In the book of Jeremiah, Prophet Jeremiah mentioned of a family—the Recabite family who were different from their countrymen in many ways. They didn’t drink wine, nor did they build houses to live in or work on the field. They were nomads and lived in tents moving around. They could’ve lived likes other Israelites having houses, vineyard, fields and crops and delighting in life. But they obeyed Jonadab their forefather’s command living as nomads without building houses and working on the farm. They didn’t turn away from their forefather’s instructions and orders even their lives could be made difficult and hard. Besides their tents they had nothing to depend on. Their purpose in life was to carry out the command their forefather gave to them. However God told Jeremiah to say to the Recabite family that the descendants of Jonadab would never fail to have a family member to serve him (Jeremiah 35: 19).

I am wondering that the children of the Recabite family might be sometimes complaining or arguing with their parents or elders about the living conditions they had. “Why do they not have houses like other Israelites to live in? Why are they not allowed to drink wine? Why are they not allowed to grow crops? Why do they need to be nomads and wander around one place to another? The Recabite children must have many hopes and dreams in their lives, but they could not and they must obey the command of Jonadab their forefather. Their obedience has touched God’s heart and God has recognized their faithfulness and perseverance. He promised that one man form his family would serve him.

Which is more blessed, to serve God or serve this world? To be well known in this world or to be known by God? For the Recabite family they are blessed.

In the book of Jeremiah God condemned his people through his prophet Jeremiah that his people practice deceit and pursue greed. “From the least to the great, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds” (Jeremiah, 8:10). The people of God were supposed to obey his commands and the servants (the prophets and priests) of God were chosen by God to do His service, teaching and interpreting the Word of God to his people. But they all pursued individual interests and gains. In their mind serving oneself was more important than serving God and following His way; satisfying oneself was better than pleasing God.

There is nothing wrong to be self-actualizing, to develop one’s potential, and to reach a person’s highest goal, but is the purpose in life seeking gains (money, power, and fame) or only pleasing God? Or do want both?

As is the case with Christians, they need to possess certain knowledge that is the knowledge of God to prove to be Christians, the followers of Christ. The best way to become a knowledgeable Christian is of course through the reading of the Bible that is the Word of God. In Psalm 119:105 we read that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path. Like a powerful compass God’s word leads us into the right path and deliver us from stepping into the evil road.

If Christians ignore God’s word and disregard His commands, how can they become true children of God? In Jeremiah 8, God reproved his people, the Israelites, for not knowing his commands. The Lord says, “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do know the requirements of the Lord” (v. 7). Because of their ignorance of God’s laws they worked wickedness and never repented of their sins. The judgment of God came up the people of Israel—destroyed and ruled by their enemies.

How we care about God depends on how much we care about His word. A “Christian major” should be a “Bible major”. Now pick up your Bible and start reading!

By teaching his disciples and the audience not to follow the steps of religious leaders, Jesus pinpointed the errors of the religious leaders and the Pharisees for not practicing what they have preached; they loved to be given the seat of honor in the synagogues and enjoyed receiving respectful greetings as they walked in the marketplaces; they loved to be called “Rabbi,” which means “Teacher” (Matthew 23:3-4). In that regard, Jesus told his disciples not to be called “Rabbi”, for they had only one master and there were brothers; not to address anyone “Father” on earth, for there is only one Father in heaven; not to let anyone call them “Teacher”, for there is only one teacher, who is Christ. What Jesus has emphasized is their equality before God and if anyone wishes to be of importance or greatness he must be a servant.

To become a master of any professional field should be encouraged. But how we view ourselves determines whether or not we honor God, the creator of all things. He definitely deserves to be called Master, Father and Teacher, for we are only his “workmanship”.

In the book of Revelation the apostle John saw in a vision the Devil had been cast down to the earth from heaven. The Devil is the dragon, the serpent, and Satan. The dragon declared war against the children. “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war against on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). Who are the offspring of the woman? In Genesis 3:15 God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.” The woman is Eve, wife of Adam and surely we are the children of Eve. The war between the children of the woman and the Devil will remain until Christ returns.

On the other hand are we the true children of the woman? Are we those the dragon declared war against? The true children are those who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the testimony of Jesus. The greatest command for every Christian is to love. Love God and then love his neighbors as well. As the children of God do we see every human being as God does? “Above al, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Meanwhile, as followers of Christ do we bear witness to Christ? Do we become the ambassador of his kingdom? Do we have a strong ambition to win souls in Christ?

The first day a person comes to Christ he or she will be set apart or separated from this world and enter another world, a spiritual realm where the Devil keeps fighting against him/her. That battle is for every Christian. But the victory has been granted to the follower of Jesus Christ, for by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony they have defeated him (the Devil) (Revelation 12:11).

Sample Test from Hot Potatoes

Like America in this modern world, Egypt in ancient times was a powerful nation which possessed the mighty power—its horses and chariots, and charioteers unparalleled to other nations. God’s people, the Israelites, often ran to her for help in times of trouble. Egypt indeed provided protection for the Israelites if directed by God if they needed. In the Old Testament Abraham moved to Egypt for a while because their home town was in drought and famine. Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt because the angel of God appeared to him and told him to do so.

Nevertheless the Lord was always the only protector and shelter for the people of Israel. God warned his children from looking for human protection. In Isaiah 31 it is written, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord” (v.1)! In this verse the Israelites sought protection from Egypt because they Egypt had a strong defense system on which they could count and they didn’t even think of what they God could do to them. Thus God said to them, “The Egyptians are man, not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

Living in this visible world most people think this world only is true and real. What their eyes can’t see can’t exist and depend on, so when troubles or disasters come they’ll surely seek human protections. Yet in the eyes of God the invisible realm is for more tangible and true. For children of God we need to distinguish what is real and what is unreal and what we can count on or not. God is for real.

In the Old Testament God often called his people, the Israelites, stiff-necked children, meaning they were stubborn. They people of Israel have seen God’s many miracles and wonders, and experienced his rescue, but they still didn’t trust God obediently. When Moses was the leader of Israel, God commanded his people to obey and follow his commandments through Moses; yet they kept complaining to Moses and God about food, water and daily supplies while wandering in the wilderness. Therefore God became irritated with his own people saying, “How long can endure this people?”

In the book of Isaiah God also told his people through the prophet Isaiah that his people were stubborn and rebellious. “’Ah, stubborn children,’ declared the Lord, ‘who carry out a plan, but not mine, who make an alliance, but not of my spirit’” (30:1). The people of Israel sinned against God by making their own plan, which was not in line with God. In the scenario, his people turned to Egypt for help instead of seeking God help. Israel predicted that the Israelites would be humiliated and disgraced, because the plan was not from God and deals made with Egypt was directed from his spirit.

We could make the same mistakes as the Israelites—carrying out our own plans without inquiring of God in the beginning. What is right when we make decisions? The “right” must be right with God.

Cheri is considerate and thoughtful, a second child in my family. She oftentimes pays attention to our need and is helpful in what she is able to do. Every morning she always wishes me a beautiful and wonderful day before she goes to school and in the evening she will greet me if she comes home earlier than I. One night I came home late and felt exhausted after dinner; therefore I slumped down on the sofa and then lay flat in a bit cool living room. Minutes later she took a blanket and covered me for fear that I should catch a cold. Before going to sleep, she even came to my ears reminding me to take a bath before going to bed. She is always the person that knows how to cheer up her little brother and how to play with him, dance before him, and make a funny face being a clown. As soon as she shows up, her brother will chuckle like greeting his sister.

Being a Christian, are we like my daughter caring and attentive to someone’s needs? The writer of Hebrews reminded us to take care of even strangers. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). From now on we should be watchful, not with pointing fingers but our both hands which are ready to serve, for those who need help, guidance, and directions.

People concerned about their lives would purchase many types of insurances such as life insurance, business insurance or other insurances. The more coverage an insured plan has the much more money a person has to pay. But will a good life insurance police keep us safe and render us a peaceful heart? Perhaps not. In Isaiah 28:18 the Lord said, “Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through; you will be beaten down by it.” Eugene Peterson has rendered a vivid and well-suited translation: “Then you’ll see that your precious life insurance policy wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. Your careful precautions against death were a pack of illusions and lies.” What the Lord meant was that the children of the Lord were in vain when they tried to make a deal with death. They thought death would escape from them and disaster wouldn’t overtake them. However, “their careful precautions against death were only a pack of illusions.”

Where can we find safety or shelter? It does not lie in the best life insurance plan. Instead God has told his people that peace and rest are in him. “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest” (Isaiah 28:12).

We have heard that education is the way to remove poverty or to change a person’s life. Education indeed is the great access to a new world, to broadening one’s horizons of knowledge and to opening one’s mind. However, digital technology still plays a major role in modern education. The digital divide could lead to “the educational divide.”

What is the key to abolishing all of the divides and helping people to reach the true equality? It is through the teaching of the Bible that human beings return to God and understand they are created in God’s image and equal in his sight. Only then can we treat each other as brothers and sisters, God’s dear children.