Faith and life meet in a story
By Paula
By Paula
By Paula
Something I've noticed in the course of reading and studying Scripture is how often we find extremes. By that I mean, when God says or does something, it is "all" or "none" or "every" or "never". Paying attention to those little words is tremendous food for the soul when you study.
Try it on familiar verses like Isaiah 53:6 – "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
All of us are sinners. I cannot justify or excuse what I think or do. I am part of that 'all'. All of us have rebelled and God laid the guilt, the consequences and the judgment on Jesus Christ. Not some, or even most. Every last one of us. No one is beyond the reach of Christ's blood.
Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
No evil. None. Not even the most terrifying, threatening, stomach-churning, heart-pounding evil. I will not fear it. That's mighty big faith… but He's a mighty big God who is there with rod and staff to comfort.
And one of my personal favorites- Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"
Worry about NOTHING. Pray about EVERYTHING. There are no exclusions. Worry and anxiety are a sign that we don't believe God is in control. Of everything. Nothing has escaped His notice, and everything is part of His plan. But, none of our concerns are too small to bring Him. He is always ready and willing to hear our hearts.
So as you study and read this week, watch for extremes- all, nothing, everything, nothing, none, every … and be assured that God never does anything halfway.
(This is a re-post)
By Paula
A week ago, we were hiking in Arches National Park. It's beautiful place, with miles and miles of sandstone formations sculpted by years of wind and rain. We didn't experience any rain, but we did get stung by the blowing sand. The rain comes in seasonal downpours and radically changes the landscape.
Here's a quick analogy:
Unlike the sandstone, we have the ability to resist God's work in our lives. We rebel, and interfere, hindering the process, making it take even longer. Thankfully God keeps at it, determined to finish the job, just as He promised. (He who has begun a good work in you will complete it… Phil 1:6)
By Paula
Why do you ask Me [My doctrine]? John 18:21
Annas was searching for evidence of a hidden agenda, a secret motive, hypocrisy that was ripe for exposure. Jesus had none of those things. He taught with complete integrity. His public and private discourses were the same. He neither pulled punches with the outcasts of society nor with the pious religious establishment. His message was consistent, confrontational and convicting. And He lived what He taught. Even when He was hungry, tired, stressed or alone.
Like Annas, we hate that.
Too good to be TRUE
We dig for weasel words that allow us to self-justify. We hope for skeletons that indulge our self-righteousness. We want inconsistency that lets us off the hook. We want to be as good as Jesus, without having to "be" as good as Jesus.
Too good BUT true too
Jesus offers a trade. His righteous for ours. But only if we see our righteousness the way He does. That was His doctrine. Stop trying to be good enough. You can't. Stop weaseling, indulging, justifying.
Jesus doctrine – It is GOOD and it is TRUE
By Paula
Something I’ve noticed in the course of reading and studying Scripture is how often God goes to extremes. By that I mean, when God says or does something, it is “all” or “none” or the “most” or the “least”. Paying attention to those little words are tremendous food for the soul when you study.
Try it on familiar verses like Isaiah 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” All of us are sinners. I cannot justify or excuse what I think or do. I am part of that ‘all’. All of us have rebelled and God laid the guilt, the consequences and the judgment on Jesus Christ. Not some, or even most. Every last one of us. No one is beyond the reach of Christ’s blood.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” No evil. None. Not even the most terrifying, threatening, stomach-churning, heart-pounding evil. I will not fear it. That’s mighty big faith… but He’s a mighty big God who is there with rod and staff to comfort.
And one of my personal favorites- Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Middle of a sentence, I know, but I’m trying to stay focused here.) Worry about NOTHING. Pray about EVERYTHING. There are no exclusions. Worry and anxiety are a sign that we don’t believe God is in control. Of everything. Nothing has escaped His notice, and everything is part of His plan. But, none of our concerns are too small to bring Him. He is always ready and willing to hear our hearts.
So as you study and read this week, watch for extremes- all, nothing, everything, nothing, none, every… and be assured that God never does anything halfway.