Study Desk

But we aren't like the ones who've turned their backs on the Lord. They will suffer for their actions. We are the faithful. We will be saved.

It was by a heapin' of faith that Noah built him a big boat for his family to ride out the storm that wiped everyone else out. It was as simple as listening to God and doing what he said—even though no one had even heard of such a thing happening before. Noah's faith was the dividing line between who was saved and who was lost.

Even when he rode in to the new country, he lived there purely by faith in their cowboy teepees. Same goes for his kids, Isaac and Jake. They received the same promise their daddy had.

It was by a heapin' of faith that during Joseph's last days on earth, he knew for certain all his people would leave Egypt. He even told them to take him back and bury his bones in the land that had been promised.

It was by a heapin' of faith that Moses's momma hid him in the brush for three months after he was born. They knew Moses was a gift from God and was something special so they defied the king's order.

He chose to share the burden of his own kin instead of the pleasures of sin. He figured it was better to ride hard for the Lord rather than take it easy with the gold and sin of Egypt.

He swapped the glamorous trinkets of Egypt for the suffering of Christ. The easy way down here leads to a box canyon while the hard trail leads to life everlasting.

It was by a heapin' of faith that the cowboys and cowgirls rode around Jericho for a week and then the walls of the town crumbled.

Others were killed by stones or pulled in half, while many died by the sword. Some had only animal skins for clothes and wandered the land as outcasts without friends or family.

These folks were too good for this world even though they had to live in holes in the mountains and deserts.

God had something better in mind. He had them wait for us so we could all unite in faith together to receive the blessing together as one.

Think of how bad people treated him in the end and you won't be feeling so sorry for yourself and start giving up.

The Lord corrects those he loves and he will even lay out some punishment that is good for his children."

Our earthly fathers tried to discipline us and do a good job. But God's discipline is always perfect and always right and always good for us. This is how he teaches us to be holy.

Get along to the best of your ability with everyone and don't give up riding for the Lord. Those who don't ride for him won't see him.

Keep an eye on your pards so they don't slip and fall out of the saddle and become trampled. Don't hold grudges. You can't ride for God toting a grudge. The worst part is that they are contagious.

Don't let anyone fall into immorality and sexual sin. Don't let anyone act a fool like Esau did. He traded his birthright for a bowl of stew.

When God spoke, it was too terrible for them and they begged him to stop.

You'd best listen when God is speaking to you. If the Israelites were not cut any slack for not listening to God through Moses, then we will surely be held more accountable when God is speaking directly to us from heaven!

We have been given a spot in the kingdom that is unshakeable. Let us ride for him and his kingdom by being thankful and worshiping him with fear and respect.