Sunday, 02 September 2007

Sunday School Class: Proverbs 24:26, 28 & 29; also, 27, 30-34 "I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw..." 

Scripture reading: #659

Sunday evening - No Vespers tonight. Enjoy the holiday. 

Wednesday Study Class 7-8 p.m.: Developing a Biblically consistent world-view. 

‘Though all else fails - yet I will rejoice.

Habakkuk 3:17.  Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

18. yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Determination, mindset, commitment, perspective, conception…these are the factors of success – Habakkuk style.

Determination, mindset, commitment, perspective, conception…

It is generally considered that the reading of Habakkuk was fundamental to Martin Luther's understanding and development of his personal theological pilgrimage into 'living by faith.'

The entire concept of 'faith' has been battered and bruised down through the centuries.

• Is faith a structured belief system? Yes.
• Is faith an optimistic perspective on life and its events? Yes.
• Is faith an exercise in living life with uncertainty? Yes.
• Is faith a way of living life with certainty? Yes.

Are all these things disparate? Yes.

Yet, all these things are faith.

Habakkuk 2:1. I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. 2.Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

 

3. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. 4. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith --

Habakkuk 3:17. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18. yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

·        Determination: it does take determination to see life through the rough times. Life isn’t easy. No crop worth eating comes without labor and preparation.

·        Mindset: If you don’t know what you want you won’t know when you get it.

·        Commitment: There HAS to be a dedication/commitment to the process! If you get off the train at any stop short of the destination because you get tired of the ride, you won’t make it to the reward.

·        Perspective: Life is how you see it. What you see is what you get…WYSIWYG!

·        Conception: W. Clement Stone said, “What the mind can conceive, and the heart can believe, you can achieve.”

This isn’t hyperbole. This is what faith; in all its facets, stages and ramifications – IS!

The summation of God to Habakkuk was this, Habakkuk 2:20. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

In other words: if you will just wait, it will all become clear to you.

Do NOT lose heart. Be determined, keep your mind on the goal, keep your commitment to your purpose, keep your perspective because life is how you see it, and then just ‘believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him’ and wait - The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.