falsely accused and thrown into prison. After he'd been there a while, two other prisoners joined him: Paraoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker. One night the cupbearer and the baker both had dreams, and they mentioned them to Joseph. When they described their dreams to Joseph, he told them what their dreams meant. "Good news," he told the cupbearer, "Three days from now Pharaoh will take you out of prison and make you his chief cupbearer again." The cupbearer was overjoyed. "And please have some pity on me," Joseph asked him, "when you're back in Paraoh's good favor. Mention me to Pharaoh and ask him to let me out of here, too." Then Joseph turned to Pharaoh's former baker. "Bad news," he said, "Three days from now Pharaoh will cut off your head." Things happened exactly as Joseph had said. Within three days Pharaoh gave a banquet. He called for his former cupbearer to be released from prison and ordered that his former baker be executed. But the cupbearer quickly forgot Joseph's request, and Joseph remained in prison. But even though the cupbearer was unfaithful to Joseph, God was faithful. Two years later Pharaoh had a dream, a dream that none of his magicians and wise men could figure out. It was then that the cupbearer remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh how Joseph had told the meaning of his dream and the baker's dream. Pharaoh took Joseph out of prison and told him his dream. Joseph listened and, with God's help, explained the meaning of the dream to Pharoah. Joseph's story (found in Genesis 40-41) shows how unfaithful people can be. It also shows that, no matter how unfaithful your friends or even your family members might be, God is always faithful. The prophet Jeremiah said, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23). In fact, that's how we know that faithfulness is right - because it's like God. God commands faithfulness, because God is faithful. He never lets us down. He never abandons us. He never ignores us. He never forgets us. He is faithful. And because God is faithful, we should be faithful, too. Reflect:*Did the cupbearer do the right thing in today's Bible reading? *Why or why not? *What makes faithfulness right and unfaithfulness wrong? *Have you ever acted like the cupbearer? *If so, in what ways? *Are you being faithful to God? to your family? to your friends?
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Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:35 am
IN HIS STEPS Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 IN 1896 THE pastor of a church in Topeka, Kansas, began writing a story, which he read (a chapter at a time) to his church youth group every Sunday evening. The first chapter told the story of a tramp-a jobless, homeless man-who walked into a comfortable church one Sunday morning. The man spoke a few words, then collapsed. Three days later the man died in the pastor's home. But before dying, he spoke to the minister. "You have been good to me," he said. "Somehow I feel as if it was what Jesus would do." That tramp's appearance-and his words-prompted a change in the pastor that soon spread through his congregation. That church started measuring everything they did or said by the question "What would Jesus do?" Soon the people of that church were doing amazing things-and seeing amazing results-all because they tried to do only what Jesus would do. In other words, they started following Jesus. Pastor Charles M. Sheldon's famous book, In His Steps, is one of the most successful books ever written. At one point, In His Steps had sold more copies than any other book except the Bible. The apostle Peter once wrote a brief letter that said about the same thing Charles Sheldon's book said. Peter said, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:21). Now Peter wasn't saying that the way to become a Christian is to try to imitate Jesus; we can only become Christians by the grace of God and by believing in Jesus Christ. But Peter's letter told Christians that to live a Christian means to follow in his steps. To make right choices means to follow Jesus' example. To be like Jesus is to be right. If we compare our actions to Jesus, we'll usually see clearly whether they are right or wrong. If we ask ourselves, What would Jesus do? we will usually know right away what is right. And if we follow in Jesus' steps, we can be sure we're going the right way. Reflect:*Today's reading says, that "to be like Jesus is to be right." Why is that true? *Do you think you would have done anything differently yesterday (or today) if you had first asked yourself, What would Jesus do? *Why or why not?
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Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:29 am
How Low Will You Go? Bible Reading: Psalm 119:27-29 THE PRESIDENT OF a company once called in one of his employees, the man responsible for writing the company's checks and paying the company's bills. "Smithers," he said. "I'm in a tight spot, and I'm thinking you might be the man to help me out." "Yes sir," Smithers answered. "I hope so, sir." "Tell me," the president said. "If I gave you a bonus of, say, ten thousand dollars, would you tell a few lies to save me some money on my taxes?" Smithers didn't answer right away. Ten thousands dollars was a lot of money to him. He thought of all the things he could do with that much money. Finally, he leaned closer to the company president and winked. "I think I could do that," he said, smiling. The company president smiled slightly. "Thank you, Smithers," he said. "I'll keep that in mind. As the man turned and started walking to the door, the company president called him back. "Just a moment, Smithers," he said. "Tell me - would you do it for ten dollars?" "Ten dollars!" Smithers answered. His jaw dropped open. "What kind a person do you think I am?" "Oh you've already told me that," the company president said, "I'm just trying to find out how low you'll go." Smithers had already shown his boss that he would be dishonest for a price. The company president thought that someone who would be dishonest for ten thousand dollars might also be dishonest for less. You see, dishonesty is wrong - no matter what the price. It is wrong to be dishonest, no matter how much - or how little - money is involved. There is no dollar amount at which it becomes "right" (or excusable) to be dishonest. Not ten thousand dollars. Not ten million dollars. Not even ten gazillion dollars! Reflect:*How about you? *Is there a high amount of money that would persuade you to be dishonest? *Is there a low amount that would persuade you to be dishonest (It's only a quarter, so what's the big deal?")? *Do you think honesty is right no matter how much money is involved? *Why or why not? *Do you think honesty is right even when it's "no big deal"? *Why or why not?
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:23 am
Honest Abe Bible Reading: Leviticus 19:35-37 THE FOLLOWING STORY is told about Abraham Lincoln when he was a young man before he became known as "Honest Abe." Abe was working in a store as a clerk. One day a woman came in and bought a few items. Abe jotted down the woman's charges on a scrap of paper, totaled them for her, and then accepted her payment. After she had left the store, though, Abe started wondering whether he had accurately added up the woman's purchase. When he added the numbers again, he found out he had charged her too much. It was only a few cents, but Abe felt bad about his mistake. So, at the end of the day, after closing the store, Abe walked the distance (somewhere between two or three miles) to the woman's house to return the money he had overcharged her. Another time, he had weighed a half pound of tea for a woman, only to discover the next day that there had been an extra four-ounce weight on the scale. He had given her less than a half pound. As he had done with the few cents, Abe corrected the error by weighing out the missing quantity and delivering it to the woman. It's not hard to imagine how Lincoln came to be called "Honest Abe." After all, in those two instances (and in many others) he went to a lot of trouble to make sure he didn't cheat anyone and didn't take anything that wasn't his. He didn't try to excuse his mistakes. He didn't try to shrug them off, saying, "Ah, I didn't mean to overcharge the lady." He didn't try to say that taking that extra money would be OK. Instead, he made sure that his behavior was as honest as he could make it. That's exactly how God wants us to act, too. He doesn't want us to excuse dishonestly or shrug it off. He doesn't want us to say, "Well in my case it wouldn't be dishonest," or "In this case it wouldn't be so bad." No, he wants us to remember that he has already told us what is right and what is wrong - and he has made it clear that honesty is right and dishonesty is wrong. Reflect:*Do you think Abraham Lincoln did the right thing in the stories above? *Do you think he went a little "overboard"? *Do you think he deserved to be called "Honest Abe"? *Do you ever try to excuse dishonesty or shrug it off? *Do you ever try to say something is honest when it's really not? *Or do you try to do what God says to do?
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:52 am
The Minister and the Dog Leviticus 19:1-2, 11 A MINISTER ONCE saw a group of boys huddled around a little straggly-haired dog. He watched them for a few moments but couldn't figure out what they were doing. Finally, he walked over to the group of boys and asked what they were doing. "Telling lies," answered one of the boys. "Yeah," added another member of the group. "Whoever tells the biggest lie gets to keep the dog." The minister's jaw dropped open and a look of disapproval appeared on his face. "Why, when I was your age," he said, "I never thought of telling lies!" The boys looked at each other with sad expressions. Finally, the boy who had spoken first shrugged his shoulders. "You win!" he said. "I guess this here dog is yours!" Those boys could recognize a lie when they heard one. And so can God. God commands us to be honest. A long time ago, when the people of Israel had recently escape from slavery in Egypt, God spoke to them through Moses. And many of the commands he gave them there in the wilderness near Mount Sinai were about honesty. He said, "Do not steal. Do not cheat one another. Do not lie.' (Read Leviticus 19:11). Those commands are pretty simple, aren't they? They're pretty clear. God tells us to be honest. He doesn't want us to lie; he doesn't want us to cheat; he doesn't want us to steal - because those things are dishonest. And dishonesty is wrong - even for ministers! Reflect:*According to today's Bible reading, what does God say about lying, cheating, and stealing? *Do you have trouble being honest in any of those areas (lying, cheating, stealing)? *If so, which area(s)? *Do you think being honest in one or two of those areas is enough, or do you think God expects you to be honest in all of those areas? *How do you know?
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:45 am
True Value Bible Reading: Zechariah 8:14-17 IF YOU HAD fifty cents to spend, which would you buy: a bag of M&M's or that day's newspaper?If you had a dollar to spend, which would you buy: a bottle of soda or a six-minute phone call from a pay phone?If you had a hundred dollars to spend, which would you buy: a pair of cool tennis shoes or a portable CD player?If you had a hundred thousand dollars to spend, which would you buy a house or a lifetime subscription to Iguana Owners Monthly?OK, so maybe the last one was too easy; after all, everyone wants a lifetime subscription to Iguana Owners Monthly. But still, take a minute to look back over your choices. Why did you choose those items? Why was it really, really easy to choose in some cases? Because those were things you value. You chose the items you valued. Your choices revealed your values. Well, the same is true of God. His choices reveal his values. For example, in today's Bible reading, God talks about the things he values and the things he doesn't value! That's not hard to understand. God told the people of Jerusalem, "Tell the truth" because he values honestly. And he told them, "Don't swear that something is true when it isn't" because he actually hates dishonestly. (Read Zechariah 8:16-17). And if we love God and want to follow him, our actions should show that we (like him) value honesty. Reflect:*Look back over Zechariah 8:14-17, Get a piece of paper and write down in seperate columns that show what God values and what God hates: *How much do your values and actions reflect God's values?
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:18 am
Two Houses Exodus 34:1-6 TWO HOUSES, BOTH built over a hundred years ago, stand atop a grassy hill in Hartford, Connecticut. The two houses are separated by a single yard. One of the two houses is one of the most spectacular homes of its day. It is a large and eccentric house. It has gables, cupolas, porches, passageways, garish colors and decorations. Some of the features of this house, like its porches and staircase, resemble a Mississippi River steamboat. The other house is much smaller, just a cozy little cottage. It has small rooms and a single narrow staircase. It is decorated nicely by not extravagantly. The bookcases throughout the house are filled with Bibles and other books. If you were to visit these two houses in Hartford, you could probably figure out a lot about the famous person who lived in each house. You could be pretty sure that the person who built and lived in the first house had a vivid and eccentric personality. You might also assume that person loved Mississippi River steamboats. And you would be right, for the first house was the home of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), the famous author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.You might also think that the second house was owned by a much more modest and quiet person, maybe even someone with a Christian background. And you would be right, because the little cottage on that hill was once owned by Harriet Beecher Stowe, a preacher's daughter who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. Interesting, isn't it? You can tell by looking at their houses what kind of people Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe was a Christian. It's sort of the same with God and his commandments. His commandments not only show what he values, they show what he is like. And his commandments not to lie, not to steal, and not to cheat reveal something about his own nature and character. Moses described the Lord this way after he had received the law: "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6). God values honestly because he is "abundant in...truth." He is a God truth and truthfulness, which is why lying and cheating and stealing is wrong. Reflect:*How do God's commands not to steal, not to lie, and not to cheat reflect his nature and character? *Why is honestly right? *Why is dishonestly wrong? *Complete the following statements with your beliefs: ******God commands honestly because_____________________________. ******God values honestly because_________________________________.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 8:36 am
Whom Do You Trust? Luke 16:10-12 WHOM DO YOU trust? Of all the people in the world, there are probably only a few you would trust to hold your lunch money for you , right? And there are probably even fewer you would trust with your deepest secrets. On a piece of paper, jot the names of two or three people that you could trust with your money or your secrets: Now think about why you trust those people. Think to yourself about the following statements below that expresses why you trust the people you have written down. * I trust them because of where they live. * I trust them because each of them once lied to me. * I trust them because I like them. * I trust them because they're kinda good looking. * I trust them because I've never seen them steal anything. * I trust them because they know all the words to "Louie Louie." * I trust them because they like lima beans. * I trust them because they've never lied to me or cheated me. * I trust them because they pick their noses. Chances are, you only pick one or two of the statements above, right? Why? Because you don't trust someone any more or less if he or she knows all the words to "Louie Louie." You don't trust someone simply because he or she picks his or her nose. And you certainly don't trust someone because he or she has lied to you before. If those things don't earn your trust, what does? Simple, right? You trust someone who has been honest. You trust someone who has told you the truth in the past. Because honesty invites trust. That's one of the big advantages to obeying God's commands to be honest. When you're honest, you encourage other people to trust you; when you're dishonest, you make people suspicious and distrustful of you. One of the proverbs of Solomon says, "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right." (Proverbs 16:13). That's true not only of kings but of everyone. People value-and trust-those who are honest. Reflect:*If your friends were to make a list (like the one you just saw above) of the people they could trust, would they include your name? *Why or why not? *What about your parents? teachers? other family members? *Does your behavior encourage others to trust you or has it been making people distrust you? *How do you know?
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