Field Vision 10-16-24
Let's dive into God's Word for some midweek encouragement.
Scripture is such a cohesive true story. In my weekly reading I re-read the story of Stephen. This servant of the early church was the first person to lose their life because he proclaimed the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His testimony is recorded in Acts chapter 7. In this chapter he recounts Israel's history from Abraham to Jesus. There are so many important truths to glean from this passage, but one verse stood out to me and I had to read it several times. Recounting how God had delivered His people from Egypt, Stephen expressed Israel's ongoing disobedience in a heartbreaking way:
Acts 7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
Stephen is talking about how the Israelites rejected Moses (and in turn God) by not following his leadership or walking in obedience to God's commands. Tragically, "their hearts turn back to Egypt."
Even after God's miraculous deliverance. Even after the slavery, toil and hardship... Even after the plagues with which God judged the Egyptians... Even after the riches they carried out of Egypt... Even after the parting of the waves at the Red Sea... "Their hearts turn back to Egypt." They never went back... but in many ways their hearts never left and, at the first sign of difficulty, were ready to return.
Beloved, this can be so true of us. We become so accustomed to being enslaved to sin, that we have no idea what to do with the freedom Christ provides. And though we may never physically return to where we were. Our wandering hearts will always want to return to where they have been. We pick up the same old burdens Christ died to remove. And then we sit around and wonder why God feels distant and we lack peace and joy.
Conclusions
1) Never forget the nature of your deliverance Just like Stephen, you and I need to rehearse and be ready to speak about the story of our deliverance! Our freedom story is our testimony. And if we ever lose track of what God is doing, it's probably because we have forgotten what He has already done. Has Christ saved you? Has He changed you? Write it down. Mark it on the calendar. Share it with your friends and family. You have been powerfully delivered by the same God of Moses and Stephen. Christ has set you free!
2) Never forget the nature of your sin Who the Son has set free, is free indeed! Don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. We must understand it is always within our nature to allow our hearts to return to Egypt. It is easy for our flesh to fail.
3) Repent Since our flesh will always fail, and our hearts will often turn back to the sin which once enslaved us, we must be quick to repent. Good news. When we do, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
You are so very loved,
Pastor Fraser
Scripture is such a cohesive true story. In my weekly reading I re-read the story of Stephen. This servant of the early church was the first person to lose their life because he proclaimed the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His testimony is recorded in Acts chapter 7. In this chapter he recounts Israel's history from Abraham to Jesus. There are so many important truths to glean from this passage, but one verse stood out to me and I had to read it several times. Recounting how God had delivered His people from Egypt, Stephen expressed Israel's ongoing disobedience in a heartbreaking way:
Acts 7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
Stephen is talking about how the Israelites rejected Moses (and in turn God) by not following his leadership or walking in obedience to God's commands. Tragically, "their hearts turn back to Egypt."
Even after God's miraculous deliverance. Even after the slavery, toil and hardship... Even after the plagues with which God judged the Egyptians... Even after the riches they carried out of Egypt... Even after the parting of the waves at the Red Sea... "Their hearts turn back to Egypt." They never went back... but in many ways their hearts never left and, at the first sign of difficulty, were ready to return.
Beloved, this can be so true of us. We become so accustomed to being enslaved to sin, that we have no idea what to do with the freedom Christ provides. And though we may never physically return to where we were. Our wandering hearts will always want to return to where they have been. We pick up the same old burdens Christ died to remove. And then we sit around and wonder why God feels distant and we lack peace and joy.
Conclusions
1) Never forget the nature of your deliverance Just like Stephen, you and I need to rehearse and be ready to speak about the story of our deliverance! Our freedom story is our testimony. And if we ever lose track of what God is doing, it's probably because we have forgotten what He has already done. Has Christ saved you? Has He changed you? Write it down. Mark it on the calendar. Share it with your friends and family. You have been powerfully delivered by the same God of Moses and Stephen. Christ has set you free!
2) Never forget the nature of your sin Who the Son has set free, is free indeed! Don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. We must understand it is always within our nature to allow our hearts to return to Egypt. It is easy for our flesh to fail.
3) Repent Since our flesh will always fail, and our hearts will often turn back to the sin which once enslaved us, we must be quick to repent. Good news. When we do, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
You are so very loved,
Pastor Fraser
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