“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” 2 Timothy 1:12-14 KJV
Hang in there! God is in control and He says it is time. This week I feel God is reminding us to trust Him.
Dear Heavenly Father – please continue to pour out your grace upon us, within us, and show it through us! Thank you for caring about the little things in our life as well as the big things. Help us cling to your plans as you make the way for us. Lead us. You alone are to be glorified! Please open our eyes to see and our understanding to the ways of you. – In Jesus name we pray, Amen
She (a “Christian” acquaintance) said to me: “you think I am liberal? Wait till you meet Jesus!”
Go ahead and be shocked by that for a minute. I was. But instead of explaining all the things that a wrong about her statement and all the things that are right but taken out of context, let’s discuss the larger issue at the source of this. In Hosea 4:6 it says, in the NKJV, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” But let’s look at the full verse in the NLT:
“My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.”
There is so much in there to talk about someday, but not today. Today, I will try to focus only on the point. As soon as I completed yesterday’s post which says we don’t trust God because we trust other things – I was confronted with my acquaintance’s comment (above) and then other things that clearly show the lack of trust in God (and trust instead in other things) comes from not knowing Him.
It literally says not knowing Him leads to our destruction! I have to concur based on experience. I was raised in church. I had so much of the Bible memorized, which means I was a bit ahead of the power curve. Another person who grew up with me, was raised in church, but did not memorize the Bible. Both of us had experiences with God – enough to claim for ourselves that this is the truth. I don’t know about her, but I tried to study my Bible regularly – but mostly if I was in the Bible, I wasn’t studying, I was memorizing. And I wasn’t good at praying unless I wanted or needed something. And even then, my prayers reflected the degree in which I wanted it. I did NOT have a real relationship with God. I did try – but never really understood what it meant. And never was I told that I needed to get to know God.
She and I both walked away. I returned and she says it is a bunch of fear propaganda to force children to comply. For both of us we were destroyed because we did not know who we believed in.
In my low, desperate hour – I called out to God and told Him MY terms and conditions for my return. If you are real, if you are almighty, fair and just as well as merciful and generous with grace, then I will commit to you and surrender my all – BUT I need a powerful God, a life changing God, a God of restoration and transformation – I NEED a God who performs miracles, heals, delivers, and raises from the dead. I NEED a God who has authority of demons and situation and I NEED to know someone with the power of creation is in control. I did not hear a response, but I felt comforted. Looking back I see His answer was clearly – seek me, get to know me, and all these things shall follow.
The opening verse all week says: “for I know whom I have believed”. Do we know Him?
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3 ESV
God wants a personal relationship – He wants us to seek Him and get to know Him – wait on Him. He will reveal Himself. The Bible is His word, read it – this is the foundation of how He speaks to us. Pray, worship, praise, sing, and dance with Him. Get to know Him like you would get to know a sweetheart. Just know you have to be raw and honest with Him, cause He already knows.
“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” Psalm 25:5-9 ESV
We must study the Bible so we know how He has acted before in the past – so we know how He will act in the present. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So, we can read and trust what we read can be applied today. Yes, God is pure, holy and righteous – which means that out of all fairness He can, and has, opened the earth to swallow people or struck them dead. But as you STUDY, not just read the word, you see that the main theme of every single Old Testament book was mercy and grace. God warned people and gave them abundance opportunity to be saved from the wrath. And the foundation for the New Testament is mercy and grace – extended to all people through Christ’s work of the cross, with an opportunity to for all of us to, not only, be saved from the wrath (like the Old Testament) but also to be able to commune with God through Jesus – to have a personal relationship. To have two way conversation, to curl up in the arms of our Father, to grieve with Him, to love what He loves, to have a transforming encounter with grace which is so much more than an experience with God – but God manifested in your life.
Yes it is possible to miss the mark and be ever so slightly off – and have it lead you astray. All of us, no matter where you are in your relationship with God, must be diligent in our relationship and disciplined in actively working on knowing God better and knowing Him more. And to know God, means to know grace.
If you don’t already, and today you would like to have a relationship with a God who can communicate with you and be part of your life (and protect you) – one who is full of mighty power and tender love, then please know that I have put the “A, B, C’s of Salvation” in my introduction. Please click here to follow the link.**
Thank you for reading ~ Grace be with you
Be healthy and blessed ~ I love you and love one another
Watch and Pray ~ Seek God & keep your eyes on Jesus!
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
If Not For Grace 