Reflect, ponder, discuss, debate, even argue, but absolutely no flaming!
I can attest from personal experience that reading from Chambers daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.
This is a very difficult one -- probably because it requires us to be humble before a brother or sister in Christ and admit they have a better answer. I don't think our culture today...even our Christian culture....likes humility too much.
If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.
Words to remember. Too many times those that make a statement about their faith on these threads are ridiculed beyond belief. Hardly the reaction you'd expect from Godly people.
Why was it more challenging for Moses' contemporaries to follow his leadership than for future generations, who universally honored him, and had his written words, but did not have Moses himself? Because Moses was right there telling them wherein they were going astray. Because of the hardships of the journey. Because of the Dathans in their midst. Because of the things the Lord challenged them to do by the mouth of Moses, and so forth.
An important part of this mortal experience is to see if we will obey the Lord when he sends someone to speak for Him, or if we will only obey Him when He is right there before us. Little children who are still learning to obey their parents behave differently when they toddle off into another room of the house where they do not think anyone will know what they are doing. (Grownups do that too.)
Imagine that you are a nine-year-old boy. You ask your mother if you can go play at Joey's. She says you need to finish your chores first. You do so, and go to tell her that the chores are done. She thanks you and says, "Have fun at Joey's".
Several hours later, she sends your little brother to call you home for dinner. When he arrives, he finds you completely engrossed in a very interesting activity, and your friends are all around you.
What do you do? Do you turn to your friends and say, "Well, gotta go. Had a great time. See you tomorrow." Or, do you turn to your little brother and say, "NO. Get lost. I'm not coming."
If you chose the latter, does it occur to you that it is really your mother that you are disobeying, for she sent him to call you home to dinner. (If you were afraid he might be pulling your leg, you can always call home and verify it.)
Your mother knows a great deal more about how much obedience you have really learned when she speaks to you by the mouth of your little brother.
By extension, the Lord knows the end from the beginning, but still in our manner of speaking, He knows a great deal more about how much obedience we have really learned when he speaks to us by the mouth of true and living apostles whom He has sent.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!