Dear TVCC Students,
It is always so refreshing to worship with each of you and see the Lord working in your lives. Last night we walked through a different aspect of Abraham's life as it pertained to his love for his son, Isaac. Here is a recap...
Hebrews 11
~“You alone can rescue... You alone can save... You alone can lift us from the grave...” What a great and powerful song. This is how Abraham lived. This is how we are to live. We can see by looking into the life of Abraham that he trusted in the Lord for provision in this life and he hoped in the Lord for eternal fulfillment. When the Lord asked of Abraham the most costly thing, the life of his son, Abraham believed that the Lord's way would ultimately turn out for the best. It is crucial for us to learn from the life of Abraham. God's redemption of us is not for this life only. If we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are to be most pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). We are hoping in Christ for an eternal kingdom. This eternal hope in Christ should help make the trials of this life seem much more manageable since we know that this is not our eternal home. This is a temporary place with trials and hardship. The real home of believers is the eternal home the Lord is preparing for those that are His children through faith in Jesus.
Q: Have you been experiencing trials lately that have seemed to consume your thoughts? In what ways are you turning those trials over to the Lord knowing that this life is not what we are supposed to be living for?
~Hebrews 11:13- “all these died in faith...” Their lives made it clear that they are seeking the heavenly country that the Lord is preparing for those that love Him. As much as an earthly father delights in giving gifts to his children, our eternal Father delights so much more in preparing an everlasting city for His children through faith in Christ.
Q: Have you meditated lately on the fact that the Lord is going ahead of His children to prepare an everlasting city for you if you are His through faith in Christ? How does this truth change the weight of the trials that you go through?
~Hebrews 11: 17-19: Abraham & Isaac
~Genesis 15- God promised (15:5) to make from him many descendants. God promised to give Him children and continued to give Abraham more promises as Abraham continued to walk in obedient faith. Abraham was faithful with little and was given even more. God wants great things for His children and always has more to bless His children with (these may be spiritual blessings or physical blessings). He is the Creator of heaven and earth! What a great Father we serve!
Q: Have you been taking the time to see what the Lord is wanting to do with your life? Have you been in the habit of daily surrendering yourself to the Lord? When He has asked hard things of you, have you been walking in obedience or like Jonah, have you run the opposite way?
~Genesis 22- God tested Abraham by asking Abraham to give up his only son. God wanted all of Abrahams love and to make sure nothing rivaled that love. God often does this with us as well. Sometimes the Lord will take things from us or prevent us from getting certain things because He wants to make sure that our love for Him is not being given to something lesser that will never satisfy us fully. Only the Lord can fully satisfy us!
Q: Is there anything in your life that you might love more than the Lord? What does it look like for you to have Christ as your first love? Are there any changes that you feel the Lord calling you to so that you are not walking in idolatry?
~Genesis 22:3: Abraham rose early in the morning to obey the Lord in giving up his son Isaac. Obeying the Lord was more important than anything else, even Isaac. Nothing is as important as loving the Lord. God always replaces things that He calls us away from with something better (whether it be something we can see or even just a more intimate relationship with Him). We might not always understand in the moment what the Lord is doing when He calls us away from certain things but we can be sure that His ways are best for our good and His glory. Following the Lord is often difficult and uncomfortable but it is so worth it.
Q: There are times when the Lord will call us to do ‘crazy’ things, but ultimately walking in obedience will be the most satisfying. Is the Lord calling you to give up anything? How often are you dedicating your days to the Lord FIRST thing in the morning?
Dear students,
We are so thankful to see you all week after week coming to enjoy fellowship with the Lord and with other believers. As we said earlier, it is so encouraging to see the Lord working in your lives. We pray that this week you will meditate on the life of Abraham and how he didn't even withhold his most precious son from the Lord. His whole life was surrendered to the Lord and that turned out to be the absolute best thing for Abraham. Absolute surrender is the BEST thing for us as well. Let us this week fully surrender our lives to the Lord and take any steps necessary to make sure that our love for Him is not in competition with anything else in this world. We love you all and are praying for you!
~With hope,
Sonny and Casi
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