Tuesday January 3, 2017
“Do you not know?”
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves
slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading
to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Roman 6:16)
“Sai ke tau ‘ilo” (good to know) will be the
Tongan saying of 2016. Although used sarcastically and in fun, the “ilo” (knowledge) regarding Biblical doctrines and our understanding of
them are of critical importance. Some have even sought after “deeper truths”
but as Dr Ferguson reminds us:
the
deeper truths (if there are such things) are really the old basic truths of the
gospel. Far from being luxuries, they are necessities for Christian living. The
rather disturbing thought began to dawn on me that many of us who are
professing Christians are distressingly weak in our grasp of the basic
framework of biblical doctrine. We assume that we know the elements of the
message of the New Testament, but sometimes our understanding of them is like
that of a child.
Some of you may say, “what’s wrong with being a child? I’m practically
one myself, at least to my parents”. I am hoping that you will not tune out
saying you didn’t come here to study seminary topics. My passion for our youth
is that we raise up Godly young men and young women who will stand for truth
and virtue and who will be able to stand against heresies and false doctrines
which is rampant in our world.
“The conviction that Christian
doctrine matters for Christian living is one of the most important growth
points of the Christian life”
Challenge: How much do
you know of the basics of your faith? Salvation? God? The church? This isn’t
meant to discourage you but hopefully to encourage you to press on to “know”
the true Christ of the Bible and re-evaluate your current “status” of your faith
walk.
This Day in Christian History:
Jan 3 – a day dedicated to fasting and
prayer for spiritual power by a young missionary to the early American Indians
(1743). He was not the healthiest for such work, but his passion for lost souls
inspired great men after his death at age 29. “Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the
rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called
comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service and
to promote thy Kingdom.” – David Brainard
Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 1)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you – Matthew 6:33
Ka mou kumi mu‘a ki hono pule‘anga, mo e mā‘oni‘oni ‘a‘ana, pea ‘e ‘atu
mo ia foki ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ko ia kotoa – Matiu 6:33
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week 1 - Genesis 6-8; Psalm 104; Mark 3
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