Week Three—Same Promise, More Problems

Looking at Him instead of Looking at Me

Patience. I’m still a work in progress. I’m guessing you are, too! God? He describes Himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). This doesn’t mean that He ignores sin, by no means! He punishes the guilty, but for those who believe Him, He credits that as righteousness.

No sinless perfection going on in Abraham, none in Isaac, and certainly none in Jacob. But God worked in their lives nonetheless as they believed! Perfect belief? Of course not! What each of them had—and what we have today—is a perfect God!

Our ego-centric culture has us looking inward all the time when the best thing we can do is shift our focus from me to . . . Him! As the author of Hebrews says: “let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).”

Abraham’s faith wasn’t perfect. Neither was Isaac’s or Jacob’s. Mine isn’t and neither is yours. But our God? He is!!

With that in mind, here are our discussion questions to get us going this week:

• What is it that you've been learning that is helping you to know God better?

• What are the biggest truths you've learned from the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and/or Jacob? How are you applying these to your life? (Pick one or all three!)

In the video, I told you I was going to provide a link to support Precept's EQUIP Teen Boot Camp this summer. The links aren't working quite right, so in the meantime, would you consider giving by phone at 1-800-763-8280. If you call, please let customer service know that you're in the Cookies class and that you want your gift to go to support Boot Camp! 

Thank you so much in advance! Looking forward to seeing you online!

pam :)