Good Morning - Thursday, September 15, 2005

Good Morning! 

 

The new unit for this week is  Unit 20, The Way to Heaven   

 

Focus Scriptures for the Week:  

 

Hebrews 11:16   

 

They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

 

John 12:26

 

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.  Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

 

Today's Scriptures:  1 Peter 4:7-19

 

Today's Discussion: 

 

-- today's scripture has two messages.  The first part is description of how we should live as Christians, and the second portion is encouragment for us during the times of trouble that we will run into for living as Christians.

 

-- as it happens, the passage from Wesley's writings that I read today is a good companion to the scripture reading.  The passage from Wesley that begins "Therefore strive ye now, in this your day . . . " speaks about Christian living in somewhat different, but similar way.  The Wesley passage speaks generally about the fact that living as a Christian will naturally put you in the minority, and put you at odds with society.  Wesley's passage is a play on the scripture regarding the way to heaven, which discusses the way to heaven being a narrow way that only a few will make.  He talks about us being aware of how we are living, and if we are living like everyone else, if we are living life that the culture or society wants us to live -- either out of laziness or peer pressure -- we are likely on the broad way that does not lead to heaven, but instead to the bottomless pit, as he writes.

 

-- however, if we take up the Christian life, if we live as Peter outlines in his scripture, then we are on the right path, the narrow path.  But as Wesley says in his sermon, this is likely to be just a few on the path with us.  But Wesley offers the encouragement that it will be worth it, because once we make it to heaven, the loneliness of the narrow way will be replaced with the wonder of belonging to all those who have gone before to heaven.  Peter offers the encouragement that it is worth it to be criticized or ostracized because of the reward at the end of the journey.

 

-- the main thing for today is encouragement that the way to heaven, the life of a Christian, may seem obvious to us, and as fundamental a thing as there is in the world, isn't in the mainstream.  Both Peter and Wesley want to warn us that you will be in the minority, and likely ridiculed or worse occasionally for being on the way.  But both, in their different ways, lets us know that heaven is not just the end of our journey, but a celebration and reward for our faithfulness to staying on the narrow way.

 

Question for Sunday:  

 

-- have you had a narrow path vs. broad path moment?  - -  a moment where you had to go against the crowd or just a single person and choose to do something different in order to stay on the narrow way?  What were the consequences of that decision?

 

Today's prayer request:    Saundra Aaron

 

Saundra is Valerie's brother's mother-in-law, and she has just found out yesterday from a biopsy that she has breast cancer.  They are going to decide today or tomorrow whether to do radiation or surgery.

 

Today's class member prayer: 

 

Valerie Waters

 

Have a great day.

 

Jay