Sunday: Moving Beyond Our Comfort Zone
Daily Lesson for Sunday 15th of October 2023
In order to reach others, God intends for us to move beyond our comfort zone. The desire to remain only with our own ilk and ethnic or social kind can lead to selfishness, even evil. This danger is one of the lessons derived from the story of Babel.
Read Genesis 11:1-9. What were the intentions of the people? What were they wanting to do, and why would God thwart it?
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
This story of the people at the Tower of Babel reveals their great ambition. They were planning to make a monumental structure—a city and a tower such as existed nowhere else in the world: “a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4, NIV).
How often today do people seek to do the same? Whether through politics, art, business, even religion, it doesn’t matter. There are those who want to make a great name for themselves. In the end, how futile and meaningless their endeavors are. (See Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.)
The Bible says in Genesis 11:4 that these people wanted to build the tower so that they would avoid being scattered over the face of the earth. They wanted to stick together for their own selfish reasons. But God had another plan.
These people were also united for this work. But “the Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them’ ” (Genesis 11:6, NIV). This ambitious plan of the people was, in fact, evil.
Though Scripture does not say it explicitly, Ellen White says that they didn’t trust God’s promise that He would never destroy the earth with water again (Genesis 9:14-15). They intended to build for their own perceived safety rather than to trust God’s Word. Whatever their ultimate motives, God knew that their intentions were not pure but were filled with selfish ambition, and so He prevented them from achieving their stated goals.
Are you part of a group or ethnic community that is more comfortable among themselves? In what ways may you possibly engage with others who are not part of your race, ethnicity, or nationality?
(24)
A few years ago many of us were thrown out of our comfort zone by the Covid crisis. Governments placed restrictions on gathering together and that meant no church attendance. I heard a lot about persecution and denial of civil liberties and ushering in of the time of the end. Many of us resorted to online attendance as the new church comfort zone. Among all the "religious freedom noise" I was acutely aware of folk who were going out of their way to ensure that the folk most affected by the restrictions were being looked after. Food was delivered (and in Australia, a supply of toilet paper was provided - that was our big shortage). Ways were found to ensure that people were kept in social contact. I remember a couple of funerals that were held during that time and some folk went out of their way to organise a "drive past" the home of the deceased family so they would know that they had not been forgotten.
Some folk complained about the restriction of civil liberty, Others proclaimed loudly that we are right because persecution has arrived. But there were those who seized the opportunity to help those in need.
The fact of being in marriage with an unbeliever is it also a matter of being in a situation we’re you ain’t in your comfort zone? How do u make it possible to convince a tough husband in his convictions and believes, actually to the Bible as a family,is Prayer enough… what are the next steps?
My mother starting going back to the Adventist church of her youth when I was a toddler. My father had gone to a Sunday keeping church as a child but he was not happy when this happened. My mom didn’t argue with Dad about it, I’m sure she prayed a lot. He did not however refuse for her to attend church. Fortunately my Dad was a reader. Mom always left interesting Adventist magazines and books laying around for easy access. And, my Dad enjoyed working with children. When the Pathfinder club needed help, he was willing to get involved teaching honor classes and helping transport kids to Pathfinder gatherings. The church adults he meet in Pathfinders befriended him and never pushed religion. We were baptized together when I was 13 years old. Never loose faith, the Holy Spirit works in many wonderful ways.
I am an Adventist married to a devoted Catholic. I once heard a preacher say when you marry an unbeliever don't try to convince him/her of your faith. Simply pray and let your actions speak. And let the Holy Spirit fulfill His work. I stood by this principle. My husband has now been attending church with me for a year. He has not fully accepted the Adventist faith yet and I don't bring that into our conversations. I only speak of it when he asks questions. I am still praying and asking God for patience and to open his heart to understand and accept the truth when the time is right.
Ps. A thought hit me as I was typing this to also pray for others in a similar situation. I will keep you in my prayers.
My grandmother waited 40 years for my Grandfather to commit himself to Jesus. She was a very patient little lady.
It is helpful to remember that it is not our job "to convince." Jesus only asks us to be "character witnesses" - to demonstrate to the world what His grace can do in our lives. Of course, when the occasion calls for it, we also need to be able to give a reason for our faith. But this is a matter of sharing "the bread" that Christ has so graciously given to us - not an argument to convince and convict.
The Holy Spirit does the convicting when we allow Him to demonstrate Christ's character in us.
I feel that one of my personal challenges is not to be influenced by the world, but to be an influence in the world. As a retired Aircraft Electrician Work Leader at AMARG (THE BONEYARD), I often told those who I had assigned a task to "Find a way to do the job, not a reason why you cannot!"
There are so many opportunities for me to be a better witness for my Lord, I just need to Trust and Obey!
Trust and obey is definitely the theme of our walk with God! Mercy! I pray you get the urgency to witness for the Lord, in the capacity the Lord intend/plan for you. I pray the same for myself, as I must now step out of my comfort zone. Blessings to you.
The covid pandemic has indeed taken most of us out of our comfort zone, in more ways than we wish. The good news is that with Christ in our vessel we will definitely smile at each storm. As a Christian as well as an educator, I was one such person, who had to shift and refocus as the issues arised. It was difficult when loved ones, friends or neighbours died and I was unable to physically attend funeral. Continue to push on as we continue on God's mission.
Ephesians 6:18 says pray in earnest. So what should we also pray for? Pray for the Holy Spirit to use us. He can get us comfortably out of our comfort zone and sometimes not so comfortable. Wait humbly upon God, and watch for His guidance and grace, then we will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Can we wait and pray at the same time? Absolutely. God is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive. Lord give me the capacity.
Let's be realistic...based on our current knowledge of science, those building the tower of Babel did not even reach the stratosphere since the trace amounts of oxygen in the stratosphere do not allow humans to breathe. This suggests that humans had an unrealistic goal for reaching Heaven but a purposeful intention that united them in this folly. The latter part of Gen. 11;4 suggest there motivation...to make a name, lest they be scattered... This suggest that they were aware of the fact that they could be scattered and had intentions to prevent that. Herein lies the beauty of it all. God's ways and omniscience is not ours. The very evil intention they had became God's opportunity to continue the Plan of Salvation. This has been the case throughout history. One lesson from this is that even if we refuse to preach and teach the Gospel, God can and will have it proclaimed, whether by stones or otherwise. It should therefor be our privilege and benefit to be engaged as participants sharing the gospel because it not just fortifies our 'armor of God'...it also encourages others to take and put on the 'armor of God' in these perilous times we are facing. Spreading and sharing the gospel benefits both us and those that we spread and share it with, unlike the selfish intentions depicted in building the Tower of Babel.
God wants us to trust Him in every way of our life no matter how rough times may get. God is able to calm all storms that we'll face.They wanted to build that tower reaching heaven it wouldn't be impossible once the work together.God never fails on any of His promises and He can never fail. We just need to take Him at His words.
Sunday's lesson ends with this question: Are you part of a group or ethnic community that is more comfortable among themselves? In what ways may you possibly engage with others who are not part of your race, ethnicity, or nationality?
Ponder this question by reading Maurice's classic parable of the pea. 😉
God uses unfortunate events as a means of spreading the good news al over the world. With the tower of Babel the Lord's purpose was accomplished through the very means that men had employed to prevent its fulfilment. Through COVID the gospel is being spread even more now as churches, and conferences started using virtual means to spread the gospel. Weekly this is noted with West Jamaica Conference. On just one platform weekly there are over 7,000 tuned in and by the end of the day there are over 20,000 views just on that one platform and their services are broadcasted on 4 different platforms. There is a popular prose which says" The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency, not in our doing too much but in our doing too little, not in our living above our ability but rather in our living below our capabilities."
Building relationships across different races, ethnicities, or nationalities takes time, effort, and a genuine desire to connect. By being open-minded, respectful, and willing to engage, you can foster meaningful relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
As was mentioned earlier above, God still blesses in the midst of a pandemic. Becasue of the pandemic virtual meetings for businesses, churches, small groups etc. saw a marked increase. And particularly for businesses, secular and religious, much dollars were saved, as a result of resticted travel for in-person meetings.
God provided, once again, a wake up call to His people who have gotten too comfortable in this world. He showed us how quickly life can change. Let us haste to do the work that He has called us to do without delay.
Adding to the end of the Food for Thought question: In what ways may you possibly engage with others who are not part of your race, ethnicity, or nationality? "OR Your Religion?"
How can we engage with others who are not SDA, or who don't know who Seventh-day Adventists are?
Don't we have a responsibility to engage with them too? Are they not God's lost sheep too?
God's blessing to All!!
God is constantly reaching out for our friendship with Him. He sent His Son to die for us and has accepted His sacrifice as if it was us making it. He knows our every weakness yet He sees His Son's righteousness when He looks at us. Mind blowing! Without "Christ within us-the hope
of glory (Col. 1:27), we are just dry bones or empty wells. Do we sometimes make our own Towers of Babel with our pride and unbelief? Jesus gave His all! Are we willing to do likewise? Millions of people won't be saved from the lake of fire because we did not take seriously the command of Jesus to go and make disciples.