Thanksgiving Topics

Every year, our church members usually write 10 or 20 thanksgiving topics and share it with each other. Here is my list from this year. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I am so thankful for the friends and family that I was able to spend with this year!

Intercessory Prayer

Last Saturday, the youth group had Bible study on Genesis 18-19 (Sodom and Gomorrah). We followed this six question Bible study style instead of the regular questions and answer style. Although it doesn't guide the Bible study in a specific direction, I thought it was beneficial in the sense that it allows each person to delve into the word of God and share what they learned. 

Other times I've studied this passage, Abraham and Sarah's hospitality really stuck out to me. However, this time, the biggest takeaway for me was the importance of intercessory prayer. But I will also share what I learned from Genesis 13 and from the decisions Abraham and Lot made then.

Let's start with little bit of background. If we go back to chapter 13, Abraham and Lot each chose where to live - where to build their families, wealth, and friendships. Abraham (Abram at the time) became "very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold." As a result, the land could not support both Abraham and Lot's livestock and there was much quarreling between their herders."So Abram said to Lot, 'Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.' Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.'" (Genesis 13:8-13)

Abraham gave Lot the choice to go to the left or the right. Until Augustine pointed out in his message, I never realized that Lot chose neither. Lot saw that the "the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered" and he chose to go there. He did what was good in his eyes. However Abraham chose to stay where God called him to be - in the land of Canaan. I find that this is the choice that we have to make. There are things that seem to be better - making a lot of money, buying a nice house, having nice things, etc. (not that these things are necessarily bad). But if we place our desires for these things above our desire for God, it is sin. Although Lot may lived in a better place for a while, I see that in the end, Abraham had it better because he lived under God's provision. Abraham also made mistakes, but he held onto God's promise that God would make him in to a great nation. During the Harvest Festival a few weeks ago, I was really encouraged by the sacrifices the missionaries made in the earlier years. It also amazes me that out of all the counties in Maryland, they chose to come to PG County. We live 20-30 minutes from one of the wealthiest counties in America, yet they chose to start and build their families here. But in the end, I see that they chose what was better. They chose to live under God's providence and wealth rather than the world's providence and wealth. No matter what the world offers, it is far better to be under God because God is faithful.

So we get to chapter 18-19. Abraham receives three visitors (2 angels and God himself) and God shares with Abraham what he is about to do in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah in a conversation with the Lord and from asking about saving the city if there are 50 righteous men, he gets the number down to 10 righteous men. (I think it's also important to note that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin was so great.) I wonder what would have happened to Lot and his family if Abraham had not interceded for them. Perhaps Lot and his family would have also died in the destruction. One of the questions from the six steps in the Bible study question asks about what can you do specifically this week. At first, I didn't really know what I could do after reading this passage. But the more I thought about it, the more I was convicted to pray - to intercede for others in prayer. I forget that God does hear my prayers for others and it does make a difference. As we see all these things happening around the world, let's take some time to pray. Let's choose to pray and intercede for others around us and for the countries around the world. Let's have faith that God hears our prayers.

God Himself

This week, I read the Five Essential Core Values by Rolland Baker for Iris (Rolland and Heidi Baker's ministry). And it was really convicting. It's kind of long, but I encourage you to read it!

The five main points were:

1. We understand we can find God, and can experience intimacy, communication and companionship with Him in His Presence, if we share His love for righteousness.

2. We are totally dependent on Him for everything, and we need and expect miracles of all kinds to sustain us and confirm the Gospel in our ministry.

3. Look for revival among the broken, humble and lowly, and start at the bottom with ministry to the poor. God chooses the weak and despised things of the world to shame the proud, demonstrating His own strength and wisdom. Our direction is lower still.

4. We understand the value of suffering in the Christian life. Learning to love requires willingness to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Discipline and testing make saints out of us, and produce in us holiness, without which we will not see God’s face and share His glory. With Paul we rejoice in our weaknesses, for when we are weak we are strong.

5. The joy of the Lord is not optional, and far outweighs our suffering! In Jesus it becomes our motivation, reward and spiritual weapon. In His Presence is fullness of joy, and with Paul we testify that in all our troubles our joy knows no bounds (2 Cor. 7:4). It is our strength and energy, without which we die.

The point that convicted me the most is number one. "You know, there are lots of exciting things about the Christian life. One of them is actually doing the stuff. Doing signs and wonders, seeing God do miracles, transforming the world around us and making the world a better place. But how do I express the fact that for us that is just absolutely not enough? We need God Himself. Not just to see a place fixed, not just to see miracles happen. Not just to see our bank account increase, not just to see people get out of the hospital. So yes, they’re out of the hospital, but what shape is their heart in? What’s their state of loneliness? What happens when they die? Life is short, you know. There are issues much bigger than your bank account." 

We need God Himself. I need God Himself. One of the questions from Andrew's YDJ presentation on Samson that stuck out to me was - "Am I being used, but not changed?" God used Samson in powerful ways, but throughout his life, we see that his attitude towards God was not right. He did not acknowledge that the power that he had came from God. He let his anger and carelessness lead to his downfall. However, at the end of his life, we see a change in heart and attitude as he prays for the last time - "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." (Judges 16:28). 

I want to do great things for God and see people come to know Him. All the mission stories stirs my heart! But what if great things happened - but God wasn't there? Will I be okay? I find that the more I do things, it does not necessarily mean that I am experiencing God and knowing Him more. Yes, God requires me to give 100% of my life, but more than doing things, my primary concern should be knowing God Himself and pursing Him. As I seek Him, am I becoming more like Jesus? These days, I'm learning how important it is to spend time with God daily and to guard this time. We also take for granted how we can worship so freely and openly here with other believers. In the midst of the busyness of life, I'm learning to cherish this time I have now. Listening to the mission reports from the chapters that were pioneered in America and other countries, I wonder where God will lead each one of us in the years to come. Whether we can see it or not, He's moving!

"He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus."   

from Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado