Good Morning!
We will begin our last week of assignments this week. I hope you will keep pushing ahead and finish well. You can do it!
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways.” Romans 11:33
On Day 1, we were encouraged to evaluate and test our spiritual lives. We were instructed to examine our lives for spiritual maturity and the fruit of good works. We also were to inspect those works and determine if they were produced by genuine faith.
Our lesson on Day 2 was a continuation of evaluating the works we do in God’s name. Matt Chandler guided us into discovering how God works in and through us.
We considered on Day 3 the potential of losing our hope and falling away from God due to suffering. Our scripture focus for this day centered on the life of Job. I, particularly, liked this quote from our study.
“Suffering reveals the authenticity of what we claim to believe.”
When I went through a time of great trial and suffering in my own life, I found that the book of Job offered me hope to remain faithful and trust God. I reasoned if Job could proclaim the LORD in the midst of the tremendous suffering he endured, then I could do likewise.
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes– I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
On Day 4, we questioned ourselves about what we really treasure. Matt Chandler ascertained that suffering reveals in us the answer to that question. We also focused on verses that dealt with the glory of God and how our works are done for the glory of His name. The lesson concluded by reading verses that Paul wrote to the Ephesian Church. He wanted to assure them that he was praying for them to increase in their capacity to know, enjoy, and glorify God.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” Ephesians 1:18,19a
We finished the week on Day 5 considering the justice of God. We can confidently rest in the knowledge that our God will set things right and restore the brokenness of our world. A time will come when sin will be no more. We need only to believe and stand firm in faith.
Questions to Ponder
- Have I ever been plagued with doubt concerning the gospel due to a difficult season in my life?
- How seriously do I take God’s warning about sin in my life?
- Have I stubbornly refused to allow God to comfort me during a time of suffering in my life or have I allowed Him to minister to me and through me to others during suffering?
- What have I done today that brought glory to God’s name?
- Will I allow God to increase my desire for Him as He continues to work in me?
Start Week 6 lessons this week! Let’s finish well!
Blessings,
Mimi
