An American Missionary

"Que Sera, Sera" (Whatever Will be, Will be) may have been a lovely song by Doris Day in 1956, but it's poor grammar and an even worse attitude. It promotes a fatalistic mindset that just accepts what may come because we can't see the future. 
 
Thankfully Moses' parents didn't have that attitude. Instead of waiting for the inevitable they chose to hide Moses and save his life (Exodus 2:1-4). God refused that same fatalistic attitude by choosing to save Israel through that same Moses. 
 
Most importantly, Moses was a shadow of the Christ, God's Son, who came to rescue sinners from the fate of sin - eternal spiritual death. We will boldly chose to change our fate and follow Jesus (Romans 12:1-2).

"Que Sera, Sera" (Whatever Will be, Will be) may have been a lovely song by Doris Day in 1956, but it's poor grammar and an even worse attitude. It promotes a fatalistic mindset that just accepts what may come because we can't see the future.

Thankfully Moses' parents didn't have that attitude. Instead of waiting for the inevitable they chose to hide Moses and save his life (Exodus 2:1-4). God refused that same fatalistic attitude by choosing to save Israel through that same Moses.

Most importantly, Moses was a shadow of the Christ, God's Son, who came to rescue sinners from the fate of sin - eternal spiritual death. We will boldly chose to change our fate and follow Jesus (Romans 12:1-2).

Like Moses, Making Our Own Fate In Jesus Exodus 2:1-4

1.21 jiggowatts were allegedly needed to power Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine in "Back to the Future". The only thing we need is a good story to match our interest in time travel. 
 
If you had a time machine, "when" would you go? That really depends on whether you're boldly facing the future or bogged down in what was or what could have been. 
 
People of Faith like Joseph (Genesis 50:24-25) and the other patriarchs (Hebrews 11:10-16) focus on the future. They trust the promises of God and look forward to the heavenly country, the City of God instead of back to those old places of the past. 
 
Which direction are you focused?

1.21 jiggowatts were allegedly needed to power Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine in "Back to the Future". The only thing we need is a good story to match our interest in time travel.

If you had a time machine, "when" would you go? That really depends on whether you're boldly facing the future or bogged down in what was or what could have been.

People of Faith like Joseph (Genesis 50:24-25) and the other patriarchs (Hebrews 11:10-16) focus on the future. They trust the promises of God and look forward to the heavenly country, the City of God instead of back to those old places of the past. 

Which direction are you focused?

Joseph's Faith Looks Forward To The Future Genesis 50:24-25

"Quid pro quo" is a Latin phrase "something for something." It typically is used for dishonest or disreputable gain, such as the selfish type we discussed yesterday. Integrity doesn't seek quid pro quo of that type. 
 
Integrity is doing the right thing even if it hurts. Peter had it when he told the Jewish leaders he would preach Jesus no matter what they said or did (Acts 4:18-20). Joseph had it when he refused to violate Potiphar's wife, Potiphar, and God. He wouldn't use her for his own gain no matter the cost. 
 
Jesus had it more than all of us. He rejected Satan's temptations by relying on God. All three answers to Satan were founded on the person of God. He served God for the purpose of serving God and man. Do we?

"Quid pro quo" is a Latin phrase "something for something." It typically is used for dishonest or disreputable gain, such as the selfish type we discussed yesterday. Integrity doesn't seek quid pro quo of that type.

Integrity is doing the right thing even if it hurts. Peter had it when he told the Jewish leaders he would preach Jesus no matter what they said or did (Acts 4:18-20). Joseph had it when he refused to violate Potiphar's wife, Potiphar, and God. He wouldn't use  her for his own gain no matter the cost. 

Jesus had it more than all of us. He rejected Satan's temptations by relying on God. All three answers to Satan were founded on the person of God. He served God for the purpose of serving God and man. Do we?

Joseph's Integrity Before God Genesis 39:8-9

Since we now know Jacob was wrestling with an angel thanks to God's own commentary in Hosea 12:3-4, let's take a look at the reason for the event. 
 
Jacob's name meant deceiver, a legacy based on his holding Esau's heel at birth. A legacy Jacob lived down to at every turn. While wrestling the angel Jacob refused to quit and won a new name for himself - Israel. It means one who wrestles or strives with God and man and wins. The implication was he was no longer a deceiver having achieved victory with God. 
 
Believers in Jesus have a new name - Christian. It's a sign of victory in the Lord.

Since we now know Jacob was wrestling with an angel thanks to God's own commentary in Hosea 12:3-4, let's take a look at the reason for the event. 

Jacob's name meant deceiver, a legacy based on his holding Esau's heel at birth. A legacy Jacob lived down to at every turn. While wrestling the angel Jacob refused to quit and won a new name for himself - Israel. It means one who wrestles or strives with God and man and wins. The implication was he was no longer a deceiver having achieved victory with God. 

Believers in Jesus have a new name - Christian. It's a sign of victory in the Lord.

Jacob: Blessed By An Angel Genesis 32:24-32

Favoritism almost always causes problems, especially in a family. It was the source of much anger and bitterness that resulted in pain and suffering for the family of Jacob. His father-in-law tricked him by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob didn't want the sister, but took her anyway, and then married Rachel a week later. 
 
That started a lifetime of jealousy and competition that was compounded by Leah having four sons when Rachel had none. It soon escalated until between the two wives, and their two maids, Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter. 
 
it was a hot mix of anger, resentment and bitterness that spilled over onto the boys and lasted their whole lifetimes as well.

Favoritism almost always causes problems, especially in a family. It was the source of much anger and bitterness that resulted in pain and suffering for the family of Jacob. His father-in-law tricked him by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob didn't want the sister, but took her anyway, and then married Rachel a week later. 

That started a lifetime of jealousy and competition that was compounded by Leah having four sons when Rachel had none. It soon escalated until between the two wives, and their two maids, Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter.

it was a hot mix of anger, resentment and bitterness that spilled over onto the boys and lasted their whole lifetimes as well.

Jacob"s Favoritism For Rachel Genesis 30:1-10

Believing in God's plan is difficult enough after the cross has revealed Jesus was the promised Son who would crush Satan's head. Imagine what it was like after being cast out of the Garden and not knowing who the "he" of Genesis 3:15 would be. 
 
Even with the promise to Abraham narrowing it down to his family (Genesis 12:3) and then to his son Isaac (Genesis 17:19) the ultimate son was unclear. Century after century, prophecy after prophecy God revealed more and more, and asked people to trust him. 
 
Now the promised salvation has come, but what remains unclear is whether or not you will accept it. That's a decision you have to make.

Believing in God's plan is difficult enough after the cross has revealed Jesus was the promised Son who would crush Satan's head. Imagine what it was like after being cast out of the Garden and not knowing who the "he" of Genesis 3:15 would be.

Even with the promise to Abraham narrowing it down to his family (Genesis 12:3) and then to his son Isaac (Genesis 17:19) the ultimate son was unclear. Century after century, prophecy after prophecy God revealed more and more, and asked people to trust him.

Now the promised salvation has come, but what remains unclear is whether or not you will accept it. That's a decision you have to make.

The Promised One Becomes Clear Hebrews 2:14-15

Brad Paisley's song, Alcohol, took a seriously funny shot at alcohol and all the problems it causes. It tried to be funny, and succeeded. But what's funny about all those problems it causes? 
 
The first mention of alcohol in the Bible involved sin. After Noah and family exited the ark and began their new life on the cleansed earth Noah planted a vineyard, made wine and got fall down and pass out naked drunk. If that wasn't bad enough one of his sons thought it as funny and tried to get his brothers to join in shaming drunk ol' dad. The refused. (Genesis 9:20-23). 
 
When Noah sobered up and realized what had happened he placed a curse on his son for shaming him in front of his brothers. I guess alcohol isn't really funny after all.

Brad Paisley's song, Alcohol, took a seriously funny shot at alcohol and all the problems it causes. It tried to be funny, and succeeded. But what's funny about all those problems it causes?

The first mention of alcohol in the Bible involved sin. After Noah and family exited the ark and began their new life on the cleansed earth Noah planted a vineyard, made wine and got fall down and pass out naked drunk. If that wasn't bad enough one of his sons thought it as funny and tried to get his brothers to join in shaming drunk ol' dad. The refused. (Genesis 9:20-23).

When Noah sobered up and realized what had happened he placed a curse on his son for shaming him in front of his brothers. I guess alcohol isn't really funny after all.

Alcohol Isn't Funny Genesis 9:20-27

None of you were violent persecutors like Saul the persecutor. Or were you? I'm going out on a limb to say the answer is no, which means none of you have the same weight of guilt on your shoulders that he carried with him all his life. Of course all sin is equally offensive to God, but there's something about a history of violence that would make us nervous around someone, even a penitent converted man like Paul. 
 
Why did Jesus make a special post-ascension appearance to Paul to call him to be his special Apostle to the Gentiles? Obviously the past wasn't enough to dissuade Jesus from choosing Paul, though it probably would have turned us away. We can guess that it was because Paul would put that same drive into preaching Christ that he had put into attacking him. 
 
Regardless of his past Paul was obedient to the Lord and went about preaching Jesus. Proof that his call was from God not man. Paul wasn't persuaded by men to follow Jesus, much less to become his chief Apostle (Galatians 1:1). But his call to us is through the word proclaimed by his apostles. Will we listen and obey?

None of you were violent persecutors like Saul the persecutor. Or were you? I'm going out on a limb to say the answer is no, which means none of you have the same weight of guilt on your shoulders that he carried with him all his life. Of course all sin is equally offensive to God, but there's something about a history of violence that would make us nervous around someone, even a penitent converted man like Paul.

Why did Jesus make a special post-ascension appearance to Paul to call him to be his special Apostle to the Gentiles? Obviously the past wasn't enough to dissuade Jesus from choosing Paul, though it probably would have turned us away. We can guess that it was because Paul would put that same drive into preaching Christ that he had put into attacking him. 

Regardless of his past Paul was obedient to the Lord and went about preaching Jesus. Proof that his call was from God not man. Paul wasn't persuaded by men to follow Jesus, much less to become his chief Apostle (Galatians 1

Saul The Persecutor Galatians 1:13-14

"What we have here is a failure to communicate!" That was the warden's assessment of Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. The movie actually glorified rebellion, making it look "cool" even though it cost Luke his life. 
 
Lamech was a proud rebel in the ages long ago. A descendant of the murderer Cain, he grew up East of Eden. Which is a good way to say away from God. Lamech had no interest in God and it showed in his life and the lives of his children. Watch the video for a brief analysis. 
 
Oh, and don't be a proud rebel. It never ends well.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate!" That was the warden's assessment of Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. The movie actually glorified rebellion, making it look "cool" even though it cost Luke his life.

Lamech was a proud rebel in the ages long ago. A descendant of the murderer Cain, he grew up East of Eden. Which is a good way to say away from God. Lamech had no interest in God and it showed in his life and the lives of his children. Watch the video for a brief analysis.

Oh, and don't be a proud rebel. It never ends well.

Lamech: The Proud Rebel Genesis 4:18-24

Don't ever accept an award for Most Humble. Once there was a fellow who was told he had won the award, but was turned away when he actually showed up to accept it. Pride was hiding in his heart and slipped out when told his humility was being officially recognized. 
 
Humility is like that; always elusive and never to be claimed. It just has to be lived by a relentless determination to consider others more important than myself (Philippians 2:3), pursue what others want (Philippians 2:4), and become a servant (Philippians 2:7). 
 
It's what Jesus did (Philippians 2:5).

Don't ever accept an award for Most Humble. Once there was a fellow who was told he had won the award, but was turned away when he actually showed up to accept it. Pride was hiding in his heart and slipped out when told his humility was being officially recognized.

Humility is like that; always elusive and never to be claimed. It just has to be lived by a relentless determination to consider others more important than myself (Philippians 2:3), pursue what others want (Philippians 2:4), and become a servant (Philippians 2:7). 

It's what Jesus did (Philippians 2:5).

An American Missionary Videos