Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 31
Friday


WHERE WAS
GOD?

READ:
Hebrews 13:5-8
_______________________________

Surely He has borne
our griefs and carried
our sorrows.
__Isaiah 53:4
_______________________________

Was God sadistically absent? That's what Robert McClory, professor emeritus of journalism at the Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, asked after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area of the US.

We may want to try to exonerate the Almighty for permitting disasters that rip apart vulnerable communities. But is God absent in such situations? No, McClory insists. Talking about the Katrina tragedy, he said that God was invisibly present "with the suffering and the dying. He was in the individuals, communities, churches, and schools that organized aid for the victims and took evacuees into their cities and homes. He was with the hundreds of thousands who showed compassion by prayer and financial assistance. "

So it is in our own lives when a heartbreaking tragedy occurs, such as the death of someone we love. We have no completely satisfactory answer to life's painful problems. We do know, however, that the Lord is present with us, for He said He would never leave us (Heb.13:5). Jesus' name "Immanuel" literally means "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).

Even though suffering baffles our minds, we can trust God to be near and to work out His purposes. __Vernon Grounds
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~~~~~~~~~~God's unseen presence comforts me,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I know He's always near;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~And when life's storms besiege our soul,~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~He says, "My child, I'm here." __D. De Haan~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The storms of our life
prove the strength of our Anchor.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 13:5-8************

5 Let your conduct be
without covetousness; be
content with such things as
you have. For He Himself
has said, "I will never leave
you nor forsake you." 6 So
we may boldly say: "The
LORD is my helper; I will
not fear. What can man do
to me?"

7 Remember those who
rule over you, who have
spoken the word of God
to you, whose faith follow,
considering the outcome of
their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.

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

Hebrews is the only New Testament book whose author remains
unknown. Possible writers include Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Apollos,
Philip, Priscilia, and Aquila. Hebrews was written to encourage
Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and hardships for
their faith and were now in danger of drifting away__reverting
back to Judaism (Heb. 10:32-39). The writer presents the absolute
supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus as Savior. Jesus is superior to the
angels (1-2), to Moses (3-4), and to the Aaronic priesthood (5-7).
He is the perfect High Priest (8-10) and has promised never to leave
us nor forsake us (13:5). __SKT