ADOPTION (Part 3c of 4)

Posted on by BETH

Even though God disciplined His children, he loved them dearly.

Jeremiah 31:20—this account is probably the same as Israel being God’s son.

“Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.”

Hosea 1:3-11—Jezreel seems to be a physical place but starting in verse 10 could be a prophecy of the church

God used Hosea as an object lesson to prophesy of a spiritual nation that would genuinely love him.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. 4 And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. 6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. 7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. 8 Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 9 Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. 11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Romans 9:23-27—This is obviously a fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the church. It proves by the prophecy in Hosea that He would call his nation out of the world to be his beloved people.

“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 https://tinyurl.com/y5xwk3sgEven us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:”

Hosea 11:1—Even though this is quoted in Matthew 2:15 and applied to Christ, it no doubt applies to God calling ‘his son’ Israel, his firstborn, out of Egypt by Moses. Israel’s leaving Egypt is a shadow of God calling His Son Jesus out of Egypt.

“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

In the Old Testament our Heavenly Father made Israel his nation (2 Cor. 6:16 from Isa. 51:4), which is a shadow of the New Testament. He quotes the OT references that he will dwell with them, and applies this to the NT spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit.

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Exodus 29:45 God did send His Presence with Israel who remained with them until the law of Moses was fulfilled.

45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

Leviticus 26:12

12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Haggai 2:5 Even after the Captivity where there is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant, God comforted the Israelites to know that His Spirit still remained among them.

5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

Now also in the New Testament we have the promise of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in the one spiritual temple.

Deuteronomy 23:14—One main purpose for the presence of the Holy Spirit was to deliver the physical Israelites from their enemies.

This is the same reason he dwells in the New Testament spiritual temple of God.

14 For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

Beth Johnson

Chennai Teacher Training School

Women’s Studies

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ADOPTION (Part 2 of 4)

Posted on by BETH

Esther was a Jewish orphan adopted by her uncle before the Jews were carried into Babylonian captivity. Eventually, she became the queen of Persia (Esther 2:7). Her Persian name, Esther, means star, the planet Venus. Hadassah, her Hebrew name, means myrtle, a flower.

Esther is best known as the heroine of the Old Testament book named for her. She was the niece of Mordecai, a servant of Ahasuerus, whose queen she became after Vashti’s banishment for disobedience. Using her influence as queen, Esther managed to avert the persecution of the Jews planned by Haman (Esther 2:7 to Est. 9:32).

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

The book of Esther and the book of Ruth are two books in the Bible that bear the names of Hebrew women. While the book of Ruth begins and ends in poverty, the book of Esther begins with all the splendor of the kingdom of Persia. Persia was the wealthiest nation ever to exist in the history of the world, and Nebuchadnezzar had carried the Jews away from Jerusalem to be bondmen in foreign lands. According to Jeremiah, Jerusalem became a land of desolation (Jer. 9:9-11; Jer. 25:10-11). Esther, the heroine, is first seen as a lowly orphan child brought up by an uncle; yet, to the spiritual eye, she rises to a position of power and service to her people because God put her there for His work among the good figs.

When Esther lacked courage to put her life in the balances in order to save her people, Mordecai used the phrase, “…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14). Yet for all the work given to Esther, if she had not cooperated with God’s plan to do it the way He wanted it to be done, He would have raised up another deliverer from another place and destroyed both her and her house (Est. 4:14).

In addition to Esther’s love and respect for her adoptive uncle, consider a few other important facts associated with this short book:

  • Esther is apparently the only Jewess ever to sit on a foreign throne.
  • Training in respect for her “parents” manifests itself in Esther’s respect for and obedience to Mordecai in spite of her position as queen.
  • We also see that Esther had respect for her husband and the laws of the land even though she was doing her best to find a way to repeal the unfair law that would destroy her people.
  • The accuracy of the accounts of the Persian Empire and its palaces and rules is unsurpassed in secular history.
  • Ahasuerus also, known as Artaxerxes, in secular history for anyone who doubts the authenticity of the account.
  • The Jewish Feast of Purim gains credibility under the Hebrew Old Testament Law because of the explanation found in the book of Esther.
  • “Pur” from which the word Purim comes, means “a lot.” The lot was cast to see which would be the most favorable day for the Jews to stand against their enemies.
  • Even today the Jews respect the “law” given by Esther to remember the Feast of Purim on the fourteenth and fifteenth of March (Est. 9:32).

Did Mordecai tell Esther that she alone could save the Jews (Esther 4:14)? Some men preach that God cannot get his work done unless we do it.  They say, “God has no hands but our hands, no feet but our feet . . . ,” etc. Read (Isa. 55:10-11 and Luke 19:35-40).

ONE LAST EXAMPLE OF ADOPTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

King Saul originally promised to give his elder daughter, Merab, to David, but later he gave Merab to Adriel the Meholathite. After David’s success in battle against the Philistine giant Goliath, King Saul became jealous and therefore connived to destroy David through a marriage to his younger daughter Michal (1 Sam. 14:49). When he invited David to marry Michal, David replied, “I am a poor and lightly esteemed man”, meaning that he was unable to provide a bride price. King Saul offered to accept the foreskins of 100 Philistines for his daughter’s hand in marriage. David immediately killed 200 Philistines, and brought double the number of foreskins to Saul.

Later, we see Michal’s compassionate heart when she chose the welfare of David over the wishes of her father. When Saul’s messengers searched for David in order to kill him, Michal sent them away while saying he was ill and laid up in bed. After Saul’s men left, she let David down through a window and arranged a ‘body’ in his bed as a decoy.

While David hid from King Saul for his life, Saul gave Michal as a wife to Palti, son of Laish. Later, when David became king of Judah and Michal’s brother, Ishbosheth, assumed kingship over the rest of the nation of Israel, David and Ishbosheth made peace, but one condition of peace was that Ishbosheth return his wife Michal. Ishbosheth complied, despite the public protests of Palti. David had indeed paid the bride price twofold for Michal.

After Michal returned to David, she despised him in her heart (1 Chr. 15:29) when he supposedly danced naked (unclothed), while he and the priests were bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:14). Actually, David wore an ephod like the priests wore and thus was not literally naked. David rebuked Michal, and she never bore children until the day she died (2 Sam. 6:20-23). Nevertheless, she was still mother to her sister Merab’s children (2 Samuel 21:8). During that time, Michal had showed great compassion in ‘adopting’ her older sister Merab’s five sons for her. Merab’s husband was Adriel (1 Sam. 18:17-19; 2 Sam 21:8). Nothing is recorded to explain why Merab did not raise her own children, but likely, she had died.

The account has a very sad ending for Michal, when the Lord required David to take vengeance on King Saul’s house because he broke Joshua’s covenant with the Gibeonites by killing many of them. The Gibeonites required the seven of King Saul’s grandchildren be hung.  Thus David was required to take “… the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.”  After that God was entreated for the land and removed the famine (2 Samuel 21:1-4).

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS

Posted on by BETH

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS

by Lisa Wingate

This is a novel of intrigue and heartbreaking injustice, based on the real-life scandal of a Memphis, TN adoption organization that kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the United States. It involves a family of wealth and privilege coming to terms with a buried secret that is revealed when the daughter of a US Senator has a chance encounter with an elderly woman she’s never met before. This encounter leaves her deeply shaken and takes her on a journey through a history of stolen children and illegal adoptions. This is both a sad and uplifting tale that reminds us that the heart never forgets where we belong.

See also: STORY OF LOST FRIENDS

Disclaimer: I have taken the time to read both these books as far as was possible online. The first book does expose a particularly evil adoption scheme out of Knoxville, Tennessee, and I would agree that those children would have memories that make them love and want to reunite with biological family.

However, there are other ways of adopting children. About a year and a half into our marriage, we adopted Denise, a young Native American girl, when she was almost ten.  Because of the filth and disease found where she lived, Government welfare officials had raided the family home and actually burned it to the ground while a fire marshal and the police chief watched. Our son Brett was just six months old at that time. The welfare representative who asked for help with Denise said she must live separately from her siblings because of her cruelty to and domination of them.  She was third in line of seven. Did we or DSS even consider that she might also be cruel to Brett? We had asked to adopt at least one other sibling to make her adjustment to our family easier.  Being almost ten that summer, she had learned many things from the “streets.” Besides having a severe personality disorder and low IQ, she and several siblings tested positive for TB and more than one STD.  She gave us joy at times, but also made our lives miserable at other times. We endured because we wanted to fulfil our part of helping her to grow and change if we could. We were young and naïve back then.

Other children came to us via the Welfare system— several hundred different ones over the years, as I remember.  We never took money to take care of them.  What we did, we did for the love of children.  Some stayed two or three days until they could find a mother or someone else in charge, while others stayed longer. We got along well with all of them. We even kept a teen-aged boy named Harley, who was convicted of attempted murder of his father and uncle. The welfare system wanted him to stay until he graduated from 12th grade so he could have “good school memories.” Because he was an Episcopal child, he would later go from us to another state to live with an Episcopal Priest. That was a while before there was much controversy about such arrangements.

Then after our daughter Ferah was born, I miscarried four babies during my third month of pregnancy. One doctor counseled us to wait for seven years and then perhaps my body would have recovered enough to carry another child.  Meantime a doctor friend of ours in India, P.J. Alexander, said that a baby boy had been born in his hospital and was available for adoption. He asked if we wanted him. His mother was a friend of their family and had become pregnant while she was away in college. The family was RCC, so there was no thought of abortion like Hindu families do. He became our Matthew of course. We accepted him sight unseen, knowing that we would trust God to give us a child that would be for our good and his. Courts in India approved the adoption and a Texas Senator helped us to secure a visa for your entry into the United States.  I was already a few months pregnant with Isharah when we agreed to adopt him, but that did not deter our resolve to continue. Several tried to discourage us in that decision, but my answer was always, “How would I be different than the first mother who rejected him?” We have never been sorry for that decision.

Can you see why I would be so opposed to having any child read only one side of the adoption story?  Nevertheless, there are those who will whisper in an adopted child’s ear and say, “They really are not your people.”

Even though some may have said that to our Matthew, I think he knew he belonged forever. Colin Kaepernick is an example of an adopted child who rejected his Caucasian parents for fame and for “the current cause.”

The second book, STORY OF LOST FRIENDS, fosters hatred and prejudice against one ethnic group in particular like nothing else I have seen. It also encourages the uneducated and ignorant woke culture and their mentors today to keep on beating that same drum. Humanist authors are chosen well and are great at presenting one side of a story in order to convert—much like the liberal media does.

No matter what the topic, there are always at least two sides. My Facebook entry about slavery (https://helpmeettohim.org/2017/01/28/slavery/) shows that there were other nations and other ethnic groups that endured unmerciful treatment as slaves at the hands of evil men.

It would be good to research Texas history and a man named Colin McKinney (see also that Colin McKinney is listed in Restoration Leaders) as a possible slave owner. There seems to be ample proof that his slaves begged to come back to his home place to live and work for wages, after the war (testimony that he was not a brutal boss). There were others in Texas who related accounts of the same arrangement.  You might research poverty in general, after the Civil War. In addition, there is plenty of history to say the South withdrew from the Union, NOT because of slavery, but because of States Rights.  Study about Fort Sumter in South Carolina and the first shots fired there. Slavery was really not the issue as many in the Union army owned slaves.

Child labor laws were not a southern issue. Those laws were passed for two primary reasons:

  1. Manufacturing companies in the North offered cheap labor for immigrants and their families, but most Americans considered long hours of child labor abusive.
  2. John Dewey wanted kids in public schools all day for their humanist indoctrination.

Study the inventions of Eli Whitney and see how the form (dye) for making guns in assembly line fashion plus his invention of the cotton gin really set up the country for a Civil War.

So much more could be said about all this, but I’m working on ADOPTION (part two), which is based in scripture.

Beth

THE HEART OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS by Brett Johnson

Posted on by BETH

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” (1 Pet. 2:21).

As we look briefly at a number of qualities, is there any situation that Jesus could have shown each of these qualities more clearly than He did on the cross?

OBEDIENCE

  • Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ( 2:5-8).

Are we called to be that obedient?

  • And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life ( 2:8-10).

If we are supposed to be obedient even if we have to die to obey, then what other things should stop us from obeying? Because we don’t “feel like it”?

  • Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things (John 8:28).

As Jesus hung on the cross, everyone could see how completely He obeyed God.

SUBMISSION

With what heart did Jesus obey? Is it possible to do what is required of us, but to do it unwillingly?

  • And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done(Luke 22:41-42).
  • But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:6-7).

Submitting to God requires humility – accepting whatever His will for us is, even if that is not what we would have chosen.

Submitting to God requires submitting to those He has placed over us as well.

  • Obeythem that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you ( 13:17).

With what attitude do we obey – rebellion, or willingness?

FAITH

Submitting completely requires faith in God’s goodness.

  • And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46).
  • For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be comparedwith the glory which shall be revealed in us ( 8:18).

We can be okay with whatever happens because we so strongly believe God’s promise that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. I might not be able to imagine how that could be, but I believe God’s promise enough to act on it.

HUMILITY

  • Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ( 2:5–8).

As Creator, Jesus humbled Himself greatly to even come to earth at all. How much humility did it require to make Himself the servant of the people He had created, and to suffer like a criminal at their hands!

Do I feel “entitled” to decent treatment? I’m definitely not as “entitled” as Jesus was! If people treated Jesus badly, they certainly could treat me badly.

  • It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? ( 10:25).

How much greater was Jesus than these people? But He chose to put Himself under them, because He chose the heart of a servant. I might be equal to my sister, but can I choose to make myself her servant?

  • But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many ( 20:25 – 28).

Jesus said that when they lifted Him up, they would see He did nothing of Himself, but only what the Father taught Him. If He is my Master, then I should not do anything of myself either. Whatever my Master says, I should do, even if it is as hard as dying!

  • Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3 – 4).

Humility made Jesus accept that God was in control of His life; He could have controlled what happened to Him and prevented those people from killing Him, but He humbled Himself to commit His life to God.

  • Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator (1 Pet. 4:19).

MERCY

Jesus had mercy even on the ones who were in the process of killing Him.

  • And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him (Luke 22:50 – 51).
  • A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth ( 42:3).

Remember how much God values every soul, and doesn’t want even one to perish. Jesus didn’t want people to get what they deserved, so we shouldn’t either.

  • The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

If Jesus died so that those who were killing Him might have a chance to repent, how merciful should we be to those who may have wronged us?

  • But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died ( 14:15).

He probably knew that many would not repent, but He still had mercy on them to give them a chance.

  • But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance ( 9:13).

How much mercy has God had on me? But I cannot have any mercy on others?

  • Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ( 18:32 – 33).

MEEKNESS

  • He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth ( 53:7).

How much meekness did Jesus have not to react to those who were spitting on Him, mocking Him, taunting Him to prove it if He were really the Christ!

Remember that God allows these situations for us to be tested.

  • Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11).

Did Jesus have the same understanding that David did, when Shimei cursed him? If it is God’s will for us to be tested, we should have the meekness not to rebel against God’s way of testing us.

  • And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. (2 Sam. 16:11 – 12).

As long as someone is not perfect, the devil can use their imperfections to be a trial to me. This is God’s will. I also have had struggles, which may have been used to test others, so I can’t get angry with others.

  • Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way ( 14:13).

FORGIVENESS

  • And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots (Luke 23:33 – 34).

Has anyone done this much wrong to us? How can there be anything we would not then forgive someone for?

  • And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you ( 4:32).

God has forgiven us so much, how could we not forgive others?

If we have the meekness and understanding not to get angry over offenses, and If we understand that it is God’s will for us to be tested by others weaknesses, then we can remember our own weaknesses and encourage each other to grow without holding a grudge against them.

  • But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (1 Cor. 12:18, 21 – 22).

TEMPERANCE

  • Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1 Pet 2:22 – 23).

How hard is it not to lash out when someone is physically hurting us!

His temperance required not only a great knowledge and wisdom and faith to understand and accept the situation, but also a huge amount of spiritual might to be able to control His lips.

  • He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city ( 16:32).

Jesus’ control over His words on the cross show that His heart had become fully complete.

  • For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2).

ENDURANCE

  • Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? ( 26:53 – 54).

How did Jesus have so much patience that even though He knew He could end the situation instantly and “show” them their mistake, He endured that much pain for that many hours?

Jesus understood why these things had to happen, and had built up that endurance by passing every other test of His faith up to that day.

  • Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:3 – 4).
  • For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14 – 15).

What things are we called to endure? Anything nearly as painful and miserable as what Jesus went through? What shouldn’t we be willing to endure for His sake, considering what He endured for us?

  • For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Pet 2:20 – 21).

This gains us great favor with God.

HOPE

  • For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope ( 8:20).

Jesus came to earth with a specific purpose in mind, which He had faith in and was hoping for. Hope of something wonderful can give us motivation to endure!

  • For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it ( 8:24 – 25).
  • Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ( 1:16 – 19).

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would grow in knowledge and wisdom so that they would understand their hope. It is worth waiting for! Even if we don’t see how it could possibly.

JOY

  • Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ( 12:2).

Jesus endured all that for the joy that was set before Him. You wouldn’t think that joy would be what was in His mind as He was hanging on the cross!

Joy can come from understanding and having great hope in the work of God. Then we can have joy in even the worst-seeming situations, because God promises that He will work out ALL things for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

  • And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose ( 8:28).
  • We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body (2 Cor. 4:8 – 10).

The more we understand the work of God, the more we can rejoice. Even in the middle of a horrible situation understanding the work of God can show us there are things to rejoice in, but we have to grow in the ability to rejoice. And choose to rejoice rather than complain!

LOVE

  • Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Jesus’ death shows us the greatest love that there could be – the same love that we are called to have.

  • A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34).
  • For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ( 5:7 – 8).

That love might sometimes seem unimaginable – that He loved not only those who followed Him, but also His enemies – doing good even for those who were hatefully hurting Him.

Yet we’re called to the same love:

  • But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect ( 5:44, 45, 48).

How can we learn to love like this? If we never do anything for these people, do we value them? How much does God do for these people? He sent His Son to die for them, besides His daily care. He values each soul, and doesn’t want them to be lost! If we spend all our lives for these people like Jesus did, it will matter to us that these souls we’ve worked so hard for not be lost!

  • Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:10 – 11).
  • How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish ( 18:12 – 14).

If a parent has a child who does wrong, do they hate that child, or grieve for them and do everything they can to bring that soul back to the Lord again? It is possible to learn to love every soul like that. God does!

Is it possible to form such a heart in ME?

  • For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen ( 3:14 – 21).

To What Does Jesus’ Death Obligate Me?

  • Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God (1 Pet. 4:1-2).
  • For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14-15).

Because His hands were driven through,
Take and bind my hands for you.

Because His feet the nails endured,
Send mine far to spread your word.

Because His tongue clave to His jaws,
Proclaim with mine your righteous laws.

Because His back was made to bleed,
Use mine to bear the brethren’s needs.

Because His flesh was marred and torn,
Take and use mine ‘til it’s worn.

Because for love He, anguished, died,
Give me the strength to be crucified!

In Jesus’ name, AMEN

 

Beth Johnson

Chennai Teacher Training School

Women’s Studies

Muliebral Viewpoint

Articles and Books by Beth Johnson

 

DOPPELGÄNGER

Posted on by BETH

doppelgänger – noun

Definition of doppelgänger

1
a: double sense 2a said she had seen his doppelgänger
b: alter ego sense 1b
c: a person who has the same name as another

2: a ghostly counterpart (see counterpart sense

3 a) of a living person

MY MOTHER myself

This photo  was made just a few months before my mother completed her 80th year.  Now I am nearing 80 and appear much older than she seemed here.

One might wonder how such a topic could be used in a daily Bible study; of what value is it?  Would Christians be moved to search the subject in a paranormal sense?[i]  We often speak casually about some other person we meet being our double, our twin, maybe even our second-self, but do we really mean that?  Why is appearance and behavior so important?  If a child bears my name, am I more concerned with how they move and speak?

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