I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is!


Friday, April 28, 2017

Does God ever change his mind?



.Some people believe that God cannot change his mind contradicting his unchanging nature.  Others believe that since God knows all things, he does not change his mind. However, the Bible often speaks of God's mercy in terms of God changing his mind about judgment. God does changehis mind, but not the way we humans do. God, being sovereign can predetermine to change his course of action in response to our prayers, while leaving his ultimate purposes unchanged. He simply builds in options into his purposes from the start. Its kind of like taking a trip and alteringthe route along the way, but ending up at the pre-planned destination. Our God never changes, but can change his mind in response to our prayers. For examples of God changing his mind see: Exodus 32:9-14; Isaiah 38:1-4; Hosea 11:8,9


Related scripture:  Jonah 3:10

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

The Bible seems to say that God establishes all governments. Does He establish the bad ones too?



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In some cases God allows unjust or even evil leaders to obtain positions of power and leadership.  Sometime they even become rulers over nations. That does not mean that God participates in their evil activities.  God can, however, use human deeds -- good or evil -- to help accomplish His greater purposes, which are always good. A Biblical example is His use of evil Babylon to discipline the nation of Judah. He permitted brutal rulers to conquer his people in the hopes that his people would turn again to him. See “Habakkuk 1:6”  God always wants leaders to govern fairly and justly. Sometimes they don't.

Related scripture:  Romans 13:1

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Monday, April 24, 2017

I struggle to do the right thing, but it seems I often do the wrong thing. Why does God tempt us to sin?

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God does not tempt us.  That is one of Satan's specialties. God does test us at times, but he does not tempt us. What's the difference? Tempting is trying to get a person to do something wrong.  A trial (or test) is a situation in which God gives a person an opportunity to do something right.  God never tries to trip us up, but he does allow tough circumstances to build our character and spiritual maturity. On occasion God may test us by putting us directly into Satan's line of fire. God doesn't test us so that we may fall into sin.  He tests us so that we might be victorious. As far as your struggle to do the right thing, we all struggle there.  You are not alone. Even the Apostle Paul faced this struggle. (see Romans 7:7-25)  Make up your mind that you will not be tempted by sin, and then do the best you can. Ask God for forgiveness when you fail.



Related scripture:  Mark 1:12,13. Also see Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13

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Sunday, April 9, 2017

THE SPIRIT OF HOLY WEEK

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          It’s Saturday.  What a week it has been.  It is very dark in here, and a bit cool.  Not cold, just a bit cool.  I think these linen cloths they wrapped my body in keep it from being too cold.  You see, it was yesterday I died, but you know that. Are you wondering how I can sense cool or cold?  Remember that I have always existed, from before the beginning, and will exist forever.  There are no blank spots in my existence, not even when my body was dead and in this tomb.  I am the Alpha and the Omega. I have almost completed my work here on earth. I have suffered; I have died; and tomorrow I will rise again. Tomorrow morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to anoint my body, they will find it is not here, but I will have someone explain it to them.  Calvary Crucifixion With Sun...

          I have cried a lot in the past few hours, not because of my circumstances, but because of yours. You see, I have done what was required of me, and I did it to save you. To my sadness, there are many of you who still won’t acknowledge me. Even after all I have done for you, because of my love for you. Yesterday, I cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But I know why; it was for you -- because of my love for you. So now I ask you -- why are you forsaking me?  I love you -- please come to me.

          Oh yes, what a week it has been.  It was just last Sunday that I arrived in Jerusalem.  I entered the town on a donkey amidst shouts of  “Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” from an enthusiastic welcoming crowd.   It was only a short time later the same crowd was yelling “Crucify him!” , but that did not stop me from loving them.  They did not know what they were doing.

          On Monday, there was a little incident at the temple.  When I got there,  merchants were buying and selling doves and other things, and money changers were profiting from very active trade.  They had turned my house into a den of robbers!  How dare they!  My house is to be a house of prayer. So, I turned over their tables and drove them from the temple.  What else could I do?  They had created an environment of stealing instead of healing.  It could not be tolerated.

          Tuesday was a little better.  I was able to spend some time teaching at the temple. But even while doing so, my authority was questioned.  Later in the day I went to the home of Simon the Leper.  A woman there named Mary poured some nice perfume on my head, and then poured the nard on my feet and wiped my feet with her hair. She really didn't know it but she was preparing my body for burial.

          Wednesday is the day that the plot against me began to take shape. Judas went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him if he would hand me over to them.  They gave him thirty silver coins. 

          Thursday I enjoyed Passover in a large upper room with my disciples. I let Judas know that I knew he would betray me.  He denied it, but we know the truth, don’t we?  During the meal I taught the disciples about the new covenant and how to stay in communion with me with bread and wine.  The bread is my body, and the wine is my blood -- poured out for you.   Later in the day we went to Gethsemane because I wanted to pray.  I was very distressed and troubled. My soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. I fell to the ground in prayer and asked the Father to take this cup from me if it was possible, but I knew it wasn't possible, and I wept.  Sweat that was like blood dripped from my body. I was in torment, but I understood my mission;  a mission of love. A mission of salvation.

          Friday was the worst!  First I was arrested, then a trial that was nothing more than a mock trial.  After it ended, I was flogged and handed over to be crucified.  What do you know about flogging?  Do you know that it is done with a leather whip with multiple ends, and that there are sharp pieces of bone and metal in each end?  Do you know that it leaves the back raw and bleeding, and sometimes exposes bones and organs?  Do you know that sometimes it actually causes death?  Did you know that?  I endured that for you -- because I love you. And do you want to know something else?  I would do it again -- for you. 

          After they were done flogging me, they made me carry the cross they were to crucify me on, up the hill to Golgotha.  People spit on me and mocked me. They hung me on that cross, between two robbers.  They pierced my side with a spear.  I died on that cross. I won’t tell you how horrible death on a Roman cross is, but you ought to know they came up with this method of execution because it is the most painful death imaginable. My mother was a witness.  It is finished.  In just a few hours I will leave this tomb, and my mission here will be finished, but I will be with you always -- until the end.

          My beloved, I tell you the truth -- I did it for you.  You and your salvation.  Yet, I weep because some among you won’t acknowledge me.  Some among you won’t listen to what I say when I say “Knock and the door will be opened.”  I love you so much that I want you to spend eternity with me in paradise.  Won’t you accept my invitation?  Won’t you let me live in you?  Won’t you experience the joy of real life?


CHRIST IS RISEN!



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Friday, April 7, 2017

The Bible speaks of "fear of God." Should we live in fear or terror of God?

English: Statue "Fear of the Lord" b...
English: Statue "Fear of the Lord" by Karin Jonzen at Guildford Cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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No, we should not.  The fear the Bible is referring to is not the kind of fear that makes us tremble. This fear is actually another word for reverence or worship. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge.  I think this suggests that if we properly acknowledge God and give Him the worship He deserves we will begin to gain wisdom. We are to approach God with an attitude of humility and awe, not dread and fright. We should fear God in our daily lives, whether relating to money, work, marriage or other issues we face, giving God the honor due Him by obeying His will in each of these areas. A wise person will seek God's perspective on matters before acting.  God deserves our fear, but we are not to be afraid of Him. 

Related scripture:  Proverbs 1:7

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Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Since the sins of believers were washed away by Christ on the cross, how can believers be judged?

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Good Question.  Since we are justified by faith and not by works, how can we be judged at all?  2 Cor. 5:10 is telling us of the importance of living according to what we believe.  While salvation is a matter of faith, other eternal rewards depend on our faithfulness. See 1 Cor.3:8 & 3:13-15.  We believers are judged righteous in Christ, but will also be rewarded in accordance with the things we do while in the body, whether good or bad. It does matter what we do.  God expects our behavior to reflect Him in us. The details of this judgment are not important.  What is important is that the Judge is fair and will reward us as we deserve.

Related scripture:  2 Corinthians 5:10
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Sunday, April 2, 2017

Are we saved by grace alone, or do we need to do good works?

HOLY SPIRIT - FOIX
HOLY SPIRIT - FOIX (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Our salvation is a gracious gift of God.  God gave us this gift when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. No one can take this gift from us.  It is irrevocable. You cannot earn your way into heaven. Works are not necessary. (see Ephesians 2:8-9 
Having said that, you will notice many Christians who spend a lot of time doing "works."  That is normal and natural byproduct of Christianity. The Holy Spirit residing in us moves us to do good works.  In fact it is difficult not to do good works, considering God prepared them
in advance for us to do (see Ephesians 2:10. We cannot earn salvation through works. When you really consider it, isn't it a bit silly to think we (us sinners) could do anything for a sinless Holy God that would get Him to change his mind and let us into heaven?  After what He did for us! For more on faith and deeds


read James 2:14-24. In reading don't confuse justification with salvation.

Related scripture:  Ephesians 2:8-9

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