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www.truthworks.com 25 APR 03 devotion archive |
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GRACE I tell you the Truth,
John 3: “That whole idea is so ridiculous. If there is a God, and he really loves everyone, do you think he would send anyone to a hell? The idea is silly, like some fairy tale.” I’ve heard that very statement made many times. I’ve even heard similar statements made by those who claim to be Christians. If God is love then why does He allow bad things to happen, why would He let me sin or why would He allow Satan to tempt me? Actually, those are excellent questions. We tend to be quick to chastise those who ask, yet many of us ask the same thing in the back of our minds. And when we ask ourselves such questions and fail to seek answers, doubts arise. And doubts left unchecked cause us to wander from our faith and from our fellowship with God. So let’s examine why God says that He loves us, yet we can’t always see it or feel it. First of all, God’s ways are not like carnal man’s ways. His thoughts are beyond what I can think. He sees what I cannot see. If I were God, I would do things way different. But when I really examine myself, I’m thankful (and you should be too!) that I’m not God because I have a hard enough time taking care of my own life. I’m sure I’d make a mess of this universe if I were the almighty creator. God is love. We have head knowledge of that statement, but we often confuse God’s perfect love with our own idea of love. God’s love is perfect. Our idea of a loving God might be one that never allows anything bad to happen. If God is love, why does He even allow me to sin if He knows that sin will condemn me to hell? Think about it. Why does God allow me to sin if He loves me? To understand why God would allow us to sin we first need to understand that God’s perfect love is not a controlling love. It’s a love that gives us a choice. If we had no choice but to love God, then would it really be love at all? Or would that be forced love, where we had no option but to love God back? We call this a free-will, or the ability to make our own choice as to whether we want to accept God or reject God. Thus, when we are given a choice, we are given the option to disobey, or sin. Accepting or rejecting Him does not affect His love for us. God’s love, as we read in John 3:16, is not dependent upon our acceptance. He gave His Son even for those who despised and reject Him. Perfect love doesn’t seek to control, doesn’t dictate that we bow down, and doesn’t remove the choices. So if all this is true, then why did God lay down the law or the commandments? These are more good questions. God’s laws and commandments are not written for His benefit, but for ours. He created us and knows what’s best for us. He gave us the law so that we might live more fruitful, more peaceful, more abundant lives while here on earth. The law and the commandments give us a wonderful road map on how to live and when we follow them we find life to be worth living. When we ignore them, we find destruction, division, and defilement in our own lives. God gives us choices, yet gives us great advice on what to do with those choices. And in the end, we must understand that our God is holy. He’s not holy because He wants it that way or decided to be that way. It’s who He is, part of His divine character. And because He is holy, unholy things cannot enter into His presence. Yet, that’s where He wants you to be. So God gave His Son because He loves you and wants you to enter into His presence. It was His design from the beginning. Because His love gives us a choice and because He His love gave up His Son, we are able to experience what no other creature can experience. Not even the angles can grasp fully what we experience. For there is one word that would have no meaning if all I just wrote down were not true. That word is grace. God’s creation could not experience His grace unless all these things happen the way they do. The choice, the love and the sacrifice all add up to the grace of God. I pray that you ponder these things today. If doubts arise in your mind, think about the grace of God. And allow His grace to remove the doubt and fan the flame within you
Your Servant,
<*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Prayer Requests (and Praises!): Thank you for the devotions they are great help as we serve our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just thought I would share with you my praise that I have. The Lord has provided me a place to live here in the Redding, California area. I just recently moved from the San Francisco Bay Atrea (El Sobrante) to be exact. I have been in that vicinity for forty years off and on. I was born and raised right there in San Pablo CA. I would covet your prayers as I minister to the children and others here in Northern California. In the service of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Darren Glenewinkel Christian Education Ministries” Please reply if you have prayer requests, comments or simply need an open ear. I always enjoy hearing from you. <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Copyright © 2003 Truth Works Publishing. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise specified, all scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV.
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