Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...” (Job 13:15) Trust Him no matter how many personal failures or “woe is me” times you may have. Jesus, by His death and resurrection, has made it all right. Thank Him and move on. God refuses to "condemn" sinners and He certainly isn't going to flunk them because their faith is weak. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17) It is good and right to have "faith" in God, but it is Jesus's faith, not yours, that makes you righteous. Any lack of faith we may have is completely covered by His "grace" and mercy. You can screw up spiritually, morally, and intellectually and still be safe. At the very worst, all you can be is dead...but Jesus is your Resurrection and the Life! "...and the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, — for there is no difference, for ...

“Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, and unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, and He doth make straight thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5 YLT) God can be trusted regardless of whether we trust Him or not…let that sink in a minute. God WILL make our paths straight.  That is His plan. The only thing we do is TRUST Him or not. This decision will not change the fact that He can be trusted but will give us Peace and Joy and Assurance that He is making mankind into the image of God! “And God saith, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…I give thanks to my God…having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform until the day of Jesus Christ” (Genesis 1:26; Philippians 1:3-6) It is not IF I do something THEN the Lord will make straight my paths.  It will be  finished when  I am resurrected in newness of life. ”So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is p...

“He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap ." (Psalm 113:7) Well when does He do this? I think many people miss the importance of how short this life is in relation to the eternal life we are promised after the resurrection. Jesus told his followers that “ the poor you will always have with you ”. Some never rise above poverty in this life and remain in need all of their lives. I cringe at the poverty in Bangladesh and other places in the world and some people live all their lives trapped by it. Some deal with pain all their lives...our hearts break for those who bear these burdens. But God has promised to “ raise ” the poor and “ lift ” the needy so He will do it, if not in this life, then in the next.  HE MUST if He is God and can be trusted to do what He says. “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all...

"Then he said, this is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?" (Luke 12:18-20) Some Philosophers see mankind as creatures of reason, capable of great things while remaining free. They are correct. But great thinkers, builders and entrepreneurs have this in common with the lazy religious and political folks.....they all think too highly of themselves. So I have put my trust, not in the ability of free thinking men to accomplish great feats, or religious and political leaders to lead, but in my hope in a real, supernatural, omnipotent creator God...capable of raising me from the dead when mankind is finished screwing everything up. ”Trust in the LORD with al...

"In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11). "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6) Faith does not save anyone. The Grace of God takes care of that. However, Faith does deliver us from the fear of death and enables us to have peace and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. And of course, it pleases God. Faith in what men say leads to doubt, guilt, and depression. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8) Humility is one of those things God likes. Most of us have a hard time being humble because the world teaches us to be proud. The world says that low self-esteem is a major problem. However, this is the person God "esteems"... “. . . this is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit…” (Isaiah 66:2) God likes simple, humble folks who trust Him….so do I. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11). "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6) Faith does not save anyone from the wages of sin. The Grace of God took care of that at the cross of Christ Jesus. However, Faith that God loves and saves sinners does deliver us from the fear of death and enables us to have peace and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. And of course, that kind of faith pleases God.  Faith in what men say about God generally leads to doubt, guilt, and depression. If you get that from those you hang out with on Sunday, find some new friends. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)