For The Goodness of God

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8).

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).

For the Goodness of God; that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. That while we were still sinners God sent His only begotten Son to redeem mankind from the power of Satan. God’s gift of eternal life, extended and available to all who believe. To all who call upon the name of the Lord. The goodness of God; patient and longsuffering that all should come to repentance. That all should come to the knowledge of the truth, to understanding, having their eyes opened.

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-7).

Having our eyes opened. For there are many who walk in spiritual darkness. There are many who have a “form” of godliness. There are many who proclaim the name of the Lord but their hearts are far from Him. Their are many who know of Him but who don’t know Him. Who speak of Him yet who do not understand the truth of His sayings. Who cannot fathom His greatness. Who do not revere or fear Him.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5).

Do you understand it? Even the demons believe there is a God and even they tremble. Simply believing that there is a God is not enough. You must be “born again!” So who of you still walks in spiritual darkness? And who lacks understanding?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

For God desires that no one should perish. Look at the life of Saul before becoming Paul. Who walked in spiritual darkness. Who knew the scriptures yet persecuted Christians because he thought he was doing God a great service. Even Saul, who before he came to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, even he thought he knew God but was walking in spiritual blindness. Who by God’s might and by God’s goodness was changed from Saul to Paul. Paul, who fell on his face in fear and trembling before a mighty and an awesome God. Paul, who for lack of seeing, became blind until the scales fell from his eyes that he then could finally see. For the goodness of God. That all might come to a saving faith. To a faith like that of Paul’s. That counts all as rubbish except for Christ. Paul, who ran the race to win it. Is this not the kind of faith God wants to form in us? Not a faith that conforms to the world. Not a faith that makes excuses for sin. But a transforming faith, full of the awesome power and goodness of God. That has the ability to open the eyes of men. That has the ability to save even the “chiefest of all sinners.” Is this not the kind of faith God calls us to have? For the goodness of God. For the goodness of God. And do I see? Am I reaching those who are perishing with all that I am, all that Christ is within me, to proclaim the truth of His Word that is able to save and pull many from the enemy’s hand? “For to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” And is this my mentality? and if it is not, then should it not be? I ask you, for the goodness of God… that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me.

Saul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1-19)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

And Phillippians 3:7-21 (written by Paul)

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

“I remember when you used to love me.”

Someone wrote me just this morning about this and so I thought I would post it; God’s love letter to those in His church who’s hearts have strayed far from Him, written through the poet Blair Wingo. And for some reason as I do, the song “Revive Us” by Anointed comes to mind.

May we, the precious Bride of Christ be filled with His Spirit in 2008! Laying aside all others in complete abandonment and surrender to Him, for only Jesus, the Son of the Living God has the power to save!

Will the real Jesus please stand up!

And this is actually a title that had come to mind (once upon a time) for a post I had yet to write. Well, after coming across this video on yet another blog I thought this lady said it better than I probably ever could. With all the Jesus’s that are now being preached today, yes, will the real Jesus please stand up! Enjoy! “Blair Wingo – Let Me Re-Introduce The Christ!”

Making God’s Word Our Delight

Are we making God’s Word our delight? If not, we need to be. Can we honestly say there is nothing we love more? Do we delight to spend time in His Word? If not, we should be. How else can we know our Lord? How else will we be transformed? God’s Word is living. God’s Word is pure. There is nothing like it in all the earth! It is as the verse says; it can cut to the very marrow. God’s Word is truth. Within it’s pages life! His Word for our souls food. To hide it in our hearts, lest we too, for lack of knowledge perish. Carried away by every wind and false doctrine. How else shall we know what God’s good and acceptable Will is? How else shall we learn to serve Him? Unless we are willing to take the time to read and then to listen. Yes, listen.

Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

Psalm 119:9 How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your Word.

Psalm 119:11 Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your Word.

Psalm 119:28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your Word.

Psalm 119:43 Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your ordinances.

Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your Word.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My Word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that shatters the rock?”

Luke 11:28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”

Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Running

Walking with God is a challenge or as the Apostle Paul put it; a race. If anyone thinks it is easy then I might have to wonder, “are they really in the running?” or perhaps, “is it they are just beginning?” Either way, if you have ever run a race before then you would know from experience that the beginning is always the easiest.

I myself had the opportunity to participate in a race once and believe me, for me, this was no small feat. I ran a half marathon with a friend of mine a couple of years back and trained for all of three months I think. Thankfully though, I did have some residual left from the previous year I had spent running, so physically I wasn’t starting from complete scratch. But thinking back, wow, ya just three months and then I embarked on a half marathon and I will never forget the experience.

It was a clear day in the North West, sunny with mild temperatures. Perfect running weather. They gave us our numbers, we pinned them on. I was pumped! Everyone lining up, a mob of people really, and I knew I wasn’t there to win, I was just there for the experience of it. I was just there to finish. I had been training (though just three months) and the farthest I had ever run up until that point was all of eight miles, nevermind that today I was looking at thirteen. “If I made it to ten (running)” I told myself, “then I would be happy.”

At the sound of the pistol the crowd took off! “Pace yourself,” my friend says and I know she’s right. Too much too soon and I will have nothing left over when I near the end. So, we take it pretty leisurely, enjoying the scenery.

“Mile one, mile two, mile three,” and I feel great! There are people cheering everyone along the way. Short pit stops to grab a quick cup of gatorade, orange slice, and then “carry on! Carry on!” We keep running.

“Mile four, mile five, mile six,” and everything around us is so pretty as I can think of nothing more beautiful than the North West on a sunny day. Ya, it’s at this point the endorphines have really kicked in.

“Mile seven, mile eight, mile nine. Mile nine?” Yes, mile nine! and I think to myself “and look! I’m still running! and I still feel great!” and even I am amazed. This is the farthest I have ever run before in all my life and I feel as though I will never run out of energy. I even remember joking with my friend at this point, “they should give us medals for this!”

Then… “MILE TEN” and imagine if you will some ominous music as I hit the marker, “du-du-du-du!” and not only me but my friend too who has never run a half marathon either. At mile ten it was as if our bodies just gave out, crying, “I’ve had enough of this!” Just plodding along now. Every part of my body hurting; arms, legs, torso. Everything I think but my brain. My friend too is giving out, “I have to stop,” she says, “I have to walk.” “No,” I encourage her, “you can do this!” “No,” she says, shaking her head. “Just let me walk, for a little bit,” and so she walks, “you go on ahead” she says but I am not wanting to leave her. Afterall, she’s the one who had encouraged me to do this half marathon to begin with and so I think to myself, “I am not in this to win,” and believe me, I wasn’t even anywhere close to placing, “I am just in this to finish and to finish running this race with my friend.”

And so… I walk, but in my attempt to walk with her for some reason walking for my body is even more painful than running. “Oh my god,” I say, “it is too painful to walk!” and again I have to start running, it was either that or stop all together which really wasn’t an option so, “come on,” I tell her, “we can do this, you can do this! It’s only three more miles!”

Yes, it was just three more miles, three more miles of grueling pain, but you know what? Together we ran it and we finished and when we came across the finish line, guess what? They put medals around our necks! Ya, I kid you not. Who would’ve thought it!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

A Growing Trend

Today as I read one of my favorite devotionals “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers I am reminded. Oswald leaves today’s devotion with this last line, “it is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me,” and I can’t help but think, “how true. How many of us are claiming Christ yet unwilling to let Him be formed in us? How many are conforming rather to the lusts and complacency’s of this world?” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). “A growing trend,” and so how do we prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God? There must be a measuring stick.

“A growing trend,” and what is it? Perhaps it is this; there is no measuring stick. The Word of God is not inherent. But if that were the case then what do we really have to hang our faith on? Love? “Yes, love” they say. “Love is the only way.” Yes, love, true, but even Christ as they dragged the woman caught in adultery to His very feet, though He did not condemn her told her, “go and sin no more,” not what the “growing trend” would say in regards to sin. No, rather the “growing trend” would say, “the bible doesn’t really say that. It is no longer relevant for us today.” Hmph! “Poppycock!” that’s what I say.

“The growing trend,” would have me believe that the Word of God is up for interpretation and again they say, “that isn’t what it really means.” Then if that were the case then perhaps I will throw out any verse that doesn’t really suit me. If the Word of God is not inherent than it is all up for grabs – eventually and “the growing trend” keeps on growing.

The Word of God must be inherent. The Word of God is still relevent today. The Word of God says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Perhaps off this very verse alone we should learn that “growing trends” are not always the right roads. The Word of God must be the measuring stick; and the only way it can be is if it is held up as inherent. Jesus Himself says, for narrow is the gate and difficult the way. But the “growing trend” would teach us differently.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:15-23).

The “growing trend” would say there is no such thing as a “call” to holiness. But if that were the case than why did Christ die for me? “He hath made Him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The only way the righteousness of God can be made manifest in me is if I am willing and determined to let Christ be formed in me and if anyone should tell us differently then hold everything they say up to the Word of God; for it is by it we do the measuring.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3).

** For today’s devotional from “My Utmost for His Highest” go to www.rbc.org/utmost .