We attended my husband’s 45th high school reunion this weekend. Whew, those years sure flew by fast! We both grew up in the same small Oklahoma town. Both of our parents have passed and are buried in cemeteries just a few short miles from each other. While we were back in town, we took the opportunity to visit their gravesites. This ritual of remembrance is important, though we don’t do it nearly as often since we no longer live nearby. It’s a chance to reflect, appreciate the connection to our past with all its beautiful memories, and shape our view…
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6-7 For the past few days, we have been looking at the choices made by people in the Bible, good and not good. But the Scriptures recorded them all as examples for us. When I was reading Ephesians yesterday, the above verses stood out to me. Paul wrote this letter to the church at Ephesus, commending them for their faith. He reminds them that they had made a choice to serve the Lord with all their hearts and He had blessed them abundantly for it. The New Living Translation says that they would be examples to all future ages: “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So, God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are…
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 Joshua had served the Lord faithfully, first under Moses and then as the leader after Moses died. Now he is near the end of his life, and he calls the people together to renew the covenant that the Lord had made with them. He reminds them of how the Lord had been with them, supplying their needs, and giving them victory over the inhabitants of the land. Now they are about to go and possess the inheritance. He exhorts them not to serve the gods of the land, but to stand true to the God who had brought them to this promised land. Joshua goes a step further and declares that whatever they chose, he and his household would serve the Lord. He made the choice not only for himself but for his family. Judges 2:7 tells us: “And the…
“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 Have you ever had company arrive at your door unexpectedly and been overwhelmed? You rush around, trying to tidy up the house and at the same time welcome your guests. So many things go through your mind. Have they had lunch? If not, what can I prepare in a hurry? Imagine how Mary and Martha felt when Jesus and His disciples…
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)” Genesis 49:22-24 From the time that Joseph was a child, his father saw that he was different from his brothers. Part of this was because he was the son of Rachel, but he also had a pure spirit that contrasted with the others. Jacob blessed him with a coat of many colours such as a prince might wear. It seemed that he did not have to work in the fields like the others. Joseph dreamed dreams that we know today were prophetic of what was to come. It was probably not a wise choice for him to reveal them to his brothers because it caused them to envy and hate him. But God’s hand was upon him. The choices that he made later led him to the fulfillment of these prophecies. He chose to obey his father…
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,” Luke 15:18 There is an old chorus on my mind this morning, as I was thinking about the choices: Back to my Father and home, Back to my Father and home I will arise and go Back to my Father and home. Most of us are familiar with the story Jesus told about the Prodigal Son. This young man made wrong choices in his life. He desired he wanted to live his own life, so he asked his father to give him his inheritance early. With his pockets filled with money, he forsook his family home and ventured out into the world. At first, he had lots of friends and was enjoying life until his money ran out and his friends deserted him. He found himself feeding pigs, so hungry that he was willing to eat their food. At this low point in his life, he remembered what life had been like in his father’s house and made a wise choice to return. His father was waiting with open arms to receive him and restore him to…