Daily Lesson: Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday

I tried to start up blogging again, and look what happened. I skipped two whole days. TWO DAYS!! I don’t know what is up with me. Let’s get started:

Monday

This week’s lesson chronicles the efforts of God’s people over time to follow God’s leading in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. After initially proceeding with great energy to rebuild the Temple, God’s people in the time of Cyrus lost heart in the face of armed intervention. What terms or conditions would dissuade you from doing God’s work today? Have you ever felt resistance as you sought to serve God with all your heart?

Hmmm…that is an interesting one. I have to say that there are many things today that could persuade one to stop doing God’s work. There are bad influences and pressures all around me on a daily basis. You have your friends, parents, family, TV, music, and whole bunch of other distractions that could eventually stop you from your purpose. Me personally, I think that my weakness,  would be music or TV. I try not to get involved, but sometimes, I find myself behaving in ways that I do not normally, and  acting like something I saw or hear. What about you? What would persuade you? Tell me your answers in the comments box.

Tuesday

Flashlight

“This was a time of wonderful opportunity for the Jews. The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts of kings, and it was for the people of God to labor with the utmost activity to carry out the decree of Cyrus. They should have spared no effort to restore the temple and its services, and to reestablish themselves in their Judean homes. But in the day of God’s power many proved unwilling. The opposition of their enemies was strong and determined, and gradually the builders lost heart” (Prophets and Kings, p. 572).

The Flashlight quote taken from Ellen White’s Prophets and Kings notes that the Temple builders in the days of Babylonian King Cyrus lost their enthusiasm for following God’s leading in rebuilding the Temple. Has there been a time in your family or church family when people have lost heart after initially following God’s leading? Have you ever been involved with an effort to build a church, literally with your labor, perhaps as part of a short-term mission project? What impact did that experience have on you? Have you been or are you part of a project to raise funds for a new church home for your congregation? If so, was or is the congregation fully supportive, or is it divided? The Old Testament Temple builders were guided by prophets, so there was strong evidence of God’s leading. How do we discern God’s leading today?

I have been attending my church since I was born, and I have seen many people come and go. I have seen youth older than me, be pathfinders, be baptized, and then leave the church. I have seen people be baptized and then after a while leave the church. I have also seen people who are baptized come to the church and stay faithful and devoted to God.

Just recently my church did a revival tent meeting, and close to 30 people were baptized. The meeting was very powerful. Many of the sermons, and sessions gave me new insight on my life as a you Christian.

I remember a time briefly when I was younger, when my church was asked to help raise money for a new congregation. These new church was full of people who had just accepted the Advent message, people who were Baptist, nondenominational, and other thins before. I remember my church being decided about giving funds. People complained that the new congregation did not take the message serious, and that they still wore their earring and allot of other crock. Other members said that we must help them so that they can continue blearing the truth. It is crazy how Christians can be like that.

I believe that we see God’s power today through experiences. When he answers our prayers, or gives us blessings. That is the most obvious way I think we see it. If you have any other thoughts, put them below in comments.

Wednesday

The word “heart” is seen in the chosen Punch Lines as well as in Flashlight. The love and service to God noted in these texts are Christian hallmarks. Yet there are times when Christians may lose heart from any number of causes. Indeed, it may be that a Christian has done something truly evil, yet Samuel’s admonition to God’s people of his day to serve the Lord with all their heart remains true for us today. Through God’s grace we are given opportunity to claim His forgiveness for being faint of heart or worse.

punch lines
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorists, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, NIV).

“‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart’” (1 Samuel 12:20, NIV).

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37, NIV).

There isn’t much to say here. Think about the punch lines, and the statements that they said. We as Christians, loose faith for many reasons, but we have to keep trucking on.