<BrethrenVoice>
<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY>
<03 July 2002>
Contents:
---------
(1) <A-Slice-of-Infinity> "There is none but God" - Ravi Zacharias
(2) <Devotional> "Living life God's way - on finding God" - Ross Thompson
(3) <Article> ""Lion women of Zion", "Shifra & Puah" - Pastor Dick &
Jo-ann
(1) <A-Slice-of-Infinity>
THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT GOD
Ravi Zacharias
One of the greatest self-deceptions regarding guilt is to not feel any
guilt. One may think, "I've lived my life as best as is possible. What is
there to feel guilty about?" There are multitudes who so live under this
illusion that they are innocent. Repentance is not a necessary concept
within their framework. They reason that God could not possibly be so
limited in his acceptance.
I have been asked countless times in many cultures a question that seeks to
make the Christian faith look unfair. People will ask, "Are you saying that
so and so, who lived such a good life, may be in hell?" What the questioner
in some cases tries to imply is that there is no such thing as hell. If
hell is exempted for "good" people, what happens to the "bad" ones? Are
they content, then, with even that reality-that the "bad" people indeed have
a "bad" destiny? So who is "good" and more importantly, what criteria do we
use?
In 1999 the Barna Research Group found in a national study that most people
believe that heaven "is an outcome to be earned through their good character
or behavior." I shudder to think of how few there would be in heaven if
goodness determined the number. What are we talking about when we say good?
Is it up to each of us to define what is good enough?
There is only one who has the right to define good, and that is God. That
is precisely why the message of Christianity is not one whereby we earn our
way into heaven. Such a concept is completely out of keeping with what God
has to offer us. Jesus did not come into this world to make bad people
good. He came to make dead people live. In fact, when He was questioned by
some as to why He was spending time with "sinners," He replied, "It is not
those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick; I did not
come to call the righteous, but sinners."
You see, even our best deeds can often be self-serving. We all need the
grace of God to enter heaven and to be freed from our guilt. Claiming
innocence in the eyes of God is unjustifiable, for Jesus himself said, "No
one is good except God alone." The most virtuous person in this world is
not too virtuous to need God's grace and thanks be to God for this hope!
---
Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).
Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of Ravi
Zacharias International Ministries
_______________________________________________________________________
(2) <Devotional>
"LIVING LIFE GOD'S WAY - ON FINDING GOD"*
Ross Thompson
God gives us just enough to seek him,and never enough to fully find him.To
do more would inhibit our freedom, and our freedom is very dear to God. (Ron
Hansen)
---
So when the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look,God called to him from
the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
Exodus 3:4
So many times I wonder why I do not hear from God. I wait for Him to reveal
His will to me and feel as if I am being ignored. But am I? Or am I simply
not hearing Him speak? Usually when I feel as though God has forgotten about
me or is ignoring me, it always turns out to be the other way around. It is
me being so busy, and allowing my mind to become cluttered with so much that
I don't take the time to listen, to be still, and to wait for Him to speak.
God always wants to speak to us and communicate His will and His love but
unless we remove ourselves and our minds from all the clutter and be still
in His presence we may not hear. Daily we need to communicate with God to
make good choices and use sound judgment. We can avoid reckless decisions if
we will take a moment to stop what we are doing and listen to God.
Lord, here I am. Speak to my heart, I am listening and I desire to hear and
receive your wisdom and instruction. You have not neglected me but I have
neglected you. Forgive me and strengthen my heart. Amen.
GodTodayDevotions; 4/9/2002
----
Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to
take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to
modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image. (A. W. Tozer)
---
Courtesy: Ross Thompson +Living Life God's Way+
_______________________________________________________________________
(3) <Article>
"LION WOMEN OF ZION" "SHIFRA & PUAH"
Pastor Dick & Jo-ann
If I asked you this morning if you were aware of who "Shifra & Puah" were in
the Bible, most all would be at a loss to respond. But can I tell you today
that they were used by G-d to sustain the Jewish race! Women are so vital in
history. Let us share our message together and you will see exactly how
vital these two really were! It is in the parasha from Exodus 1:1~~6-1}:
Jacob's original clan of seventy multiples to become the teeming Israelite
people is the essence of the story. But the reigning Pharaoh, who no longer
knows Joseph, fears a fifth column in his midst. And so to stave off a
possible slave rebellion, he enslaves the Israelites and sets them to work
building royal treasure cities. He also orders the Israelite midwives,
Shifra and Puah, to kill all Hebrew male babies.. But, they defy His orders,
and so he instructs his own people to throw the babies in the Nile.
One of the Hebrew women, Yokheved, hides her newborn baby son for three
months and then, when she can no longer conceal him at home, sets him adrift
on the Nile in a reed basket. Pharaoh's daughter finds him and adopts him,
unwittingly hires the mother, Yokheved, as his "wet nurse." She names her
Hebrew son, Moshe' {Moses} which means "draws out." And Moses grows up in
Pharaoh's palace.
One day, Moses comes upon an Egyptian taskmaster beating an Israelite slave
and strikes the Egyptian dead. Afraid of being punished, Moses flees to
Midian where he meets Zipporah, daughter of the local priest, and Zipporah
bears Moses a son, Gershom.
When Pharaoh dies, and a new Pharaoh succeeds him, G-d hears the Israelites
cry in bondage, remembers the covenant with Avraham, and takes notice of the
suffering people.
One day tending his Father-in-laws flock in Midian, Moses chances upon a
burning bush, out of which G-d addresses him, commanding him to return to
Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt.. Then G-d shows
Moses signs to convince Pharaoh of his authority, reveals to him a new
divine name~~~" I am that I am"~~~and foretells the Israelites liberation
and future possession of the Promised Land.
When Pharaoh orders the midwives, Shifra and Puah, to kill all the newborn
Israelite boys but to let the girls live, the two women fail to follow his
orders, claiming that Hebrew women are simply too vigorous. As it is
written: "BEFORE THE MIDWIFE CAN COME TO THEM, THEY HAVE GIVEN BIRTH"
{Exodus 1:19}. Who are these two brave women lion hearted women who dare to
stand up to the god-king of Egypt?
These two heroic women were none other than Yokheved and Miriam, Moses'
mother and sister. Although Pharaoh threatened to burn them alive if they
continued to disobey him, they nonetheless stood firm and were miraculously
spared from punishment.
But the sages and rabbis say: "No you have it all wrong." Shifra and Puah
were not "Hebrew" midwives but non-Israelite midwives of the Hebrews. Yet
even though they were not Israelites, they still "FEARED G-D", that is the
Hebrews G-d.{Exodus 1:21} and so refused to follow Pharaoh's orders to kill
the male Hebrew babies. They, like Pharaoh's own daughter, were willing to
give comfort to the oppressed stranger in their midst. How much the more do
they need to be praised!
Now here is the amazing part of this parasha! Because Shifra and Puah
refused to obey the Pharaoh's cruel edict, G-d rewarded them!! As it is
written:"AND BECAUSE THE MIDWIVES FEARED G-D, HOUSEHOLDS WERE ESTABLISHED
FOR THEM".
[Exodus 1:21]. Because of G-d's mighty hand, not a single child under Shifra
& Puah's care, were born lame, blind, or blemished in any way. Shifra &
Puah were also privileged to become ancestors of priests, Levites, kings and
princes!
His bondservants, Pastor Dick & Jo-ann
____________________________________________________________________
["EXAMINE YOURSELVES WHETHER YOU ARE IN FAITH." (2 Cor 13:5)]
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