1.What Could It Mean to “Receive Selflessly”? How Will the Relationship of Giving and Receiving Look in Heaven and on the New Earth?
What Could It Mean to “Receive Selflessly”?
“Receiving selflessly” means accepting gifts, love, or support without ulterior motives or expectations of something in return. It involves accepting what is given with a humble and grateful heart, purely out of love or kindness.
In our world today, receiving is often associated with pride, shame, or the feeling of needing to give something back. However, receiving selflessly means appreciating and accepting the gift of giving without feeling obligated. It requires humility and trust—especially in faith—to accept God’s grace, forgiveness, and love, even when we cannot earn them.
In Daily Life, This Means:
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Accepting help from others without feeling inferior.
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Accepting God’s grace without trying to “repay” it through good deeds.
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Being grateful and humble when others offer their love and time.
How Will the Relationship of Giving and Receiving Look in Heaven and on the New Earth?
In heaven and on the new earth, the relationship of giving and receiving will be perfectly harmonious. There, love, joy, and community will exist in complete harmony. Everyone will give out of pure, selfless love, and receiving will be free from pride, guilt, or expectation.
Perfect Love and Harmony:
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Everyone will give with joy and dedication, without fear of being exploited.
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Everyone will receive with joy and gratitude, without pride or shame.
God’s Presence as the Source:
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God’s love will be the origin of all giving, so every gift will be an expression of His perfect love.
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Every person will be perfectly fulfilled through God’s presence, so giving and receiving will happen not out of lack but out of abundance.
No Boundaries Between Giving and Receiving:
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There will be no calculation of who gives or receives more—everything happens in the flow of divine love.
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Giving will bring joy, and receiving will fill the heart without guilt.
Conclusion:
Receiving selflessly means accepting gifts with gratitude and humility, without expecting anything in return. In heaven and on the new earth, giving and receiving will exist in perfect harmony, supported by God’s perfect love. Everyone will give joyfully and receive joyfully—free from pride, guilt, or expectations.
2.From a Distant Part of the Cosmos, Heavenly Messengers Referred to the Prophet Daniel Three Times as Chamudot, “Beloved,” “Desirable,” “Precious.” In Daniel 9:23, Gabriel Says Ki Chamudot Attah, “For You Are Greatly Beloved” (EB). In Daniel 10:11, a Heavenly Being (Perhaps Gabriel Again) Calls Him Isch Chamudot, “Beloved Man,” an Expression Later Repeated Towards Daniel (Dan 10:19). Reflect on What This Says About God and How Close He Is to Us. What Hope Can You Draw from This Amazing Thought for Yourself?
The thrice-mentioned designation of Daniel as “chamudot” – “beloved,” “desirable,” “precious” – by heavenly messengers in Daniel 9:23, Daniel 10:11, and Daniel 10:19 is a deeply moving expression of God’s personal and intimate affection for Daniel. This special address reveals much about God’s nature and His relationship with us humans.
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God’s Personal Love and Nearness
That Daniel is addressed as the “beloved man” shows that God views each individual not just as part of humanity but as a unique, valuable person. God’s love is personal, concrete, and individual. Daniel was not just a prophet to God but a beloved child to whom He was close.
What This Says About God:
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God sees each of His children as valuable and precious.
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He meets us not distantly but with deep affection.
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God’s love is not based on performance but on His grace.
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God’s Nearness in Difficult Times
Daniel lived in a difficult time of exile, full of challenges and trials. In this situation, God speaks to him through His messengers with encouragement, comfort, and recognition.
What This Shows Us:
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God is especially near when we go through tough times.
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He sees our struggles, our faithfulness, and our worries.
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He encourages us to remain faithful because we are loved.
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Hope and Encouragement for Our Own Lives
If God loves Daniel so personally, then we too can claim this love for ourselves. God’s love applies to every person who seeks Him and trusts Him.
What Hope This Gives:
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You are valuable in God’s eyes, regardless of your weaknesses.
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God knows you by name and calls you beloved and precious.
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In times of uncertainty, we can know that God does not leave us alone.
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God’s love is steadfast—regardless of external circumstances.
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Our Identity as Loved by God
This assurance changes our view of ourselves. Our identity is not shaped by external successes or others’ opinions but by the fact that we are unconditionally loved by God.
Practical Hope:
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Even in doubts and weakness, we can know: “I am loved by God.”
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God’s love gives us courage to face challenges.
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This love encourages us to meet others with love and appreciation.
Conclusion:
God’s thrice-mentioned designation of Daniel as the “beloved man” shows how personal, near, and loving God is towards His children. This truth gives us hope: We too are valuable, loved, and precious in God’s eyes. This love carries us through difficult times, gives us new strength, and fills our lives with meaning.
3.How Are the Examples of the Heroes of Faith from Hebrews 11 Connected with the Content of This Week’s Study Reflection? What Do These Examples Reveal About How One Can “Please God Through Faith”? What Can You Learn from Such Examples of Faith and Their Fidelity and Apply to Your Daily Life?
The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 are impressive examples of what it means to live pleasingly to God through faith. Their stories reflect central themes of the lesson: trust, fidelity, dedication, and striving to live according to God’s will despite difficulties. Their experiences show that a life of faith is not marked by perfection but by trust and obedience to God.
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Connection to the Themes of the Lesson:
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God’s Joy in Faith (Hebrews 11:6):
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
This principle runs throughout the entire lesson. Whether it’s about the Prodigal Son, God’s joy over repentance, or living as living stones, faith is always the foundation for pleasing God.
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Honest, Imperfect Faith:
The father in Mark 9:24 asks, “I believe; help my unbelief!” This shows that even weak faith can be pleasing to God when it is honest. Similarly, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 did not always have perfect life stories, but their faith was genuine.
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Active and Lived Faith:
The heroes of faith acted because of their faith—Noah built the ark, Abraham left his land, Moses led Israel out of Egypt. Faith is demonstrated in actions, just as the lesson emphasizes that we, as living stones, should actively build God’s kingdom.
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What the Heroes of Faith Teach About Pleasing God Through Faith:
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Faith Means Trusting Even Without Visible Proof:
Abraham followed God’s call without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). Similarly, we are to trust God even when the path is unclear.
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Faith Means Perseverance in Trials:
Many heroes of faith experienced severe trials but remained faithful to God. Job lost everything but remained steadfast. Moses held onto God’s promises despite setbacks.
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Faith Means Obedience Even When It’s Difficult:
Noah built the ark despite ridicule. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Their obedience shows that true faith requires trust and dedication.
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Faith Means Focusing on the Unseen:
They lived with hope in God’s promises, even when they did not see them fully realized (Hebrews 11:13). This reminds us to orient our lives towards the eternal and not get stuck in earthly worries.
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What We Can Learn for Our Daily Lives:
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Trusting God’s Guidance:
Like Abraham, we can take bold steps, even if we don’t fully understand the way. Trust means letting God take the first step.
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Patience in Difficult Times:
Like Moses or Joseph, we can remain patient when God’s plan takes longer. God often works behind the scenes.
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Faith is Shown in Actions:
Like Noah actively built the ark, we should demonstrate our faith through concrete actions: through love, justice, and service to others.
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Stay Steadfast in Trials:
The heroes of faith remained faithful even when they faced misunderstanding, rejection, or suffering. Their example encourages us to remain faithful to God, even when it’s difficult.
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Focus on God’s Promises:
They lived not for the here and now but for God’s kingdom. This challenges us to orient our lives towards the eternal and not get stuck in earthly worries.
