Living in a Different World?

Posted on 2020-08-06 by Mirjam Fels

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

John 17:15-17

LORD Jesus, help us to be hearers and doers of Your Word. Let the people around us see the Light in our life. Enable us to explain to them the ‘Reason’ we have for our hope. Guide us in the study of Your Word, our thoughts, and our actions. All glory to You. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.

Are we living according to the tradition of men, rather than living according to Christ? Why? Or, do our lives reveal that we are Christians, that we are different from the world?

While reading a passage of Scripture and searching through a few commentaries I’ve found the following very interesting:

“It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs of the people, their habits and ways–above all, the family life, stood in marked contrast to what would be seen elsewhere. On every side there was evidence that religion here was not merely a creed, nor a set of observances, but that it pervaded every relationship, and dominated every phase of life.”

Click to read or download Sketches of Jewish Social Life, by Alfred Edersheim online.

How do we make a difference in our social life? Do our actions and words tell others that we are people of the Word and not people of the world? What are our habits and ways revealing about our faith in Christ? Does what we believe dominate every area of our life? Why? Why not?

Who is Jesus to you? What’s different about you since you have been born from above?

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Question — Back to Church

Posted on 2020-08-04 by Mirjam Fels

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 4:23

Our church plans to get back to in-person worship services starting next Sunday. How about yours?

Do you long to go back to the church building for worship?

What do you expect to find there?
What are you looking forward to do at this place?
What is your greatest fear in going back to in-person worship service?

Worship God in Spirit and Truth.

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Make the Right Decision

Posted on 2020-08-03 by Mirjam Fels

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

LORD Jesus, we praise You for driving out the darkness and giving us Light in our life. Enable us, O God, we pray, to read Your Word, to study the words that You have said, and to trust and obey Your perfect Way. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

What things or sayings are confusing you? Have you ever stumbled across advice that didn’t make any sense at all? How do you decide which of the many professional opinions to follow if their counsel contradict each other?

During our morning walks we usually come by the local supermarket. Over the past weeks, due to the coronavirus restrictions, there were barriers put up to make people get in line before entering the shop. Several signs on posts mention specific rules. As you line up, starting from the beginning of the queue toward the store’s door, this is what is written on them:

1 We ask that only one person per household does the shopping. (start queueing)
2 To cut queueing times, only groups of two people permitted into the shop at a time. (middle of the queue)
3 We require that only ONE person per family is allowed to enter and do the shopping. (at door, end of the queue)

What is the law? It’s rather confusing, isn’t it?

The other day I have searched for information in regard to a specific recipe. What I came up with wasn’t of much help. One person said to do this, the other person mentioned to do the exact opposite.

What works best? Which information is the right one?

My third example is something that happened about thirty years ago. I had just given birth to my first child. The advice back then was to never, ever put the baby on his back into the crib, but to always lay him down on his belly. Years later, during a rise of SIDs (sudden infant death), the doctors began to urge the mothers to make sure that the babies were lay down on the side or back.

Today there is a whole list of what we could do to reduce cot death. However, a little later on the text usually reveals too that the cause of it is not known.

Confusing, is it not? What, now, is the best way to lay down the baby into the crib?

You might have come across advice that changed over the years. Like me you might wonder about the right and the wrong way of doing things.

God, through His Word, has given us a good and sure foundation and guideline for the decisions we have to make throughout our life.

Do you trust in the LORD and His infinite wisdom?

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