ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Thursday February 23, 2017

“His patience is to save us”

And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

– 2 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Conviction of Sin (ongo‘i tautea ‘i he angahala)

B.        Questions about Conviction

            1)  is conviction necessary?

            2)  How much conviction is necessary?

The answer is; Whatever is necessary! Just as Christians are diverse, the means that God will use to draw us to faith will be as diverse as the individual. The point of the matter is, conviction is needed but the amount and intensity will vary from person to person.

We see in this play out in disciplining children. One child only needs a look from the parent while another will need strong words. And there will always going to be that one child who will test the boundaries all the way to spanking. God, in our very limited understanding, works likewise in us to bring us to repentance. He may allow some to experience a “harsher” road in order to accomplish His purpose. But some, He only needs to “gently” nudge.

Challenge:

I continue to praise God for bringing me up in a home where God was honored and His Word taught. I struggled with the notion of “when” I came to faith because I was always a “good” kid. And when we came through the 1^st denominational break (“motu”) through Senituli, the emphasis was only “receiving” Christ (tali ‘a Sisu). But we prayed and asked Jesus to come in every time we gathered so I didn’t know when I was actually saved. Some of you may be in this boat. I don’t want this to be more confusing to you, but the concept we are learning is, that God “convicts” and He “draws” and He “saves.” We believe (trust God for who he is and what he has done), therefore, we are saved! End of story.

This Day in Christian History:

February 23, 155 - BISHOP POLYCARP FOLLOWS CHRIST INTO THE FIRE. POLYCARP holds a special place in church history. He was an intermediary between the age of the apostles and the church of the second century, as well as being one of the earliest martyrs about whom we have an eyewitness account. A magistrate ordered Polycarp to renounce Christ and give obedience to Caesar as Lord. Polycarp answered: “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, nor has He ever done me any harm. How, then, could I blaspheme my King who saved me? You threaten the fire that burns for an hour and then is quenched; but you know not of the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punishment. Bring what you will.”

Memory Verse:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

— John 12:32

Pea ko au, kapau ‘e hiki au ki ‘olunga mei he kelekele, te u tohoaki ‘a e kakai kotoa pē kiate au – Sione 12:32

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 8 – Leviticus 21-23; Hebrews 8