09-12
March 2017 - Keep Climbing – Manna by Dorothy Callies
Heb.
3:13 KJV, “Exhort one another daily …” NCV, “Encourage each other every day ...”
Richard
needed a push, and he got one. He was rocking climbing with his friend Kevin
who was the belayer (the one who secures
the rope). Exhausted and ready to quit, Richard asked Kevin to lower him to
the ground.
But
Kevin urged him on, saying he had come too far to quit. Dangling (hang loosely with a swinging motion) in
midair, Richard decided to keep trying. Amazingly, he was able to reconnect (to start again & join) with the
rock and complete the climb because of his friend’s encouragement. (Written
by Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread). (The meaning of the words in italic by
Dorothy Callies).
Dorothy: To understand why the
Bible quoted “to exhort one another daily,”
it was because they didn’t have the New Testament Bible yet to start with. They
depend on the disciples who remembered the Word of Jesus to share with them.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would bring all the remembrance whatsoever
Jesus have said to them (John 14:26). The followers of Jesus depend on each
other daily for encouragement to continue to follow their Lord.
During
that time between 50 A.D. through 90 A.D. several followers of Jesus were
writing the gospels, and letters to encourage the Christians throughout Asia. One
example: During 60-63 A.D. Peter wrote two letters to “strangers scattered”
throughout the Roman provinces of Asia Minor. Who were they?
Many
of them have been saved under the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost
when they came from several different nations to celebrate the Passover at Jerusalem. They
returned home with their newfound faith (Acts 2:6-11). So Peter wrote
letters to encourage them to stay true to the Lord. They depend on Peter’s
letter to read often to them to keep their faith in Christ.
Today,
we have many resources such as The Deaf Mission offered visual ASL translations
from the Bible. Deaf Video Communication through internet offered several visual
persons who signs several devotions to watch and to receive daily encouragement
from the Word of God or stories.
The
title, ‘Keep Climbing’ brought to my memory as a child that there’s a song something
like climb up sunshine mountain . . . And I found only one song from the old
book that seems really interesting that the writer of the song was able to do
this.
My
friends, if you ever felt discouraged and ready to give up, I say to you, “Keep
climbing” just like Kevin who encouraged his friend, Richard who were ‘dangling’
in the midair to reconnect to the rock and finished the climbing. Maybe you
felt like that . . . ‘dangling’ in time of troubles and I encourage you to try
to reconnect to that Rock of Jesus and you keep climbing through the power of
the Holy Spirit. Amen? Amen!
Song: Climbing Up the Hills
of God
(Lyrics: Haldor Lillenas,
Melodies of Praise)
To
the sunlit highlands I am climbing,
Far
above the lowlands and shadow drear,
Where
the golden bells of faith are chiming,
And
the song of victory I hear.
Chorus:
I
am climb – ing, I am climb – ing,
Washed
in the Savior’s precious blood.
I
am climb – ing, I am climb – ing,
Climbing
up the hills of God.
Lifted
up above all doubt and fearing,
To
the realms of confidence and trust in God;
Looking
forward to the Lord’s appearing,
Walking
in the paths our fathers trod.
Chorus:
I
am climb – ing, I am climb – ing,
Washed
in the Savior’s precious blood.
I
am climb – ing, I am climb – ing.
Climbing
up the hills of God.
Word meaning or signing:
Climbing= going
up
Shadow= dark
Drear=depress
Chiming=sounding
Realms=kingdom
Confidence=promise
