In the blanks below, write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.
“We must remember that we cannot do any hearing unless the Holy Spirit teaches us God’s Word as we are bending over, peering intently at it – convicting
“How blessed we are to have within us God’s personal agent who serves as arresting officer, private tutor and personal assistant or helper in order to carry out His mission of establishing and maintaining our fellowship with God!”
The Holy Spirit is the key player in our relationship with God. From the moment of salvation, He is God’s resident agent personally handling every transaction that goes on between us and God. What does the text state are the activities that He carries on from His base of operation within us?
“He convicts us of sin…
“He teaches us more of Christ…
“He assists us in our work for Christ.
“He comes alongside to help us as ‘Comforter.’
“He is arresting officer.
“He is private tutor.
“He is personal assistant or helper…”
In the blanks below, write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.
“‘We will always please the one we love most.’ If we love God the most, we will please Him. If we love ourselves the most, we will please ourselves.
“The Lord’s test is simple and foundational. We will always reserve the best for the one we love the most.”
Explain why John’s motive for now telling the truth is as self-centered as his motive for lying in the first place.
“Both were about his image and what people thought about him.”
John’s prayer reflected biblical humility that showed itself in three ways. What were those three ways?
“John was repentant, submissive and dependent.”
The text says that in our daily decisions, ‘we will always please the one we love the most.’ Think over your decisions today about what you said, how you spent your time or money, and how you carried out your responsibilities. According to your decisions today, who is the one you love the most – God or yourself? Explain your answer.
“Me – I put myself first a lot. I want to fulfill every quest in all of my apps and Facebook games. Last night, even though I had planned ahead, we ate dinner at 9 p.m. because of my stalling.”
Dearest Rachel –
I’m going to go out on a limb and claim that anyone who truly understands their own nature is going to say that they put themselves first, rather than God. It’s a spiritual take on the Dunning-Krueger effect; those who know themselves and their Lord the best recognize how far short they fall from the person they ought to be, while so many others seem to want to consider themselves “good enough” when there is no such thing.
I confess that I can barely remember those meals that weren’t ready until nine in the evening; and while these days, I’ve made a habit of eating my final meal in the late afternoon (like a stereotypical retiree, I suppose, but more from a need to not go to bed on a full stomach and thus negate my weight loss efforts), I would be more than willing to wait for such a late mealtime to have you back. I will say that I’m more likely to remember how you would stay up late playing video games, while I would go to bed between ten and eleven in order to wake up early enough to get to work (which, in fairness, you didn’t have to do, so… yeah). In fairness, it made it easier to go to bed alone after you were gone, because that was a typical night for me; then again, having to wake up to an otherwise empty bed has never been particularly pleasant.
But I’ve no right to complain about self-centeredness; I’m no better. My time and treasure (the latter of which isn’t mine, anyway; it just fell to me after its rightful owners passed on in succession) tends to go to things that aren’t particularly uplifting, let alone God-honoring. I mean, they aren’t evil, as such – travel and technology don’t really have a moral aspect to them – they’re just… there, and I spend money and time on them. So I have no right to criticize anyone, either.
And at the same time, I’m not willing to give them up, either. My thought is that I’ve been allowed this or that in my life; I should be able to use and appreciate them. Or at least, that’s how I rationalize it to myself; there are times when I don’t know if I have the right to enjoy what I’ve been given, but at the same time, I don’t know why I should feel guilty about having them.
For now, I suppose I’ll continue to enjoy what I have until it’s taken away from me – and it will, at some point. I’m not going to live – or even have this level of energy – forever; you and Dad have taught me as much. But with that being said, I’d ask you to keep an eye on me, and wish me well (or nudge me elsewhere, that’s what I really need).
Letters to Rachel 