Keselamatan tak terpisahkan dengan Disiplin.. J. Bridges

Allah tidak pernah menyelamatkan orang, lalu meninggalkan mereka untuk melanjutkan hidup yang tidak dewasa dan berdosa. Orang yang diselamatkanNYA, didisiplinkanNYA pula. Filipi 1:6 "IA, yang memulai pekerjaan yang baik diantara kamu, akan meneruskannya sampai pada akhirnya pada hari Kristus Yesus".
Pemikiran ini memberi dorongan sekaligus menuntut perhatian serius kita. Memberi dorongan karena menjamin pertumbuhan rohani kita tidak diserahkan kepada inisiatif kita, juga tidak bergantung kepada hikmat kita untuk mengetahui di wilayah mana dan ke arah mana kita harus bertumbuh. Sebaliknya, Allah sendirilah yang memulai dan mengarahkan pertumbuhan rohani kita. Hal ini bukan berarti kita tidak bertanggung jawab untuk menanggapi pelatihan rohani Allah, Bapa kita, dalam hidup kita. Hal ini berarti Dialah yang bertanggung jawab melatih kita.
Pada saat bersamaan, tak terpisahnya anugrah Allah dengan disiplin rohani merupakan kebenaran yang menuntut perhatian serius kita. Kita hanya perlu melongok dunia kekristenan, khususnya di USA untuk mendapati sejumlah besar orang yang mengaku sudah pernah beriman kepada Kristus tetapi nampaknya belum mengalami pendisiplinan anugrah apapun. Mereka mungkin pernah menanggapi tantangan keselamatan dengan maju ke depan, menulis di kartu komitmen, bahkan memanjatkan doa pertobatan, tetapi anugrah sepertinya tidak mendidik mereka untuk meninggalkan kefasikan dan keinginan duniawi, apalagi untuk menjalani hidup yang bijaksana, adil, dan beribadah. Pada hakikatnya, hidup mereka hari ini tidak berbeda dengan sebelum mereka beriman kepada Kristus.
Ibrani 12:8 "jikalau kamu bebas dari ganjaran, yang harus diderita setiap orang, maka kamu bukanlah anak, tetapi anak-anak gampang". Dan Yesus sendiri berkata, "bukan setiap orang yang berseru kepadaKU: Tuhan, Tuhan! Akan masuk ke dalam kerajaan Sorga, melainkan dia yang melakukan kehendak BapaKU yang di sorga"(Matius 7:21). Ahli waris hidup kekal bukanlah mereka yang membuat pengakuan pertobatan, melainkan mereka yang hidupnya menjadi bukti nyata pelatihan Allah, Bapa kita.

God Takes Joy in Using Ordinary Things for Extraordinary Purposes.. Exo4

A shepherd's staff was commonly wooden rod with a curved hook at a top. The shepherd used it for walking, guiding his sheep, killing snake, and many other tasks. Still, it was just a stick. But God used the simple shepherd's staff Moses carried as a sign to teach him an important lesson.
What are the ordinary things in your life--your voice, a pen, a hammer, a broom, a musical instrument? While it is easy to assume God can use only a special skills, you must not hinder HIS use of everyday constributions you can make. Little did Moses imagine the power his simple staff would wield when it became the staff of God.

I AM WHO I AM.. Unchanging God.. Exo3

The Egyptians had many gods by many different names. Moses wanted to know God's name so the Hebrew people would know exactly who had sent him to them. God called himself I AM, a name describing HIS eternal power and unchangeable character. In a world where values, morals, and laws change constantly, we can find stability and security in our unchanging God. The God who appeared to Moses is the same God who can live in us today. Hebrew13 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because God's nature is stable and trustworthy, we are free to follow and enjoy HIM rather than spend our time trying to figure HIM out.

Did God bless the Hebrew midwives for lying to Pharaoh?.. Exo1

God bless them not because they lied, but because they saved the lives of innocent children. This doesnt mean that a lie was necesserily the best way to answer Pharaoh. The midwives were blessed, however, for not violating the higher law of God that forbids the senseless slaughter of innocent lives.
Against Pharaoh's order, the midwives spared the Hebrew babies. Their faith in God gave them the courage to take a stand for what they knew was right. In this situation, disobeying the authority was proper. God doesnt expect us to obey those in authority when they ask us to disobey HIM or HIS Word.
The Bible is filled with examples of those who were willing to sacrifice their very lives in order to obey God or save others, Esther, Mordecai, Daniel, Shadrach, meshach and Abednego are some of the people who took a bold stand for what was right.
Whole nations can be caught up in immorality; thus following the majority or the authority isnt always right. Whenever we are ordered to disobey God's Word, we must obey God rather than any human authority.

Parellels Between Joseph and Jesus.. Gen50

Gen37:3     / Mat3:17     ; Their fathers loved them dearly,

Gen37:2     / John10:11    ; Shepherds of their fathers sheep,

Gen37:13   / Heb2:11        ; Sent by father to brothers,

Gen37:4    / John7:5      ; Hated by brothers,

Gen37:20 / John11:53  ; Others plotted to harm them,

Gen37:7     / Mat4:1         ; Tempted,

Gen37:25 / Mat2:14      ; Taken to Egypt,

Gen37:23 / John19:23 ; Robes taken from them,

Gen37:28 / Mat26:15   ; Sold for the price of a slave,

Gen39:20 / Mat27:2     ; Bound in chains,

Gen39:16  / Mat26:59  ; Falsely accused,

Gen40:2  / Luk23:32   ; Placed with 2 prisoner, one who was saved and the other lost,

Gen41:46 / Luk3:23     ; Both 30years old at the beginning of public recognition
Gen41:41    / Phi2:9          ; Exalted after suffering,
Gen45:1      / Luk23:34 ; Forgave those who wronged them,
Gen45:7    / Mat1:21         ; Saved their nation,
Gen50:20 / 1Cor2:7       ; What people did to hurt them God turned to good

God is Sovereign, HIS Plan arent Dictated by Human Action.. Gen45

Although Joseph's brothers had wanted to get rid of him, God used even their evil plan. HE had sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel.
When others intend evil toward you, remember that they are only God's tools.
Joseph had been rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity.
Joseph demonstrated how God forgives us and showers us with goodness even though we have sinned against him. The same forgiveness and blessings are ours if we ask for them.

Preseverance of The Saint.. Gen43

Jacob and his sons had no relief from the famine. They couldnt see God's overall plan of sending them to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph and fed from Egypt's storehouses.
If you praying for relief from suffering or preassure and God isnt bringing ia as quickly as you would like, remember that God may be leading you to special treasures.