17 February 2008—2 Lent

The Supreme Test

focusPoints

There are numerous stories and passages in the Old Testament that foreshadow what is to come in the New Testament. The passage from Genesis 22 is certainly one of those. Genesis 22:1 tells that God “tested” Abraham.

Abraham received a command from the God that must have broken his heart—“to take your son, Isaac, whom you love, to the region of Moriah, and sacrifice him there on one of the mountains I will tell you about.

The Lord was testing Abraham. Abraham passed this supreme test and we honor him as our father in the faith (Fookes: Stockwell UMC Worship Message, 17 February 2008)

forwardPoints

From this scripture we find these truths:

All people of faith will be tested. Not as Abraham was, but all of us will be tested (James 1:13, James 1:24, Isaiah 48:10).
God will provide as much help as we need.
(I John 4:4, 2 Corinthians, 12:9)

(Fookes: Stockwell UMC Worship Message, 17 February 2008).

fellowshipPoints

In The Book of Hard Choices: How to Make the Right Decisions at Work and Keep Your Self-Respect, James Autry and Peter Roy recount a story about the publisher of Natural Foods Merchandiser being tested.

A cover story was run as editorial content used a particular manufacturer as a primary source, which was the competitor of the publication’s major advertiser.

The major advertiser was not happy because its competitor was made to look good. The major advertiser was demanding in bullying fashion that something be done or future advertising would be pulled.

The publisher explained that advertising did not drive editorial content and to be ethical nothing could be done—since the article in question was factual (Autry and Roy 2006, 31-41).

In the end, the major advertiser continued advertising and now treated the publication more as colleague than vendor reminding us that we should

· Appreciate the long-term effect of doing what we say we’re going to do.
· Remain calm and courteous even in the face of anger and verbal abuse.
· Never let ourselves be driven by the fear of failure.
· Don’t sacrifice our peace of mind for a short-term solution (Autry and Roy 2006, 41).

findingPoints

How can we better equip ourselves to be ready for tests and stay in command of situations that require us to provide an immediate response in which a short-term and long-term answer might be different?




What are the long-term implications of our short-term and long-term answers being consistent? For us? For others?




When Jesus asked his inner circle about being ready to drink the cup of which he was to drink there short-term answer was yes without considering the long-term consequences. What are some ways we can stop doing similar things in our lives and in the life of our church (universal, denominationalized, and parish)?




To what degree to you agree or disagree that “silence is consent?”





faithPoints

Mediate on this question—How much of Jesus’ cup are we willing to drink? If our answer is “less than all,” pray for ways to develop faith so that the answer can be “all.”