Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Hebrews 11:8-12

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he
was called......And he went out, not
knowing where he was going.
(Hebrews 11:8)

I have a question for you today.
Has God ever asked you to do
something that seemed to you,
at the moment, to be unreasonable?
Something that took you into the
realm of the unknown.  Let me ask you,
What if God asked you to turn down a
long awaited promotion, or to avoid a long
awaited relationship with a person you
loved.

Reflection:

What if God called you to a remote part of
the world or asked you to let go of your
children to serve him in a faraway country.
Facing the unknown brings all kinds of
"what if's" into our minds.  Yet God quit
often asks us to chart unknown territory as
we follow Him.  Lets say, to obey His
commands to forgive, or give away all
of our earthly riches to the poor, or to give
up things that provide security and pleasure
often leaves us in the very scary territory of
the unknown outcomes.  This is really scary
to us not knowing how things are going to turn
out.  Fear of the unknown is number one on
our fear factor scale.
Now imagine Abraham and how he felt when
God asked him to literally move his whole
family without telling him where he was
going (Gen. 12: 1-3).  God also asked
Abraham to persevere, to stay in unknown
land while he was been seduced to return
with his family to the past comforts of Ur.
As our life continues, it is like entering
uncharted territory.  The fear of the unknown
could cripple our capacity to follow God's
leading through the days ahead.  Yet like
Abraham, when we cling to the One who
knows all things, WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS,
regardless where He leads us. 

Prayer:

Oh God, I realize that many things about
tomorrow, I don't understand.  But I do know
that You hold on to me tomorrow, YOU HOLD
MY HAND.
AMEN!

Scripture:

The Lord who created you says:
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters and
great trouble, I will be with you."
Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT


Two Margarets

Margaret MacLachlan and Margaret Wilson,
Covenanters in Wigtown, Scotland, were tried
for their faith on April 13, 1685, for refusing to
take the Oath of Abjuration, which stated that the
Church of God is a department of the State.
Found guilty of rebellion, attending field meetings,
and worshiping in places other than a church,
they were ordered to receive their sentences on
their knees. When they refused to bow before
anyone but God, they were forced down to their
knees and then were sentenced to death by
drowning.

On May 11, 1685, the two faithful Margarets
were tied to posts and staked in the sea as the
tide was rising. The older Margaret (MacLachlan)
was farther out. They were given many chances
to recant their beliefs, but they stood firm and
resolute.

Margaret MacLachlan remained silent, her eyes
closed throughout the ordeal, communing with
Christ until death. As the tide rose eighteen-year-
old Margaret Wilson began to sing a Covenanter
rendition of Psalm 25:7. Then, she recited from
Romans 8: "We are more than conquerors
through him that loves us.…"

After the waves washed over her head, the
soldiers pulled her out, pleading with her one
last time to "pray for the king!" She prayed,
but her pray was, "Lord, give him repentance,
forgiveness, and salvation, if it be Thy holy will.
" The angry soldiers threw her back into the water,
and she joined Margaret MacLachlan before the
throne.

We may never face the rising tide of the sea,
but the deep waters of trouble and loss can be
just as overwhelming. How do you react when
you feel you are about to drown in the rising tide
of your own troubles?

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian
History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten
(Tyndale, 2003), entry for May 11.

from Our Daily Bread

Scripture:

READ: Acts 1:1-11

While they watched, He was taken up,
and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Acts 1:9

Reflection:

When the husband of my longtime friend
and publishing colleague collapsed and
later died, there was no doubt that life had
slipped away from him. There were witnesses.
The same was true when Jesus died. But
three days later, Jesus was raised from the
dead! We have no doubt that this is true
because there were witnesses who later
saw Him alive.

When we gathered for Dave’s memorial
service, we read familiar passages of Scripture
that affirm our hope that he is now enjoying
new life in heaven. But we claimed these
promises by faith because none of us
witnessed Dave go to heaven. There was,
however, a witness who saw Jesus in heaven.
Not long after witnesses saw Jesus ascend
(Acts 1:9), Stephen saw the heavens open
“and the Son of Man standing at the right
hand of God!” (7:56). One of the reasons we
know that Jesus spoke the truth about going
to prepare a place for us (John 14:2) is that
He has been seen alive in heaven.

When a loved one goes ahead of us to heaven,
we feel as if we’re being pulled in the opposite
direction—down into an abyss of sadness. Yet,
because God kept His promise to raise Christ
and take Him to heaven, we can trust Him to
do the same for all who love and follow Him.  —
Julie Ackerman Link


The Lord has promised to prepare
A place in heaven above—
A home where we will always be
With Him and those we love. —Sper
.
THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN IS OUR ETERNAL
HOPE