Free will. We have it.
"Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' ' " - Matthew 23:36-39 ESV
Wow. Can we fathom this? The all-powerful God wants something but He does not get it because we can choose and we often make the wrong choice.
God made free will agents and loves them (us) hoping they will love Him back knowing scores will hurt Him and spurn His Love.
"And he began to tell the people this parable: 'A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.' And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.' When they heard this, they said, 'Surely not!' But he looked directly at them and said, 'What then is this that is written: ' 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.' " - Luke 20:9-18 ESV
Fall on the Rock today. Do it this weekend. You have a choice. Just let God love You. If you harden your heart again and again you may lose your capacity to say, 'Yes' and that is a scary idea. Say, 'Yes'... surrender to love.
Beleive in the Son. Honor the Son. He cares for you and He Is your last and only chance at making sense of this life.
--
Showing posts with label Choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choice. Show all posts
Friday, February 9, 2018
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Get On The Boat
It is funny when you suddenly see that there has been a 'theme' in your meditation that you didn't know was there.
I realize mine has been, 'What Jesus had and didn't have.'
"That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.' Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, 'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' Another of the disciples said to him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.' And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him." - Matthew 8:16-23 ESV
It is easy to lament about what we do or don't have. Jesus was aware of the voids in His life and yet He was without sin.
There are trade off aren't there?
Most of us are not rich but we have things that Jesus didn't have. Creature comforts. A set of mugs. Curtains. We buy the cheese we like at the store. We ride instead of walk. We get this instead of that.
Part of me says, 'There is nothing wrong with that.' but another part says, 'I want to be with Jesus... I want to be like Jesus...'
People want more but I often think people have too much. Societies have too much. Individuals are distant because what they have is blocking them from intimacy and provides temptation.
I'm not preaching poverty.
I just want to get on the boat when it is time to get on the boat. Some never pull away from shore because what they have holds them back from what Jesus has.
I identify with this person who wants to bury their father. They want time to do what is honorable. They want to make memories. They don't want to aleinate their family. I get it. Sure I do. Which one of us doesn't get that?
But...
The boat is leaving. Jesus is moving. He Is alive and going forward. He won't apologize for it either.
I want to encourage you to go with Him. I'm not telling you to give up everything but you already know that your ten suitcases aren't going to fit on that little boat. Your plans of comfort and security are not going to work fully into that trip.
The boat is going to depart today. Jesus Is going in an uncomfortable direction. Go with Him by faith. It won't be easy but you won't regret it... Later... I promise you... we won't regret it.
--
I realize mine has been, 'What Jesus had and didn't have.'
"That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.' Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, 'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' Another of the disciples said to him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.' And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him." - Matthew 8:16-23 ESV
It is easy to lament about what we do or don't have. Jesus was aware of the voids in His life and yet He was without sin.
There are trade off aren't there?
Most of us are not rich but we have things that Jesus didn't have. Creature comforts. A set of mugs. Curtains. We buy the cheese we like at the store. We ride instead of walk. We get this instead of that.
Part of me says, 'There is nothing wrong with that.' but another part says, 'I want to be with Jesus... I want to be like Jesus...'
People want more but I often think people have too much. Societies have too much. Individuals are distant because what they have is blocking them from intimacy and provides temptation.
I'm not preaching poverty.
I just want to get on the boat when it is time to get on the boat. Some never pull away from shore because what they have holds them back from what Jesus has.
I identify with this person who wants to bury their father. They want time to do what is honorable. They want to make memories. They don't want to aleinate their family. I get it. Sure I do. Which one of us doesn't get that?
But...
The boat is leaving. Jesus is moving. He Is alive and going forward. He won't apologize for it either.
I want to encourage you to go with Him. I'm not telling you to give up everything but you already know that your ten suitcases aren't going to fit on that little boat. Your plans of comfort and security are not going to work fully into that trip.
The boat is going to depart today. Jesus Is going in an uncomfortable direction. Go with Him by faith. It won't be easy but you won't regret it... Later... I promise you... we won't regret it.
--
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Lot's Yes And Amen Moment
Some verses from one of the Hanukkah messages last night...
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." - 2 Corinthians 1:19-20 ESV
"As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.' But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, 'Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.' And Lot said to them, 'Oh, no, my lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there--is it not a little one?--and my life will be saved!' He said to him, 'Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar... But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:15-23, 26 ESV
Lot found his Yes and Amen moment while leaving Sodom. Even in his vexed and stubborn state he recognized God's love, mercy and grace and didn't look back. His wife lived a natural life of weighing Yes and No and had to look back.
"...if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked" - 2 Peter 2:6-7 ESV
Lot caused trouble before and after that moment but the NT scripture calls him righteous Lot. That moment alone is how God remembers and knows him. How valuable are the Yes and Amen moments when Christ is revealed?
They have eternal value.
--
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." - 2 Corinthians 1:19-20 ESV
"As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.' But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, 'Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.' And Lot said to them, 'Oh, no, my lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there--is it not a little one?--and my life will be saved!' He said to him, 'Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar... But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:15-23, 26 ESV
Lot found his Yes and Amen moment while leaving Sodom. Even in his vexed and stubborn state he recognized God's love, mercy and grace and didn't look back. His wife lived a natural life of weighing Yes and No and had to look back.
"...if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked" - 2 Peter 2:6-7 ESV
Lot caused trouble before and after that moment but the NT scripture calls him righteous Lot. That moment alone is how God remembers and knows him. How valuable are the Yes and Amen moments when Christ is revealed?
They have eternal value.
--
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Master Who Upholds
"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." - Romans 14:4 ESV
The Greek word used for master here is kyrios (Strong's G2962) and in today's world a good equivalent would be boss or even supervisor. The kyrios is the one who determines and enforces the consequences and rewards. The have the power to bless or curse. They can give or take away. They can make life hard or easy.
Perhaps we are the master within certain realms. We have masters that make an effort to exert mastery... people or entities that can make life harder or easier.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." - Proverbs 22:7 ESV
Ouch.
The God of the Bible is the master that gives freedom. He is the master that upholds.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV
This morning I awoke with this thought echoing in my mind, 'You stand or fall before God alone.' and I can add to that the idea that when I sin I sin against God alone. My 'measuring up' is before the God who says that He is going to uphold me in every situation.
Perhaps we grew up in homes where people around us commanded unusual respect or in strict environments. Maybe it was the opposite... maybe those in authority were virtually invisible until it came time when a decision had to be made and that authority very reluctantly made one and then stepped back into near invisibility again.
The authority we have seen has shaped our expectation of how authority should be. No matter what we have seen before... God is going to surprise us with His goodness.
God's authority is gracious authority. The God of Heaven Is the all powerful deity that serves. He upholds. He Is generous. He is someone who blesses. He gives room but at the same time when He manifests Himself a decision must be made one way or the other and there will be consequences based on the response.
"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" - Ezekiel 18:23 ESV
No good boss wants his employees to fail. They don't hire with the desire to fire. Some people revel in that power but God is not a person that He would be that contradictory.
"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty." - James 2:12 ESV
In freedom we can become masters of our own minds and accountable to our own choices. Grace takes us out from under oppressive power and places us in a kingdom that has order, dignity, honor, protection, support and love.
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15 ESV
We can choose to be slaves or we can come under the master of masters who serves us by choice... the decisive lionhearted King who rules with a rod of iron while possessing the demeanor of a lamb.
--
The Greek word used for master here is kyrios (Strong's G2962) and in today's world a good equivalent would be boss or even supervisor. The kyrios is the one who determines and enforces the consequences and rewards. The have the power to bless or curse. They can give or take away. They can make life hard or easy.
Perhaps we are the master within certain realms. We have masters that make an effort to exert mastery... people or entities that can make life harder or easier.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." - Proverbs 22:7 ESV
Ouch.
The God of the Bible is the master that gives freedom. He is the master that upholds.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV
This morning I awoke with this thought echoing in my mind, 'You stand or fall before God alone.' and I can add to that the idea that when I sin I sin against God alone. My 'measuring up' is before the God who says that He is going to uphold me in every situation.
Perhaps we grew up in homes where people around us commanded unusual respect or in strict environments. Maybe it was the opposite... maybe those in authority were virtually invisible until it came time when a decision had to be made and that authority very reluctantly made one and then stepped back into near invisibility again.
The authority we have seen has shaped our expectation of how authority should be. No matter what we have seen before... God is going to surprise us with His goodness.
God's authority is gracious authority. The God of Heaven Is the all powerful deity that serves. He upholds. He Is generous. He is someone who blesses. He gives room but at the same time when He manifests Himself a decision must be made one way or the other and there will be consequences based on the response.
"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" - Ezekiel 18:23 ESV
No good boss wants his employees to fail. They don't hire with the desire to fire. Some people revel in that power but God is not a person that He would be that contradictory.
"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty." - James 2:12 ESV
In freedom we can become masters of our own minds and accountable to our own choices. Grace takes us out from under oppressive power and places us in a kingdom that has order, dignity, honor, protection, support and love.
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15 ESV
We can choose to be slaves or we can come under the master of masters who serves us by choice... the decisive lionhearted King who rules with a rod of iron while possessing the demeanor of a lamb.
--
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Spendable Currency
Please, Be reconciled to God.
The word for 'reconciled' in the following verses is Katallasso (Strong's G2644) and it means to 'get change for a dollar' or exchange one currency for different currency of an equal value.
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way" - 2 Corinthians 5:18- 6:4a ESV
The value of our choices does not change. Four quarters still equals a dollar. The question is, 'Where can I spend my money?' The gas station won't break a hundred dollar bill and the vending machine only takes quarters.
Jesus took all our guilt and paid for all our choices past, present and future. Our life before was un-spendable currency. Minutes ticked by and we could redeem none of them. Jesus redeemed our life and changed it into something of immeasurable, but usable, value in God's economy.
Ministers of reconciliation make change for people and reveal ways to make choices that have real value because of eternal perspective. They tell people, 'You have undervalued your soul. You think it is worth little but it is worth so much. God sees you as extremely valuable. He sent His Son to die so that you could be won back. He loves you.'
When people receive the grace of God in vain they just have money that they can not spend. They are rich but starving because they can't spend what they have to get what they need.
If we know grace and learn to communicate grace to people we can 'commend ourselves in every way' as servants of God. Not because we are serving God. He does not need our service. He has made us to be friends, sons and daughters. We provide a service to people by giving them the good news that their life has great worth and that they can use their will in useful ways by believing God.
So, Be reconciled to God this morning. Just go to Him and ask. He will provide all that you need for the day. You will lack nothing.
The word for 'reconciled' in the following verses is Katallasso (Strong's G2644) and it means to 'get change for a dollar' or exchange one currency for different currency of an equal value.
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way" - 2 Corinthians 5:18- 6:4a ESV
The value of our choices does not change. Four quarters still equals a dollar. The question is, 'Where can I spend my money?' The gas station won't break a hundred dollar bill and the vending machine only takes quarters.
Jesus took all our guilt and paid for all our choices past, present and future. Our life before was un-spendable currency. Minutes ticked by and we could redeem none of them. Jesus redeemed our life and changed it into something of immeasurable, but usable, value in God's economy.
Ministers of reconciliation make change for people and reveal ways to make choices that have real value because of eternal perspective. They tell people, 'You have undervalued your soul. You think it is worth little but it is worth so much. God sees you as extremely valuable. He sent His Son to die so that you could be won back. He loves you.'
When people receive the grace of God in vain they just have money that they can not spend. They are rich but starving because they can't spend what they have to get what they need.
If we know grace and learn to communicate grace to people we can 'commend ourselves in every way' as servants of God. Not because we are serving God. He does not need our service. He has made us to be friends, sons and daughters. We provide a service to people by giving them the good news that their life has great worth and that they can use their will in useful ways by believing God.
So, Be reconciled to God this morning. Just go to Him and ask. He will provide all that you need for the day. You will lack nothing.
--
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The New Option
Resurrection happens because of the willing sacrifice of an innocent one. That is the rare case where justice demands resurrection.
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" - 1 Peter 3:14-18 ESV
Wow. Here is a quality of living that is set apart. A Heavenly life that is a different life. Seeing the quality of this life we are put at a crossroads. Do we attain to it? We can't. Even if in the situation we remain innocent... in our hearts somewhere there is guilt. Only a perfect spotless lamb can be found to be an acceptable sacrifice. This is a life that can only be received and not one we can attain to.
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." - Hebrews 12:2-3 ESV
He is the puzzle piece that completes the picture. Justice can not win without Him but with Him mercy always rejoices against justice.
"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." - Romans 2:14-16 ESV
Accusation and excuses were absent from the life of Christ. He lived under a different law and because He did we now have a strong tower to run to and we find a shelter from the storm of human contradiction. Knowledge of God's sovereignty and the hope of resurrection based on the life of the lamb provide a strong shelter and a spring of living water that comes from a pure clean spring in the belly of our emotions.
Today is a great day to be set free from thoughts that accuse. Injustice is real... it just does not need to have power over us. We can live under a higher law by receiving a higher life.
It is also a day where we can let go of excuses. Excusing ourselves and others. Sin hurts. It produces death. Denial stuffs the pain away but it only poisons our mind from within. The blood of the lamb cleanses us. Yes. Not our sacrifices... His one great sacrifice finished the work in the very situations that we face... have faced... and will face.
If we live passively the storm will buffet us and we will lose our innocence. Behold the lamb. In seeing Him we are given a new option... a place of shelter from the storm... one that involves resurrection life.
--
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" - 1 Peter 3:14-18 ESV
Wow. Here is a quality of living that is set apart. A Heavenly life that is a different life. Seeing the quality of this life we are put at a crossroads. Do we attain to it? We can't. Even if in the situation we remain innocent... in our hearts somewhere there is guilt. Only a perfect spotless lamb can be found to be an acceptable sacrifice. This is a life that can only be received and not one we can attain to.
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." - Hebrews 12:2-3 ESV
He is the puzzle piece that completes the picture. Justice can not win without Him but with Him mercy always rejoices against justice.
"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." - Romans 2:14-16 ESV
Accusation and excuses were absent from the life of Christ. He lived under a different law and because He did we now have a strong tower to run to and we find a shelter from the storm of human contradiction. Knowledge of God's sovereignty and the hope of resurrection based on the life of the lamb provide a strong shelter and a spring of living water that comes from a pure clean spring in the belly of our emotions.
Today is a great day to be set free from thoughts that accuse. Injustice is real... it just does not need to have power over us. We can live under a higher law by receiving a higher life.
It is also a day where we can let go of excuses. Excusing ourselves and others. Sin hurts. It produces death. Denial stuffs the pain away but it only poisons our mind from within. The blood of the lamb cleanses us. Yes. Not our sacrifices... His one great sacrifice finished the work in the very situations that we face... have faced... and will face.
If we live passively the storm will buffet us and we will lose our innocence. Behold the lamb. In seeing Him we are given a new option... a place of shelter from the storm... one that involves resurrection life.
--
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Choose Life
Why do people who would never think about playing the lottery start thinking about it when the winnings start getting really really high? Maybe it is because the cost to investment ratio becomes more and more disproportionate. Suddenly it seems worth it.
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. ... I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:15, 19-20 ESV
Life is the greatest possible return and death is the greatest loss or risk.
I sat with a man recently who is angry about the slaughter of millions of people over the centuries... It is a contradiction that he can not reconcile against the existence of a good caring God. There either can't be a God at all or if He has the control He claims He must be immoral.
Knowing the capacity of the mind to suppress things it can't reconcile I can understand how negating God's existence on a conscious or subconscious level would be the easier choice. The thought that God is immoral or evil would produce a fear I wouldn't want to live in.
Back to choices. What if all my choices are life or death ones? What if time is short and each moment is more costly than any lottery prize could ever hope to be.
Mankind has suffered like they have because of choices. God is not immoral... he is respectful. Yes, He has set the stakes very high because He wants each of us to get great returns on each investment of faith.
Without Jesus we could not find the right choice. It was death, death and more death. We were condemned already.
"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus" 1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV
Grace was given in Christ so that we could say, "Yes and Amen'. Every time we do we win and live in the victory that is already ours.
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. ... I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:15, 19-20 ESV
Life is the greatest possible return and death is the greatest loss or risk.
I sat with a man recently who is angry about the slaughter of millions of people over the centuries... It is a contradiction that he can not reconcile against the existence of a good caring God. There either can't be a God at all or if He has the control He claims He must be immoral.
Knowing the capacity of the mind to suppress things it can't reconcile I can understand how negating God's existence on a conscious or subconscious level would be the easier choice. The thought that God is immoral or evil would produce a fear I wouldn't want to live in.
Back to choices. What if all my choices are life or death ones? What if time is short and each moment is more costly than any lottery prize could ever hope to be.
Mankind has suffered like they have because of choices. God is not immoral... he is respectful. Yes, He has set the stakes very high because He wants each of us to get great returns on each investment of faith.
Without Jesus we could not find the right choice. It was death, death and more death. We were condemned already.
"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus" 1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV
Grace was given in Christ so that we could say, "Yes and Amen'. Every time we do we win and live in the victory that is already ours.
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