Romans 2:4--Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (NLT)
Many, sadly miss this amazing truth...God is so good!!! We tend to focus on getting the short end of the stick or being treated unfairly, and we overlook the fact that God is so good, He does not give us what we deserve. Instead of hell, He gives us heaven. Instead of suffering and shame, He gives us grace and glory. Instead of malice, He grants us mercy. My hope is that you will come to understand how good God is, and never cease to praise Him for such goodness. May His praise continually be on our lips.
Kindness/Goodness. Titus 3:3-5 says, "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Everyone of us have lived a life of serving our own lusts and pleasures. We have been disobedient and hateful, deserving of damnation. But, God did not give us that as our only option. Our actions merited hell, but through His kindness, he offered us salvation. Never forget that your eternal blessing was secured by His goodness, not yours.
Tolerant/Forbearing. Romans 3:25 says, "whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed." When a catastrophic event occurs in the world, often times the question is asked, "How can a loving God allow such terrible things to occur?" Maybe this is the wrong question to ask. Maybe we should be asking, "Why aren't more terrible things occurring, because we are sinful people, spitting in the face of a righteous God?" We must understand that we are not good people, we do not deserve peace and comfort. God is tolerant and merciful, for a time; but judgment will come. As Acts 17:30 tells us, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent..."
Patient/Longsuffering. II Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." God desires none to perish, no matter the sin they committed, but that they all come to repentance. We should be forever grateful that God was patiently working in us to draw us to Himself, not leaving us to destruction. May we praise Him for His patience with us still.
May His goodness lead you to repentance.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Standing on the Promises of God
II Corinthians 1:20--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.(ESV)
God's Word is full of promises, which many believers have heard, but do not truly grasp. Over the next few weeks, I would like to highlight a few of the great blessing our Father has promised to those who have put their trust in Him. If you find these promises attractive, but are not a follower of Christ, surrender your life to Him, plead for His forgiveness and begin walking in the promises He has provided. The Lord's promises are sure and steadfast, never to waver or be broken; our responsibility is only to trust.
Do not worry, God will provide. Matthew 6:33-34a says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry..." With all the stresses this world provides, it seems impossible to not worry. The deadlines, the bills, the job, the children, etc., are we not in a system where worry and anxiety flow easily? Yet, God instructs us to not worry and to be anxious for nothing. How can this be done?
Focus on the spiritual, not the physical. Matthew 6:25b says, "Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" To be certain, many of us focus our time and attention on the physical things of life, forgetting that those things will not endure forever. II Corinthians 4:18 says, "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." The promise of provision happens as we take our eyes off of the temporary and focus them on the spiritual...seeking the kingdom/will of God and His righteousness.
Stand on His promise of peace, set your mind on things above(ie. Scripture) and you will begin to notice that worry will dissipate and all your needs will be provided. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
If you would like, you can visit our church at www.lighthousefamilyfellowship.com There you will find many messages and articles that can help you on your spiritual journey.
God's Word is full of promises, which many believers have heard, but do not truly grasp. Over the next few weeks, I would like to highlight a few of the great blessing our Father has promised to those who have put their trust in Him. If you find these promises attractive, but are not a follower of Christ, surrender your life to Him, plead for His forgiveness and begin walking in the promises He has provided. The Lord's promises are sure and steadfast, never to waver or be broken; our responsibility is only to trust.
Do not worry, God will provide. Matthew 6:33-34a says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry..." With all the stresses this world provides, it seems impossible to not worry. The deadlines, the bills, the job, the children, etc., are we not in a system where worry and anxiety flow easily? Yet, God instructs us to not worry and to be anxious for nothing. How can this be done?
Focus on the spiritual, not the physical. Matthew 6:25b says, "Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" To be certain, many of us focus our time and attention on the physical things of life, forgetting that those things will not endure forever. II Corinthians 4:18 says, "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." The promise of provision happens as we take our eyes off of the temporary and focus them on the spiritual...seeking the kingdom/will of God and His righteousness.
Stand on His promise of peace, set your mind on things above(ie. Scripture) and you will begin to notice that worry will dissipate and all your needs will be provided. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
If you would like, you can visit our church at www.lighthousefamilyfellowship.com There you will find many messages and articles that can help you on your spiritual journey.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Confess your sins
Matthew 4:17b-- Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Many today seek for joy and happiness, and many others have given up looking, since it seems to always evade them. Is it possible to have true joy and sincere happiness? Is it something that is to be attained or just something people speak of, but never achieve? Today, I would like to express to you the formula for finding such elusive emotions, and it begins and ends with repentance.
Sin enslaves. Genesis 4:7 says, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Sins desire is for you, to enslave you, to take you captive. All have fallen prey to this beast, and have suffered the pain of guilt and anguish. The inner battle was initiated, and we lost. And as sinners, we continue to lose, finding discontentment, bitterness and hardness of heart our reward for failure. The beauty of it all is this...we do not have to continue in this state.
The Savior frees us. John 8:36 says, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Jesus Christ came to set us free from sin and death, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Sin, and the results from it, no longer has to have dominion over us. But, how can we receive such a gift? What must we do?
Confess your sins. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confessing that we are sinners, in need of a Savior, welcomes the gift of forgiveness and salvation into our lives. This practice of repentance must continue throughout the course of our lives, continually recognizing when we fall short of God's plan. By doing this, we can continually be refreshed, renewed and full of joy and happiness.
Surrender to Him today. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Many today seek for joy and happiness, and many others have given up looking, since it seems to always evade them. Is it possible to have true joy and sincere happiness? Is it something that is to be attained or just something people speak of, but never achieve? Today, I would like to express to you the formula for finding such elusive emotions, and it begins and ends with repentance.
Sin enslaves. Genesis 4:7 says, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Sins desire is for you, to enslave you, to take you captive. All have fallen prey to this beast, and have suffered the pain of guilt and anguish. The inner battle was initiated, and we lost. And as sinners, we continue to lose, finding discontentment, bitterness and hardness of heart our reward for failure. The beauty of it all is this...we do not have to continue in this state.
The Savior frees us. John 8:36 says, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Jesus Christ came to set us free from sin and death, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Sin, and the results from it, no longer has to have dominion over us. But, how can we receive such a gift? What must we do?
Confess your sins. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confessing that we are sinners, in need of a Savior, welcomes the gift of forgiveness and salvation into our lives. This practice of repentance must continue throughout the course of our lives, continually recognizing when we fall short of God's plan. By doing this, we can continually be refreshed, renewed and full of joy and happiness.
Surrender to Him today. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
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