When we pray and give our problems to the Lord, we can expect Him to work them out in His time and in His way. When we manipulate situations to get things done quicker or our way, chances are there will be consequences. When we turn to a bottle of wine or beer, a bowl of ice cream, a cigarette, or a shopping spree to make us feel better, we are always left with emptiness: an empty bottle, an empty bowl, an empty hand, or an empty wallet.
Fullness can only be found in Christ. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10), and Paul says, "You have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:10).
From Lesson Three: Rebekah
| These Biblical accounts show us that God uses all types of people to accomplish His will. He uses the rich and the poor, the willing heart and the reluctant, the person with a strong faith and the person struggling to believe. He bestowed the same miracle on both women, regardless of the attitude of the heart.
From Lesson Nine: The Sidonian Widow and the Shunammite Woman
| Jesus showed Salome and us that to follow him was to live contrary to the world. The world seeks wealth. God's people are to keep themselves free from the love of money and be content (Hebrews 13:5). The world looks highly on rank and position. Jesus said greatness is found in service (Matthew 20:26-27). The world says eat, drink and be merry. God says we must give an account for all our actions (Matthew 12:36, Hebrews 4:13) and if we have lived to please ourselves only, neglecting those who need help, we are in jeopardy of becoming one of those to whom Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you" (Matthew 25:12). The writer of the book of James sums it up this way, "don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4).
From Lesson Twelve: Salome
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