Wearing Your Costume: Halloween

   Halloween is a time where children enjoy dressing up and pretending to be someone or something they aren't. Some adults enjoy that as well. I know I enjoy acting and pretending to be someone totally different than my normal personality.
   But, have you ever thought about the fact that we all are already wearing costumes? When people ask you "who are you?" You may answer in different ways. You could answer with your name, your job, your lineage, etc. But is that really who you are?
   In the past I have written about identity. All of those answers to the above question is what people think their identity is when in reality it's not their true identity. For many years psychologists and scientists have argued over what part of the body makes us who we are. Is it our body, mind, soul?
   The body you are in is just a costume of who you are. Your body isn't who you really are. It is just a temporary costume you wear. Paul discusses this in 2 Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The tent is our body. These bodies we have are temporary. Any aches and pains we have on earth we will not have when we get to heaven. That's comforting if you think about all the pain many of us have gone through and will go through.
   Now, that doesn't mean we are not to care for our earthly costumes. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." God wants us to care for our bodies because we are reflecting his glory. He created our bodies and cares about not only our bodies, but us as well. He cares about our soul. That's who we really are. He died for our sins so we could be with him. He died so that our souls could be saved.
   So, do you believe that who you are is more than just your body? Are you taking care of the costume God has given you? Do you believe that Jesus died so that you could be saved and be with him?
   Image from here.

Facing Death: Moses' Parents Hall of Faith

   “Pray, and let God worry” (Martin Luther).

   An interesting group of people in the Hall of Faith is Moses’ parents. We all knew what Moses grew up to do but without Moses’ parents he would not have existed to be the deliverer. Moses’ parents risked the wrath of Pharaoh. They could have been killed because they hid a baby boy, which was a direct order against the king. They hid him for three months and then Moses’ mother did something every mother fears. She let her child go. She made a basket, put her child in the basket, and put the basket in the river.

   Moses’ parents faced many challenges at this time. They had to work as slaves, take care of their children, hide their youngest child from the guards, and all the while they faced the fear of death. Could you imagine facing all of that? Then you also had to give up your child! Through it all they trusted in God.

   We may not face death today but we do face a lot of stress. We also have to give up different people, places, and things. When we give up those things we need to remember that God opens and closes doors for a reason. If Moses’ parents had not let Moses go in faith then he would never have become the deliverer of the Israelites. When we face pressure and lose things we must remember that God is always by our side.

   So, would you have the kind of faith Moses’ parents had when facing pressure? What will you do when you face challenges? Do you believe that God has a plan for your life?

   James 1:12, Romans 12:12, Romans 5:3
   Image from here.

Forgiving Faith: Joseph Hall of Faith

   “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love” (Bryant H. McGill).

   Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob. He was good with dreams, handsome, and Jacob’s favorite son. His brothers hated him for obvious reasons. In fact, some of them hated him so much they wanted him dead. Instead of death, Joseph was sold into slavery. Because of his brothers Joseph became a slave, was tempted, was falsely accused, was thrown in prison, and was forgotten by people he helped.

   According to the world's standards, Joseph had every right to be upset with God and with his brothers. He could have given up and not done his best. But, because he did his best the Lord was with him (Gen.39.2). Joseph had test after test in order to make sure that he would trust in God through it all.

   Joseph became second in command in all of Egypt. He was put in charge because he trusted in God. Joseph could have taken an army against his brothers when he was first put in command but he did not. He just wanted to move on and forget about them. But, God has a tendency to not let past hurts go untouched. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt. Joseph had all the power and I am sure no one would have questioned him putting these men in prison or even killing them.

   In the end Joseph tested his brothers and saw their hearts had changed. He was betrayed in the worst way and yet he still forgave them. He did not forgive them on his own though. He forgave them by the grace of God. He realized that God meant this plan for good. Joseph had faith in God and his plan. Without that Joseph would not have become the man with one of the greatest comeback stories in the Bible.

   So, will you trust in God’s plan? Will you choose to forgive others even when they betray you?

   Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32, Genesis 50:20

   Image from here.

Never Give Up: Jacob Hall of Faith

   “Never give up on your dream… because you never know what the Lord can bless you with” (Kelly Rowland).

   Jacob was quite an interesting person in the Bible. When he was young all he seemed to care about was power. He was a trickster. He tricked his brother, Esau, into giving up his birthright. Jacob then went to Laban’s home where he wanted to marry Rachel, Laban’s daughter. The irony was that Laban tricked Jacob into working 14 years for him rather than 7. Jacob ended up marrying Leah and Rachel. Even though Jacob sinned against his fellow man and God, God blessed him.

   Jacob went back to his homeland. On the way he was worried about what Esau would do to him. Jacob stayed on one side of the river while his family was on the other side. During the night Jacob wrestled with a man till daybreak. The man even touched Jacob’s hip so it was wrenched while he was wrestling with him (Gen. 32.22-31). The man said “let me go, for it is daybreak.” Jacob refused to let the man go until the man blessed him. The man blessed Jacob.

   Jacob did make many mistakes but he never gave up. That is why God never gave up on him. Jacob had faith in God. It took Jacob a little bit to grow into his faith but that’s the beauty of it. Once we know God, we don’t stay like babies in our faith. Our faith grows. Jacob grew and never gave up. We can learn this lesson from a trickster. Never give up on God because he never gives up on you.

   So, do you need to grow in your faith? How can your faith in God grow today? Will you choose to never give up event though it is hard?

   Genesis 28-32, Galatians 6:9, 1 Peter 2:1-25

   Image from here.

Teaching Children the Ways of God: Isaac Hall of Faith

   “The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.”~ Billy Graham

   The Bible does not mention Isaac much. We see him when Abraham is required by God to sacrifice him. I am sure that was a major experience for him. But, then the story somewhat goes on to talk about Isaac’s wife, Rebekah. Then it moves on to discussing Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau.

   Does that mean we cannot learn lessons from Isaac? No! Isaac is mentioned in the Hall of Faith for a reason. Isaac followed God and his commandments. Did he make some mistakes along the way? Yes, he favored one son over another. But, in Hebrews 11 we find out Isaac blessed his sons. Isaac taught his sons to love God. He brought his children up in a home where they were taught right from wrong.

   Children are our future. Isaac knew this and made sure to teach his children the ways of God. Isaac knew his job was to teach his children the ways of God. But, Isaac could not make his children believe. His children did fail in certain ways, but eventually they learned right from wrong. Thus, why Isaac is in the Hall of Faith: Isaac teaches us to bring up children and teach them the way of the Lord.

   So, will you teach children the ways of God? How can you bring your children up in the ways of God?

   Genesis 25:19-Genesis 27, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 29:15

   Image from here.