The instruction...
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The instruction book for life is our Bible. We will never learn about life until we read and even memorize parts of that instruction book. I once laid the Bible aside, unread, on my coffee table as a decoration. My folks had given me a little sentence from that book that I let stand on my dresser, which encouraged me to dig deeper. It told me to seek and I would find and to knock and it would be opened. I knocked hard but no answer came until I glanced at that Bible, and something told me that was where God was answering me. What a surprise when the passages I read answered my questions! I kept reading and more answers came, until it led me back to the church and then to the seminary where I gave my life to the author of that book!
At last I found some hope, and it led me to join a group who also believed in that book. It is called a church. Only through a church can we speak with unity! I read more and had passages explained to me from the pulpit and Bible classes. It helped me learn about life! It taught me patience, but it was hope that gave me that patience. We should be in a fellowship that also believes!
If our children realize that their patience may bring them on a trip to Disney World, they would endure. The reward for Christians is much greater. Advent reminds us of that future reward and encourages us to have patience.
It is love for our Lord that gives us hope. If we know that God loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us, then we can endure patiently just as he did! We can hope in a God who would make that kind of sacrifice for us!
For most of us today, we can have hope because of this passage, which is addressed to Gentiles! We were the hated ones. The Pharisees did not want even the shadow of one to touch his robe! We were the outsiders, according to some readings of scripture. But since the coming of our Lord, we have become "children of Abraham" also.
It is mainly through faithful participation in the group of fellow believers that we can grow and that we will find the ability to endure suffering. We need the support of others whom the Lord has given us in his church to endure.
This patience and endurance only comes through faithful attendance and not just on Christmas and Easter! Our baptism is essential, but it is not an insurance policy we can put away until we need it. We need group support. The book of instruction may be the start, but the book tells us that the next step is to find others who can help support us. Then we will be filled with joy!
At last I found some hope, and it led me to join a group who also believed in that book. It is called a church. Only through a church can we speak with unity! I read more and had passages explained to me from the pulpit and Bible classes. It helped me learn about life! It taught me patience, but it was hope that gave me that patience. We should be in a fellowship that also believes!
If our children realize that their patience may bring them on a trip to Disney World, they would endure. The reward for Christians is much greater. Advent reminds us of that future reward and encourages us to have patience.
It is love for our Lord that gives us hope. If we know that God loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us, then we can endure patiently just as he did! We can hope in a God who would make that kind of sacrifice for us!
For most of us today, we can have hope because of this passage, which is addressed to Gentiles! We were the hated ones. The Pharisees did not want even the shadow of one to touch his robe! We were the outsiders, according to some readings of scripture. But since the coming of our Lord, we have become "children of Abraham" also.
It is mainly through faithful participation in the group of fellow believers that we can grow and that we will find the ability to endure suffering. We need the support of others whom the Lord has given us in his church to endure.
This patience and endurance only comes through faithful attendance and not just on Christmas and Easter! Our baptism is essential, but it is not an insurance policy we can put away until we need it. We need group support. The book of instruction may be the start, but the book tells us that the next step is to find others who can help support us. Then we will be filled with joy!
