Good day dear friends. We thank the Lord for the safe arrival of our team from Mozambique! They arrived on schedule to San Antonio where a group of family and church family awaited their return. Only Sherry DeMarcy had her luggage! The rest of the team lost theirs in Johannesburg in their rush to to make their connection to the one flight out per day out of Africa. Once their luggage gets to Washington DC within 48 hours it will be delivered to their homes. (I will try to post some photos on my blog page http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com). We also had a wonderful time with the monthly fellowship luncheon and the Bubba Crocker pie cookoff. We raised $724 in the auction the pies. Congratulations to Howard Yeargan, JD Welch, Paul Mayhew for prizes on their pies, and David Gish on his presentation prize.
Let us be in prayer for Kenneth Thompson, in his final stages of life at CTMC. For peace in the Middle East and those families who lost 34 children overnight in the latest battles.
We looked at myth number 5, Christianity is just a crutch for the weak. And we agreed that in a sense it is and we thank God for it. But the real problem is those who don't understand God enough to know God offers comfort, strength, help, etc. when we need God most. Many seek not to make a commitment to something they don't understand. Our prayers are with them
Here is our study guide for today:Monday: The Corinth church wasn’t that much different from the original people of God as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. For today let’s read Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Quite a choice given the people by this passage, but it was still a choice. Of course, the option of choosing against God doesn’t seem very appealing, but given the topic for this week, how would the “strong” choose? How would you choose?
Here is that passage: Deut. 30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The "strong" pride themselves in making their "own" decisions as they make their own way. Given the choice in this pre-Promised Land passage, Joshua offers the truth: It's your choice, life and prosperity, death or destruction? If you love God, walk in His ways, keeps His commands, you will live and increase and you will be blessed by God. But if you choose to live away from God and not acknowledge your need for God, you will "certainly be destroyed." You won't live long in the new land. Joshua goes on to call on heaven and earth to be witnesses against the people who choose to be against God, so choose lilfe so that you and your children may live. "Hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (v. 20).
Christianity never denies our freedom of will. We always have the choice in how we will live and whether we will believe in God or not. The beauty of our faith is that God does love, bless, and protect those who call upon Him. God does provide what others may see as a "crutch." I will be the first to admit I need that. I need that every day. I pray for those who think they can do it on their own.
How do you choose?
PRAYER: Come, strong, loving God to my life. Share with me that which I need to love You and serve You. Help me today to walk with You in the ways You have shown me. Let my life give witness to a living faith. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
