Friday, February 10, 2006

Good Morning

 

Today's Reading:  Revelation 3:1-6; read pages 131-135 in Barclay; stop before "The Letter to Philadelphia"

 

-- wrapping up the letter to Sardis.

 

--  I think that the main thing about the remainder of this chapter of the book is the promise that Christ makes to those who are faithful.  Again, in the spirit that these letters are meant to be understood and apply to the church universal, we can take from this that Jesus knows when we have been faithful, even in a case like Sardis where there were just a few faithful within a larger group whose faith was dead.

 

-- I find it interesting that the scripture doesn't read that Christ will write your name in the book of Life, but instead, he won't erase your name from the Book of Life.  That could mean that (and these are my observations -- I don't have all of the academic background for these options that Barclay usually presents) (1) we all start out in the book of Life at birth, and then we lose our place when we don't confirm our place by accepting Christ or (2) that you are written into the book of life when you accept Christ, but you can lose your place through your unfaithfulness.  Either way, the thought appears to be that you can lose your place in the book of Life, which is a thought that many people would debate you on - many argue that you are permanently saved once saved.

 

-- something to talk about on Sunday.  See you then.

 

Today's Scripture

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.

 

Philippians 4:8

Today's prayer requests:   Dr. Page

Dr. Page is Ron and Brad's finance teacher at Auburn, who has lymphoma, and is not doing well.  We need to remember him as he struggles with the disease and the treatment.

Today's class member prayer:

Brandon Herring

Have a great day.

Jay