“Absent Jesus, the law would be like one of those unwinnable carnival games where you are promised a big stuffed animal if you can just throw the plastic ring over… the bottle a few feet away. Seems simple, right? Only the game is rigged: the ring is too small and you can’t win regardless of how many times you try!”
Rigged? Unwinnable? Discouraging? After that statement, someone has to wonder if this whole thing is a scam, a rip-off, a grift. Have we been bamboozled? Who wants to participate in a rigged game? Not me. I certainly wouldn't be writing for Christ if I thought the game was rigged and I was the sucker. Below are just a few of God's Words that indicate He wants the best for us, that He wants us to know Him, and it not a con job.
7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Psalm 91: 9-16
9If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the LORD, who is my refuge, 10then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14”Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledge my name. 15He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Luke 18:14
“I tell you that this man... went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Psalm 34: 8-10
8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Jeremiah 29:12-14
11"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the LORD
Psalm 50:15
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
* * * * * * *
A note on Jeremiah 29:11. It's a popular quote, especially for young people and newer Christians. It is a great quote. It's encouraging. It provides hope for those who struggle. However, it is a mistake to isolate it because I think verses 12-14 are even better. Why is verse 11 isolated? Well, 11 shows what God will do for us while 12-14 explains what we should do. It always been my opinion that we prefer easy versus hard. Being served versus serving. Inward versus outward. Pleasure versus joy.
Jay Bakker asked, "WHY do you get out of bed everyday and WHY should anyone care?" Answer that and you will be way ahead of the curve on experiencing Jesus.
One last note, Psalm 1 tells us to mediate on God's Word day and night. You may want to read and re-read Jay Baker's quote at the top. It might prompt some of us to do as God instructs.
Have a good and godly day. COMMENTS
No comments:
Post a Comment