Providential Rolls

The presentation on Providence at this past week’s New Members class included the statement that every time you roll dice, the Lord has determined the outcome, based on Proverbs 16.33 – “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”

Does God really have control over ALL the little things, like EVERY roll of the dice?  Why would he care?

First of all, can he do it?  Yes.  This is the God who created the entire universe, where there are more stars in the heavens than there are grains of sand on the earth.  The cosmos is unimaginably huge and it is still expanding!  On the smaller than tiny end of things, electron microscopes have discovered that the interior of millions of human cells in your body is like a manufacturing plant, with inputs, outputs, storage areas and processing all determined by DNA and messages received.  The God who set up stars and cells can certainly handle a few million dice rolls per second.

Second, does he do it?  The Bible says it is so.  An abundance of passages point to the ongoing work of the One True Creator God in all aspects of nature and our lives.  The Heidelberg Catechism Q&A #1 states that “Not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my father in heaven.”  Every hair, every dice roll; God is in charge.

Third, why does he care?  Romans 8.28 says that God works all things together for our good , for those who believe in him.  Part of God’s nature is to care for his people.  As a result, his people are generally growing in praising and glorifying Him. God cares for His glory and for our good.

Stress?

The headmaster of a fancy boarding school was lecturing his students on etiquette.  “ In moments of stress or agitation, you must count to twenty before you speak up.”

One student raised his hand: “Nineteen, twenty, your pants are on fire!”

Social T-shirts

Alas, poor Yorick!  I knew him from Facebook.

 

My favorite social media platform is called “talking”

 

I just want to be the kind of person my online friends think I am.

 

You read my shirt – that’s enough social interaction for today.

First Importance

1 Corinthians 15.3-6 gives a quick summary of foundational tenets of the Christian faith:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas , then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

The basics are that Jesus the Christ was crucified, dead, and buried; he rose from the dead and appeared to many.  But the three verses contain a boatload of implications (at least five) for what we believe and how we act.

1. The events are historical facts. This early creed was written during the lifetime of eye witnesses who were available for questioning. 

 2. There is a plan.  The events happened “in accordance with the scriptures“ so there was foreknowledge of the crucifixion and resurrection.

3. The plan included Christ dying for our sins.  The pinnacle of God’s plan was the historical event of Jesus’ redemptive death on the Cross.

4. The Scriptures are valued as an authentic and accurate resource.

5. Perpetuation of the faith is already in motion.  Those who were not eyewitnesses are telling the good news that they received and believed.

God’s Son

Hebrews starts out telling the communications God has sent to us: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”  This Son, Jesus, has these amazing characteristics:

– He was appointed the heir of all things

– The world was created through him

– He is the radiance of the glory of God

– He is the exact imprint of God’s nature

– He upholds the universe by the word of his power

– He made purification for sins

– He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high

– He has become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs

No wonder the section title in the ESV says “The Supremacy of God’s Son.”

Horsey Baseball

During spring training, a horse approached the manager and said he wanted a try out for the team.  Knowing all the holes on his team, the manager figures he has nothing to lose.  He told the horse to grab a bat and take a few swings. No matter what the pitcher threw, the horse smashed it. He hit it out of the park without even trying.

The manager is now more interested.  He told the horse to get a glove and field some ground balls.  The horse was flawless; nothing could get past him.  Really excited now, the manager said, “All right, get on first base.  Let’s see how fast you can run.”

The horse answers, “Run?  If I could run, I’d be in the Kentucky Derby!”

Jesus is Better

We used this exercise at two evening meetings last week.  The instructions are quick and clear, the fruit is plentiful and easy to find.

The Instructions:

Recall a main theme of Hebrews – Jesus is supreme.  He is better than angels, any other high priest, Moses or Melchizedek. Let’s spend time tonight praising God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for BEING a better…

Take a few moments to jot down verses that tell us that Jesus is a better teacher, leader, king, lover of my soul, intercessor, etc.  For example, when Jesus taught, the people marveled that he taught with authority (Mark 1.27).  We know Jesus is a better bridegroom; he is the example all husbands are compared to (Ephesians 5.25).

Then we will use our verses to praise Jesus.

The Praise Part:

We took turns quickly citing one of our verses and went around the group two or three times.  At that point, the praise was overflowing and the prayer was lively.  Some of the shared findings:

– Better healer (Matthew 15)

– Better warrior and armies (2 Kings 18 and 19)

– The ONLY way, truth, and life (John 14)

– Better than Dagon (I Samuel 5.4)

– Better than earthly fathers (Luke 11)

– A better Adam (Romans 5)

– Better than all other gods (Isaiah 45)

– The ONLY one who can forgive sins (Mark 2)

– Better King and Lord (Revelation 19)