Lifestyle
Stay warm spiritually
I’ve been reading in 2nd Timothy and the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, a younger-middle aged pastor to throw another log on the fire. Actually, he tells him to, “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2nd Timothy 1:6). Why does this Rock Star of a Christian tell his protege to “fire up?” Because if we are honest our spiritual flame starts to go out if we are not intentional about keeping it going.
‘I know suffering and have come to deliver’
The central saving act of God in the Hebrew Bible is the deliverance of Abraham’s children from slavery in Egypt—the Exodus. In scripture’s prelude to this mighty act is one of the tenderest, most assuring texts of the entire Bible: Then the LORD said, “I have seen the affliction of my people, and have heard their cry; I know their sufferings, and I have come…” (Exodus 3) I recently recognized a charity known as #Stand-UpToJewishHate. You may have seen their symbol on sites such as Instagram. It is a simple blue square. The website notes: “The Jewish population makes up only 2.4% of the U.S. population, yet Jews face 55% of all religious hate crimes, according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.” Is this something that should draw our attention?
