Written By
jeff lucas JULY/AUG 2012
y a D y Ever Faith Academy: Graduation Day Copyright © CWR 2012 Published 2012 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK Tel: 01252 784700 Email: mail@cwr.org.uk Registered Charity No. 294387 Registered Limited Company No. 1990308 Front cover image: Getty Images/Vetta/Andrew Rich Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in England by Linney Print. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Anglicised edition), copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica (formerly International Bible Society). Contemporary English Version © American Bible Society. Anglicisations © The British and Foreign Bible Society 1995.
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how to get the best out of life every day HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
• Ideally, carve out a regular time and place each day,
with as few distractions as possible. Ask God what He has to say to you. • Read the Bible passages suggested in the ‘Big Picture’
references. (As tempting as it is, try not to skip the Bible reading and get straight into the notes.) • The ‘Focus’ reference then gives you one or two
verses to look at in more detail. Consider what the reading is saying to you and what challenges that may bring. • Each day’s comments are part of an overall theme.
Try to recall what you read the previous day so that you maintain a sense of continuity. • Spend time thinking about how to apply what God
has said to you. Ask Him to help you do this. • Pray the prayer at the end as if it were your own.
Perhaps add your own prayer in response to what you have read and been thinking about. Join in the conversation on Facebook for further comments on the notes: www.facebook.com/jefflucasuk
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01 JUL
of
Hebrews 11:1–19 // Genesis 22:1–19
Abraham and Isaac Christianity has a cosy image. When people think about having faith in Jesus Christ, they often think of benign images: hymn-singing and cups of tea. Some suggest that faith is a crutch for the weak, to help them stagger through the difficulties of life. But nothing could be further from the truth. The sight of Abraham preparing to offer up his only son in obedience to God shows us that faith can cost us everything. This action would have torn his heart apart and threatened the future of his line. This story should make us struggle. God is against murder and clearly condemns child sacrifice in Scripture. And this is a dangerous episode – taken out of context, some could argue God was commanding him to commit murder. Others suggest that God was, once and for all, making it clear that child sacrifice was abhorrent to Him, and was weaning Abraham off the prevailing pagan religious influences of his time. But, while we wrestle with this event, let’s not miss its inherent message. There is nothing tame or feeble about choosing to follow God.
... faith can cost us everything
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To ponder: Can you think of a time when you were called to do something in obedience to God that was radical and risky?
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MON 02 JUL
‘Even’ faith
BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:18 Daniel 3:1–30 Focus:
‘… even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”’ (Heb. 11:18)
The command was a total contradiction to all that Abraham knew to be true. God had specifically identified Isaac as the one through whom Abraham’s lineage would be continued. But what role could Isaac play, once his father had killed him? Abraham’s mind was surely in turmoil. What on earth was God doing? But even though he would have been bewildered by the command, Abraham obeyed it. This was ‘even though’ faith. Another example of such trust is found in the story of the three in the furnace. They affirmed God’s ability to rescue them, but were willing to obey Him regardless. Their commitment was not based on a particular outcome, but centred on God’s character, whatever the circumstances that unfolded – even those which could have included an agonising death. I am convinced that questions, and even doubts, are vital components of authentic faith. Trusting God is not about kissing our brains goodbye and refusing to wrestle with the difficult issues life presents to us, nor those that – as in this case – are thrown up by the Bible. Sometimes I do not understand God, nor do I always feel peaceful or happy with the things He seems to do, or at least to allow. I long for clarity, for solutions to the questions that taunt me. These questions should not be packed away, because they often lead me to a deeper understanding and wisdom. Mysteries remain, and will do so until eternity dawns. True faith is not the ability to understand all the mysteries and contradictions of life, but a willingness to trust God in the midst of them. Prayer: Lord, when I find myself with more questions than answers, help me to wrestle, search, think, pray – and trust. Amen.
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I mentioned earlier that this episode presents some very real problems, because it obviously was not intended to set a precedent for child sacrifice! To underscore that, we need to notice an important truth buried in this passage. Whatever is going on here, this was absolutely a one-off test, and cannot be repeated. When we hear that Abraham ‘reasoned’ that God could raise Isaac from the dead, this doesn’t suggest that he just logically thought it through. Rather, the word used here for ‘reasoned’ speaks of a strong inner compulsion. Abraham knew deep in his core that ultimately Isaac would live, because God had told him so. The word also speaks of a once-and-for-all, final and absolute conclusion. Abraham knew the final outcome, despite having to walk in terrible obedience. Perhaps this is the ‘gift of faith’ that Scripture describes, when we don’t just trust God generally, but have a supernaturally imparted insight and revelation about what He is specifically going to do. I have had this experience a few times in my life, when I have prayed about something, and suddenly known without question that my prayer had been granted. I wish I could describe the sense of those moments more accurately – and I’d be delighted to experience more of them. Perhaps that gift is only given when the circumstances we face seem impossible. Sometimes, let’s be honest, the experience doesn’t come even then. That said, let’s be open to God letting us know that what seems impossible is really going to happen. Prayer: Lord, I want to walk with the God of the impossible. Grant me faith in situations when all seems lost. Amen.
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TUES 03 JUL
Faith’s reasoning
BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:17–19 1 Corinthians 13:2 Focus:
‘Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead ...’ (Heb. 11:19)
… what seems impossible is … going to happen
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WED 04 JUL
Anyone who has walked the life of faith for a while will know that disappointment is part of the journey. We all encounter situations where not only do we pray, but we call on others to join us. We can send up desperate and fervent cries for help in many situations: illness, provision, unravelling relationships. And, to put it bluntly, there are times when it seems that our cries are ignored. We can feel that God has cold-shouldered us, pushed us out of the BIG PICTURE way because He has other plans, or simply isn’t listening. Hebrews 11:19 And what can result? We adjust our expectations, and Romans 4:1–25 reduce our hopes. We can come to think that God won’t do much, and this protects us from being disappointed. Focus: ‘Abraham reasoned that If He didn’t act when we really sought Him and pleaded God could even raise the with Him, and believed He would, it can hurt a lot to dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive try again over something else. So gradually we develop a diminished view of God’s abilities, concluding that a Isaac back from death.’ (Heb. 11:19) great day of power is to come in the future, but in the meantime little is likely to change. And so our vision of the mightiness of God fades, and He becomes an impotent spectator. As we consider the difficult Abraham/Isaac story, we must not allow its complexity to rob us of this key truth: God is the active, powerful God, able to raise the dead. Let’s not settle for a miniaturised version of God, because the vision of a great God creates potential disappointment. I’d rather have faith in an awesome God and navigate my way through seasons of disappointment than reduce my vision of Him, and never ask Him to act at all.
The God who raises the dead
Prayer: Lord, You are mighty, the all-powerful God. Through life’s challenges and disappointments, help me to maintain that vision of You. Amen.
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I’ve already said that I am deeply uncomfortable with THURS 05 JUL this disturbing story of Abraham being commanded to kill his own son. I’m even more distressed by the nonchalant way that many commentators treat the story, as if being asked to slaughter your son is normal. True, Abraham’s obedience rightly draws gasps of admiration, but I’m worried that most seem to treat this as a command that was perfectly in order. To approach the BIG PICTURE text without caution, as I’ve said, could lead a disturbed Hebrews 11:17–19 soul to emulate Abraham. Genesis 22:1–2 We must not miss, however, the stark portrait of a man being fiercely obedient through his own agony. Put aside Focus: ‘God said, “Take your any idea of Abraham blithely leading his son to the place son, your only son, whom of sacrifice. Even epic faith would not cancel out his own you love – Isaac – and go emotional turmoil. And the language God used: ‘your son, to the region of Moriah. your only son, whom you love – Isaac’, suggests that God Sacrifice him … as a burnt offering on a mountain I acknowledged Abraham’s struggle. But Abraham trusted, will show you.’ even though he could not begin to understand. (Gen. 22:2) Today I sat with a friend who has walked through many calamities. Burned in a house fire when he was less than a year old, he was stabbed as a teenager, later became the victim of a hit-and-run accident, and then lost his father to suicide. We wryly agreed that he would make a good apprentice to Job. Yet, in the midst of all that pain (and, in fact, as a result of the pain), he has found Christ, and now wants to exemplify and share the good news. Faith can be a desperate grip, where we hang on despite all that would suggest that we should give up and surrender to despair.
Trusting through tears
Prayer: When my heart breaks because of difficult choices, help me to trust You through the tears, Lord. Amen.
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Faith can be a desperate grip …
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FRI 06 JUL
Faith’s happy endings
BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:17–19 Revelation 21:1–7 Focus:
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ (Rev. 21:4)
In Christ, there is a guaranteed happy ending
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Given the choice when watching a film on DVD, I prefer happy endings – and these days often the viewer can select the alternative ending to the story that they like the most. I hate it when big questions are left unanswered, tragedy strikes unexpectedly in the last few seconds, or when the bad guy gets away with his crimes and continues to terrorise the neighbourhood. And so I like the ending of the Abraham/Isaac story very much. God stays Abraham’s hand, the knife was put away, and the young man lived another day. Perfect. But there’s a danger that we simply assume that faith always leads to a happy-ever-after conclusion. And that’s simply not true. Sometimes the beloved son in our story dies. The cancer comes back. The market turns, and the business crashes. The cherished marriage gradually crumbles into the dust. Perhaps that’s when faith is really tested – not in the asking, but in the accepting of the outcome that we’d never choose. Perhaps that’s where you find yourself today. Convinced that a wonderful ending was to come, you are bitter and disappointed because of what has happened. Without wanting to resort to slogans and clichés, I can tell you that ultimately there is an ending that is even bigger than pain and death, in the hope of the resurrection day to come. That won’t take away your sense of hurt, but might just give some perspective to the sad season that you find yourself walking through right now. In Christ, there is a guaranteed happy ending. Eventually. Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in faith, so that whatever endings I encounter in my life, I trust in You, I live in the sure and certain hope of eternal resurrection to come. Amen.
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CWR ministry events Please pray for the team
DATE
EVENT
PLACE
4 Jul
Effective RE Teaching – Equipping the Non-specialist
Waverley Abbey House Lorraine Abbott
5 Jul
Church Leaders’ Forum
WAH
Andy Peck and Philip Greenslade
10 Jul
Mentoring Others
WAH
Peter Jackson
11 Jul
Small Group Leaders’ Evening
WAH
Andy Peck with Lynette Brooks
14 Jul
Insight into Self-harm
WAH
Chris Ledger
14 Jul
Money Matters
WAH
Stephen and Rosalyn Derges
16–20 Jul
Woman to Woman Training Course WAH
Lynn Penson and team
16–20 Jul
Seniors Summer Holiday
Pilgrim Hall
Derek Martin
21 Jul
Growing as They Grow
WAH
Rachel Causey
23–27 Jul
Refreshing Your View of the Bible WAH
Philip Greenslade and team
4–11 Aug
Family Summer Holiday
Charles Earwickers
6–9 Aug
Developing an Integrative WAH Christian Approach to Counselling
Mary Higginson
11 Aug
Handling the Pressure
Beverley Shepherd
13–17 Aug
Introduction to Biblical Care WAH and Counselling
Angie Coombes, Richard Laws and team
18 Aug
Pilgrim Hall
WAH
PRESENTERS
Living Singly for God’s Glory
WAH
Julia Morgan
20–24 Aug BA Counselling Year 1 starts
WAH
Heather Churchill
20 Aug
Certificate of Christian Counselling starts
WAH
Irene Davies
28 Aug – 1 Sep
BA Counselling Year 2 starts
WAH
Heather Churchill
Join us on 9 September for an ‘open house’ with a cream tea, to celebrate 25 years at Waverley Abbey House. For further information visit our website.
For full details phone 01252 784719, international +44 (0)1252 784719 or see the CWR website for further information
www.cwr.org.uk
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07/08 JUL Hebrews 11:20 // Genesis 27:1–40
Faith in the midst of mess It seems ridiculous. When we read that, ‘By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future’, our minds have to scream, if we are familiar with the story. The fact is that Isaac was being duped by the cunning of Jacob, in conspiracy with Rebekah, his mother. Jacob disguised himself as his brother, Esau, so that he could steal the blessing of his father. So where’s the faith in this mess? One would have thought that faith would have enabled old Isaac to see through the subterfuge and expose Jacob’s con trick. But this does show that God works through the messes we create. The blessing needed to pass along through Jacob’s line, even though Esau, the firstborn, was entitled to it. Did God make Jacob a deceiver? No. But He was able to work in the mire of Jacob’s sin, redeem it, and turn his treachery around for blessing. Faith isn’t about seeing clearly, as myopic Isaac’s story demonstrates. And this story also shows that God’s blessings don’t only come to those who deserve them – which is good news for us all.
... God’s blessings don’t only come to those who deserve them
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To ponder: Can you think of a situation where you made a mess of things but God, the Redeemer, brought something good out of the situation?
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Today, we are going to live by faith and probably commit many actions that stem from faith. We live by the values of the invisible kingdom, because we believe that God exists and that He has revealed the right path for us to walk in. We give, not expecting anything in return, because we’ve decided that accumulation is not the ultimate objective of life: faith says that there is something far more significant. And we look ahead, not terrified of bad news, nor overwhelmed by the dying that is on all our horizons, because we trust in the One who has made a way through for us. Faith is not just about epic choices in a moment: faith is the heartbeat of Christian discipleship. And so, as Isaac blessed his sons and looked to the future, beyond his and their lifetimes, he knew that he was not just an old man mumbling hopeful platitudes, but was acting by faith in the God of the past, present and future. He had received blessing through his father, Abraham, and now he was passing it on. Be sure to live today both by what you can see and what you cannot. Let’s ask God to give us faith in regard to our future. I’ve learned enough about myself to know that I could approach the days to come with nervousness and even terror, almost expecting disaster. While I don’t want to be naïve (we will all suffer), I don’t want to tiptoe nervously into the future, worrying about many calamities which will never actually happen. May you and I be those of whom it is said: ‘Bad news won’t bother them; they have decided to trust the Lord’ (Psa. 112:7, CEV).
MON 09 JUL
Living by faith – especially for the future BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:20 Psalm 112:1–10 Focus:
‘By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.’ (Heb. 11:20)
Prayer: In small actions and significant decisions, and as I peer into the future, may I live by faith, faithful God. Amen.
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TUES 10 JUL
Faith for ourselves – and for others BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:21 Genesis 48:1–22 Focus:
‘By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.’ (Heb. 11:21)
Pray about your needs, and … others’ needs as well
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The man looked at me, his eyes wide with amazement, when I suggested that he should pray about a decision that he was facing. ‘Pray for myself, Jeff? I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that. Surely there are so many needs in the world, why should I bother God with my small concerns?’ He had been taught that prayer for self was selfish. And he was wrong, because God wanted him to share the intimacies of his everyday life in prayer. Then I meet others for whom faith seems to be about little else but themselves. So consumed are they with their own issues, they rarely bring the needs of others to mind when they are talking to God. As we read about Jacob blessing his grandsons (just as he had been blessed), we need to know that the writer to the Hebrews is describing two events, not just one. The mention of Jacob worshipping as he leaned on his staff (a picture of faithfulness to God in the feebleness of old age) refers to the episode when his son Joseph promised to ensure that his father would be buried in Canaan rather than in Egypt (Gen. 47:28–31). This was a moment of worshipful thanksgiving from Jacob that his funeral arrangements would be as he wished: it was about him. And then the episode of blessing Joseph’s sons is where elderly Jacob looked beyond his own limited lifetime and saw blessing for each of them: this was faith for others. Pray about your needs, and pray about others’ needs as well. Real faith is concerned with our issues, and with the needs of others. Prayer: Help me to share my concerns with You, Lord. And help me not to forget the needs of others as I pray. Amen.
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Jewish culture celebrates Joseph’s incredible faithfulness in his many trials resulting from his brothers’ treachery – and his experience at their hands seems to have demanded more faith than his request about the burial of his bones in his original homeland. Perhaps the key to understanding this verse is the term ‘when his end was near’. Not only was Joseph able to maintain trust in God when he was falsely accused and imprisoned, but he was also able to stare down death itself and know that he could walk into that shadowy valley with God beside him. The wording here suggests that Joseph made this prophetic announcement about the coming Exodus, and asked for assurance this his bones would be carried ‘home’ (perhaps to stimulate the memory of the Hebrews so that they would seize their moment of opportunity when it arrived) – but he did this with a sense that his death was very near. I’ve been sad to see the way some Christians handle the issue of death. Often, when someone becomes terminally ill, the church rallies around to fast and pray, and this can lead to some people absolutely insisting that healing is going to come. And then, if that doesn’t happen, the dying person can be made to feel guilty. It can even be implied that their lack of faith has blocked the healing, and the opportunity to say goodbye properly can be lost. They can be made to feel that they are succumbing rather than standing. If anyone should be able to face death with reality and dignity, it’s those who follow the Jesus who beat death and hell.
WED 11 JUL
Faith may know when the end is near BIG PICTURE
Hebrews 11:22 Genesis 50:24–26 Focus:
‘By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.’ (Heb. 11:22)
Prayer: Lord, when the day comes for me to end this life and begin life in Your presence, help me to be confident. Amen.
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