Margaret writes:
Our small group
discussion this week started out with a homework review and share time.
Everyone was especially chatty tonight and had something to share – a good
indication that our group is comfortable with each other! We talked a little
bit about our own experiences with persecution for our Christian faith, or lack
thereof, and realized how UNpersecuted we really are in America.
Our discussion from
the homework turned to angels. We listed some of their responsibilities as
outlined throughout scripture: they’re messengers for God, give guidance and
direction, and they carry out the law of God (basically, when judgment needed
to be served, it was often the angels who did it!).
We learned this week
that New Testament writers often quoted references from the Old Testament.
Psalm 110:1 was a favorite and most commonly cited: “The LORD says to my Lord:
‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” I think this
was such a favorite quote partly because it gave the listener hope and proof that
God is just!
After discussing our
lesson for this coming week, Shannon closed us in prayer. While she was
praying, I felt the Spirit bring to mind a recent blessing and I knew I needed
to share about it. I’m guilty of forgetting to “brag” on God for His goodness
when it comes to prayer request times. I told my friends of how we were blessed
financially, and unexpectedly, this week. It came right after a time of
financial hardship for us, but also, after we gave sacrificially to a friend
for a mission trip to Nepal. Our attitude toward money has changed so
drastically in the past several years once we realized that it’s all God’s
money in the first place! We didn’t give to our friend expecting to be blessed.
But we immediately gave God the credit and the praise when we were! I’m glad I
stopped to publicly brag on God. It opened the door for several of the other
ladies in the room to share too! We heard other stories of God providing
financially this week, and of a marriage being healed and restored when hope
was lost! What an encouraging way to end our evening together and start a new
week, anticipating God’s work in our lives!
Y'all, don't you wish you were a part of this precious group of women? I missed them so much tonight!
The actual teaching session in Hebrews tonight taught us how crucial it is to not drift backwards! Lisa explains this concept by talking about a riptide and trying to get to shore, against the riptide and all odds. 1 Peter tells us that our enemy is like a lion, attempting to literally kill us. He is not passive--and therefore, we will be dragged down by the riptide of the lion if we don't fight against him. She also brings us to Judges 3 and shares that we are called to active duty! We are called to fight against the enemy.
Then, the pastor/author goes into a description of Christ and angels. He reminds us that Jesus, for a season, allowed Himself to become lower than the angels in order to redeem all of mankind. This was a voluntary humiliation. Wow! In verse 10, the pastor tells us that Christ voluntarily prepared Himself for the cross by suffering in order to alleviate our suffering eternally. How encouraging is this teaching part!
The end of chapter 2 goes on to tell us that Christ came to earth for US, not for the angels...or to save them or their worth...but to redeem and to aid us!
Each portion of this book so far has been so encouraging to me (and the rest of our group) to dig into what God is doing in our lives. He cares so much and wants to give to us so much...if only we're watching.
Thanks Margaret for sharing today on the blog!
I'll be back tomorrow with a full marathon weekend recap!
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