OT DAY 68 - You Got to Pass Your Next Test (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Genesis 21:33-22:2

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read Genesis 21:33-22:2

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 21&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=創 世 記 21&version=CUV

Bible Study

      Today's passage always gives people lots of thoughts and arguments. How can God do that to ask Abraham to kill his own son in order to test his faith? Well, don't forget Abraham just deserted his first son to die in the desert. How come he made that decision, right? May be that can be a new insight of why God tested him like that?   

Let's take a look at what Professor John Goldingay says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goldingay) :

    

     Abraham's testing follows on this reaching a new insight regarding who God is.  He has resolved his relationship with Abimelech and watched him disappear towards the horizon, leaving Abraham in a secure position in the Beersheba area.  As well as breathing a sigh of relief, he turns to God to express his recognition that it was God who makes this possible…
     You might think the story of Abraham and Sarah is working toward its end, and in a way it is.  They have their son.  They have a secure position in the country….Yes, their story is surely working toward its end.  Then there is a bombshell.  Some time later, God decides on this test for Abraham. 

John Goldingay. Genesis for Everyone - Part Two. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.43-45.

      Are you in the midst of a test? Or, are you feeling so secure that you are not prepared to have a test?   

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: You got to pass your next test

    What Jesus tells me today is that there is always a test coming along so that we are being challenged again and again whether we are willing to listen, obey and worship God. Or, Jesus is Lord is just a saying but not a being and doing!

     Whether your next test is to have "real" daily devotion, tithing, or anything. You got to pass your next test!

     Don't worry or even frightened, all those tests from God is just to prepare, equip and raise us up to be a better disciple of Jesus. Nothing more and nothing less!  

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to prepare ourselves so that we can pass our next test.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

    Please click this link to the app. Andy Ng wrote. You really need to use that if you have an Android cel. Andy said he is going to do the App. for iPhone later:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideal.rec.app

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

Rev. Nicky Gumbel's daily devotion: Bible in One Year

http://www.htb.org.uk/bio