FOR WEDNESDAY SEPT. 24 : BUILDING A CITY

[cimi]

September 24
wednesday


BUILDING
A CITY

READ:
Hebrews 11:8-16
___________________________________________

They desire a better,
that is, a heavenly
country. Therefore God
is not ashamed to be
called their God.
__Hebrews 11:16
___________________________________________

For 41 Years, New York's Empire State Building enjoyed the distinction of being the world's tallest building at 1,250 feet. Since then, others have passed it, including the 1,483-foot Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 1,670-foot Taipei 101 building. The 2,657-foot Burj in Dubai to be completed in late 2008 will surpass those by far.

From ancient times, man has tried to distinguish himself through monuments of all kinds. It is still the dream of many today.

The writer to the Hebrews presents a better way to achieve significance. He noted that heroes of the faith never lost sight of the fact that they "were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Heb. 11:13). As a result, "God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (v.16).

It is a fact of life that every monumental work will likely be surpassed. Even man's biggest "successes" are fleeting. Our best efforts can bring only temporary honor, which all too soon will be eclipsed by the new and greater achievements of others. But those who invest their efforts in living to please God have a lasting city and an everlasting honor to look forward to. God is even now preparing these for them.

Who is building your life? You or God? __C. P. Hia
_____________________________________________________________

``````````````````True greatness does not lie with those```````````
``````````````````````Who strive for worldly fame;```````````````
```````````````````It lies instead with those who choose```````````
`````````````````To serve in Jesus' name. __D. De Haan```````````
_____________________________________________________________

A solid foundation gives strength to a building
and a life.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 11:8-16*********

8 By faith Abraham obeyed
when he was called to go
out to the place which he
would receive as an
inheritance. And he went
out, not knowing where he
was gong. 9 By faith he
dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise;

10 for he waited for the city
which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is
God.

11 By faith sarah herself
also received strength to
conceive seed, and she bore
a child when she was past
the age, because she judged
Him fiathful who had
promised. 12 Therefore from
one man, and him as good
as dead, were born as many
as the stars of the sky in
multitude__innumerable as
the sand which is by the
seashore.

13 These all died in faith,
not having received the
promises, but having seen
them afar off were assured
of them, embraced them
and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. 14 For those
who say such things declare
plainly that they seek a
homeland. 15 and truly if
they had called to mind that
country from which they
had come out, they would
have had opportunity to
return. 16 But now they
deisre a better, that is, a
heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for He has
prepared a city for them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Hebrews 11 has been called the "Hall of Faith." The people listed
in this chpatter are remembered for believing God for results.
Each illustrates that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen" (v.1). __Dennis Fisher