WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK OF ME?
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB95)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
When I was younger I was greatly concerned with acceptance of the people I admired or wanted to be like. I wanted to “fit in” with the popular group.
As a young preacher, I wanted to hear people say that I did well when I spoke.
Even today in mid-life, I want to be liked and accepted by people.
It is natural for people to want approval and acceptance; but to what extent are we willing to go to gain social approval or acceptance?
If you aren’t careful you will let the wrong people determine your self image or give direction to your life. Of course you should be concerned with godly counsel, but many times we are more concerned with what people think than we are with what God thinks and wants in our life. We go where we go, do what we do, etc. because we want social acceptance, rather than considering what God desires in our life.
It is too bad that we have to be much older to realize the truth of what somebody said one time:
• at 20, we worry about what people think about us.
• at 40, we don’t care what people think about us, and
• at 60, we find out that nobody has been thinking about us!
As a pastor, most people don’t really care what I think or say. That is why I consider my ONLY authority to be the Word of God. It they reject that, they have a problem with God. I am much more concerned with what God thinks of me than I am what others think of me.
God wants your life and mine to be so different that you make a difference in the life of others.
Father God, may my life be one of obedience to You and a desire to please you by following as You direct my paths. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tommy
Friday, September 18, 2009
When Believers Differ
Who is the Weaker Brother?
Romans 14
"Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”
Romans 14 is a pretty tough chapter for those who make it a hobby to judge brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you will take time to read the entire chapter in a version you can understand. In verse 4, Paul asks, “Who are you to judge the servant of another?” (We are each God’s servant if we are believers.) “To his own master (Jesus) he stands or falls.”
Paul talked about some who were weak in the faith and some who were strong in the faith. Some of the weaker brothers were judging the stronger brothers. And there were some stronger brothers who were despising weaker brothers.
The weaker brothers walked very straight and very narrow and there were some things they just absolutely would not do, say, touch, etc. They said, "That's wrong and we're not going to participate in it."
You say, "That sounds like a stronger brother." He was really the weaker brother. There were some stronger brothers who knew that these things were not really wrong in and of themselves and so they did them.
The weaker brother would judge the stronger brother and say, "He ought not to be living that way." And the stronger brother would despise the weaker brother and say, "He ought not to be so narrow minded." There was a division.
This was compounded in that the weaker brother thought he was the stronger brother. It was a very confusing issue. It is still around today on issues such as worship styles, political involvement, dress codes and many other issues.
St. Augustine, an ancient Christian talked about how we are to react to one another. He said, "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love."
Paul wrote in Romans 14:19-20 (NASB95) “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God. . . . “
Too often today I hear those who call themselves believers tearing down the work of God rather than making peace and building up one another. I am concerned that so many are majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors. They make mountains of molehills and molehills of mountains. Too many struggle with knowing what is "essential" and what is "nonessential." Most of all, the spirit of their words is quite often vitriolic rather than charity.
Let me build on Augustine’s statement:
· in essentials, unity. Jesus is Lord.
· In nonessentials, liberty. You're going to have to answer before God at the judgment seat of Christ.
· but in all things charity. We are to love one another.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful if everybody in the church were walking so carefully we didn't want to do anything that would cause anybody else to stumble? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no man or woman would wrap his sanctimonious robes about him and start to judge somebody else about the way they worked, the way they sing, the way they preached, the way they speak, but we just all began to praise God and love one another? Don't you want to be a member of a church like that? Then you be that kind of a man or woman and we'll have that kind of a church.
Father me not to judge others with a judgment that I would not have passed on me. Help me to forgive others as yo have forgiven me. May I do my part to be a person of peace and building up, not tearing down the work of God.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Romans 14
"Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”
Romans 14 is a pretty tough chapter for those who make it a hobby to judge brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you will take time to read the entire chapter in a version you can understand. In verse 4, Paul asks, “Who are you to judge the servant of another?” (We are each God’s servant if we are believers.) “To his own master (Jesus) he stands or falls.”
Paul talked about some who were weak in the faith and some who were strong in the faith. Some of the weaker brothers were judging the stronger brothers. And there were some stronger brothers who were despising weaker brothers.
The weaker brothers walked very straight and very narrow and there were some things they just absolutely would not do, say, touch, etc. They said, "That's wrong and we're not going to participate in it."
You say, "That sounds like a stronger brother." He was really the weaker brother. There were some stronger brothers who knew that these things were not really wrong in and of themselves and so they did them.
The weaker brother would judge the stronger brother and say, "He ought not to be living that way." And the stronger brother would despise the weaker brother and say, "He ought not to be so narrow minded." There was a division.
This was compounded in that the weaker brother thought he was the stronger brother. It was a very confusing issue. It is still around today on issues such as worship styles, political involvement, dress codes and many other issues.
St. Augustine, an ancient Christian talked about how we are to react to one another. He said, "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love."
Paul wrote in Romans 14:19-20 (NASB95) “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God. . . . “
Too often today I hear those who call themselves believers tearing down the work of God rather than making peace and building up one another. I am concerned that so many are majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors. They make mountains of molehills and molehills of mountains. Too many struggle with knowing what is "essential" and what is "nonessential." Most of all, the spirit of their words is quite often vitriolic rather than charity.
Let me build on Augustine’s statement:
· in essentials, unity. Jesus is Lord.
· In nonessentials, liberty. You're going to have to answer before God at the judgment seat of Christ.
· but in all things charity. We are to love one another.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful if everybody in the church were walking so carefully we didn't want to do anything that would cause anybody else to stumble? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no man or woman would wrap his sanctimonious robes about him and start to judge somebody else about the way they worked, the way they sing, the way they preached, the way they speak, but we just all began to praise God and love one another? Don't you want to be a member of a church like that? Then you be that kind of a man or woman and we'll have that kind of a church.
Father me not to judge others with a judgment that I would not have passed on me. Help me to forgive others as yo have forgiven me. May I do my part to be a person of peace and building up, not tearing down the work of God.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Holiness
Holiness, holiness is what I long for
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (ISA.6:3, NASB)
We talk about our desire to be “holy.” What do we mean when we say that? Generally we are remembering that the Bible tells us “You shall be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Second Peter 3:11 asks the question, “. . . what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
There are those who see holiness as things they do or do not do. To an extent that is true; but in a greater sense it is not WHAT you do and do not do, it is WHO YOU ARE--it is your being. We spoke of how holiness is the ESSENCE of God. It is who He is. It is to be who we are as well.
Holiness extends from beyond what we do, to who we are. In the same way that you cannot know the holiness of God by the things that He does, but only by personally knowing Who He is, so your holiness is not determined by what you do—but who you are—why you do them.
Some people spend a lifetime trying to do things that make them holy instead of being holy in essence. It is having the heart of David. It is doing what we do with the right motive. It is dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us.
Some of these who walk around “holier than thou” are actually least holy, because they fail to realize that holiness is not something you do, it is who you are. God is Holy and says to us, “you shall be holy for I am holy.”
Father God, make me holy as you. Give me the mind and heart of Christ. Give me the mercy, the love of truth, forgiveness that you exhibited to me, may I show to others. May my heart be holy; for only then will my actions which flow from my heart be holy.
In Jesus name, AMEN!
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (ISA.6:3, NASB)
We talk about our desire to be “holy.” What do we mean when we say that? Generally we are remembering that the Bible tells us “You shall be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Second Peter 3:11 asks the question, “. . . what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
There are those who see holiness as things they do or do not do. To an extent that is true; but in a greater sense it is not WHAT you do and do not do, it is WHO YOU ARE--it is your being. We spoke of how holiness is the ESSENCE of God. It is who He is. It is to be who we are as well.
Holiness extends from beyond what we do, to who we are. In the same way that you cannot know the holiness of God by the things that He does, but only by personally knowing Who He is, so your holiness is not determined by what you do—but who you are—why you do them.
Some people spend a lifetime trying to do things that make them holy instead of being holy in essence. It is having the heart of David. It is doing what we do with the right motive. It is dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us.
Some of these who walk around “holier than thou” are actually least holy, because they fail to realize that holiness is not something you do, it is who you are. God is Holy and says to us, “you shall be holy for I am holy.”
Father God, make me holy as you. Give me the mind and heart of Christ. Give me the mercy, the love of truth, forgiveness that you exhibited to me, may I show to others. May my heart be holy; for only then will my actions which flow from my heart be holy.
In Jesus name, AMEN!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Attributes/Essence of God
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (ISA.6:3, NASB)
Recently I blogged about the difference in knowing God and knowing about God. There is a huge difference. Knowing about God only looks at what God does and gives no consideration as to who God is. It is important because my view of God determines my relationship to God.
There are those who say that God’s chief attribute is holiness. I propose that holiness is not just something God has—it is something that God is. I hesitate to speak of the attributes of God, because the words are all inadequate descriptions of His character. It is not possible to describe an infinite God with finite words.
His holiness encompasses all of the other words that you may use to describe Him. The word for “holy” means separate, or different. God is different from all else. His love, mercy, goodness, compassion, grace, etc. are all encompassed by His holiness. So are the attributes of anger, wrath, and justice. They are not separate pieces of the pie, but all a part of the essence of who He is. They are different ways that we experience Who God is.
We have a tendency to classify God’s attributes according to our favor. We would much rather experience God’s compassion and mercy, than his justice and wrath. (I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want what I deserve. I want mercy!)
You cannot play one characteristic of God against another. His wrath, anger, compassion and mercy are all from the same essence—His holiness. We try to separate out his characteristics and talk about His love on one hand, and his wrath on the other. In actuality, God’s wrath is an exhibition of His love.
Does this sound confusing? How can I be sure to experience His mercy and grace, rather than His justice and wrath? There is only one way. John 5:24 tells us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”[1]
May you experience God’s Holiness in His mercy and grace.
[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
Recently I blogged about the difference in knowing God and knowing about God. There is a huge difference. Knowing about God only looks at what God does and gives no consideration as to who God is. It is important because my view of God determines my relationship to God.
There are those who say that God’s chief attribute is holiness. I propose that holiness is not just something God has—it is something that God is. I hesitate to speak of the attributes of God, because the words are all inadequate descriptions of His character. It is not possible to describe an infinite God with finite words.
His holiness encompasses all of the other words that you may use to describe Him. The word for “holy” means separate, or different. God is different from all else. His love, mercy, goodness, compassion, grace, etc. are all encompassed by His holiness. So are the attributes of anger, wrath, and justice. They are not separate pieces of the pie, but all a part of the essence of who He is. They are different ways that we experience Who God is.
We have a tendency to classify God’s attributes according to our favor. We would much rather experience God’s compassion and mercy, than his justice and wrath. (I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want what I deserve. I want mercy!)
You cannot play one characteristic of God against another. His wrath, anger, compassion and mercy are all from the same essence—His holiness. We try to separate out his characteristics and talk about His love on one hand, and his wrath on the other. In actuality, God’s wrath is an exhibition of His love.
Does this sound confusing? How can I be sure to experience His mercy and grace, rather than His justice and wrath? There is only one way. John 5:24 tells us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”[1]
May you experience God’s Holiness in His mercy and grace.
[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
091209
Why am I here?
Psalm 8 (NASB95)1 For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth![1]
There is one question that every person on this earth must answer or their life is going to be totally wasted and squandered and their potential will never be reached. The question is—Why am I here? What do I bring to the table of life? What is my role on earth?
My son and I have recently been talking about what he feels God wants him to do with his life. Since High School, he has been searching, and doesn’t have much direction. Right now he is considering the military—at least until he perceives the direction he should go.
Most people are not living out their passion? According to a survey conducted by Harris interactive, only 45% of American workers say they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobs and only 20% feel passionate about their jobs.
Life is too short being miserable and doing what you don’t want to do. Until you understand that you are a creation of God put on this planet to play a special God-given role you will wander through the hallway of life aimlessly never finding the right door to the real meaning of your life. God has made you special. Live out your passion and go for your dream.
Father God,
I pray for those young adults who are searching for direction and what you want them to do in their lives. May they be open to your leadership and godly counsel.
In Jesus name, Amen.
[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
Psalm 8 (NASB95)1 For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth![1]
There is one question that every person on this earth must answer or their life is going to be totally wasted and squandered and their potential will never be reached. The question is—Why am I here? What do I bring to the table of life? What is my role on earth?
My son and I have recently been talking about what he feels God wants him to do with his life. Since High School, he has been searching, and doesn’t have much direction. Right now he is considering the military—at least until he perceives the direction he should go.
Most people are not living out their passion? According to a survey conducted by Harris interactive, only 45% of American workers say they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobs and only 20% feel passionate about their jobs.
Life is too short being miserable and doing what you don’t want to do. Until you understand that you are a creation of God put on this planet to play a special God-given role you will wander through the hallway of life aimlessly never finding the right door to the real meaning of your life. God has made you special. Live out your passion and go for your dream.
Father God,
I pray for those young adults who are searching for direction and what you want them to do in their lives. May they be open to your leadership and godly counsel.
In Jesus name, Amen.
[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
091109
Finish Well
When Paul looked back on his life, though certainly it had not been perfect, yet he could still say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) If Paul had a tombstone this would undoubtedly have been the epitaph. What a testimony! What a witness! What a statement! To look back on your life and to say there was no remorse, no regret, and no retreat.
For all of his Christian life Paul had been in a state of war. He faced three foes: the world, the flesh, and the Devil. It was literally a fight to the finish. No quarter was asked and none was given. Paul had been a good soldier, and he had the battle scars to prove it.
I thought of a hymn we sang as a young boy:
Should I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
God has given each one of us our own race, our own course, our own track. God is not concerned with how fast you run, but how far you run. It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish the race that counts with God.
FATHER GOD,
I pray that I will run the race faithfully and finish well.
In Jesus name AMEN.
When Paul looked back on his life, though certainly it had not been perfect, yet he could still say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) If Paul had a tombstone this would undoubtedly have been the epitaph. What a testimony! What a witness! What a statement! To look back on your life and to say there was no remorse, no regret, and no retreat.
For all of his Christian life Paul had been in a state of war. He faced three foes: the world, the flesh, and the Devil. It was literally a fight to the finish. No quarter was asked and none was given. Paul had been a good soldier, and he had the battle scars to prove it.
I thought of a hymn we sang as a young boy:
Should I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
God has given each one of us our own race, our own course, our own track. God is not concerned with how fast you run, but how far you run. It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish the race that counts with God.
FATHER GOD,
I pray that I will run the race faithfully and finish well.
In Jesus name AMEN.
091009
After my post titled “A Good Name,” I was challenged by someone who said they didn’t ever lie. I was overwhelmed when I began to look for the passages that talked about deception and lying. There is no way I could cover it all in a few blogs.
To begin with my mind went to 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We not only lie to others, but we lie to ourselves. Instead of calling it a “lie,” we explain ourselves, or we rationalize. 1 John 1:10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” This was written to those who called themselves believers! All is not lost, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
You can lie by more than words:
· There is slander
· There is tale-bearing
· There is whispering
· There is insulation
· There is flattery
· You can lie by asking a question….
· You can lie by condoning
Basically, if you tell me you NEVER sin, I would say, You are lying. Because everybody has lied, does that make it right? No. Thankfully, Christ will enter with us and help us mature and become more as we should be. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin, BUT if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
He could kick you out. He could lower the standard. But He does neither. He enters into the situation with you and takes you by the hand helps you become all He wants you to be. As we walk with Him, we grow to hate sin more and more and when we see it in our lives, it troubles us so we do sin, less and less, but NO SIN…. Not until we get to heaven.
Father God,
Thank you for taking me by the hand and leading me through life to become all that you desire me to be.
In Jesus Name, AMEN.
To begin with my mind went to 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We not only lie to others, but we lie to ourselves. Instead of calling it a “lie,” we explain ourselves, or we rationalize. 1 John 1:10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” This was written to those who called themselves believers! All is not lost, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
You can lie by more than words:
· There is slander
· There is tale-bearing
· There is whispering
· There is insulation
· There is flattery
· You can lie by asking a question….
· You can lie by condoning
Basically, if you tell me you NEVER sin, I would say, You are lying. Because everybody has lied, does that make it right? No. Thankfully, Christ will enter with us and help us mature and become more as we should be. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin, BUT if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
He could kick you out. He could lower the standard. But He does neither. He enters into the situation with you and takes you by the hand helps you become all He wants you to be. As we walk with Him, we grow to hate sin more and more and when we see it in our lives, it troubles us so we do sin, less and less, but NO SIN…. Not until we get to heaven.
Father God,
Thank you for taking me by the hand and leading me through life to become all that you desire me to be.
In Jesus Name, AMEN.
090909
Never Again the Same
Well, Mr. “GB” and his sweet wife are expecting to deliver their first child today. The surprise (as far as the gender of the child) has already been taken away. Now just the many surprises of parenting a child. As much as you anticipate the emotions and overwhelming love, you cannot begin to imagine what it is really like until you hold that baby and look into the innocent eyes and feel the little had wrapped around your index finger. You think, this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. WOW! The experience of laying that baby on your chest and the two of you napping together. (I am looking at a picture of me napping on the couch with one of my children sleeping peaceably on my chest).
Remember the thought? This little baby is totally dependent upon us. If he eats, drinks, has shelter, clothing . . . if he has love, it will be because we have chosen to provide them to this precious child.
Now I understand Jesus words, “unless you become as a little baby. . . “ All that I am, have, or possess is because God has chosen to provide. I am totally dependent upon HIM. . . for physical nourishment, each heartbeat, each breath, each thought. He has given me the ability to earn a living. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from Him.
Father God,
May I always remember you are my Provider. But while I understand my faith and dependence must be childlike, help me to grow in my understanding and stewardship of the blessings you have given.
I pray for my dear friends, that you will give them wisdom as parents to be all that You can make them to be---the best parents. I pray that this young child will grow to love and honor you with his life.
In Jesus name, AMEN.
Well, Mr. “GB” and his sweet wife are expecting to deliver their first child today. The surprise (as far as the gender of the child) has already been taken away. Now just the many surprises of parenting a child. As much as you anticipate the emotions and overwhelming love, you cannot begin to imagine what it is really like until you hold that baby and look into the innocent eyes and feel the little had wrapped around your index finger. You think, this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. WOW! The experience of laying that baby on your chest and the two of you napping together. (I am looking at a picture of me napping on the couch with one of my children sleeping peaceably on my chest).
Remember the thought? This little baby is totally dependent upon us. If he eats, drinks, has shelter, clothing . . . if he has love, it will be because we have chosen to provide them to this precious child.
Now I understand Jesus words, “unless you become as a little baby. . . “ All that I am, have, or possess is because God has chosen to provide. I am totally dependent upon HIM. . . for physical nourishment, each heartbeat, each breath, each thought. He has given me the ability to earn a living. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from Him.
Father God,
May I always remember you are my Provider. But while I understand my faith and dependence must be childlike, help me to grow in my understanding and stewardship of the blessings you have given.
I pray for my dear friends, that you will give them wisdom as parents to be all that You can make them to be---the best parents. I pray that this young child will grow to love and honor you with his life.
In Jesus name, AMEN.
090809
A Great Question
Genesis 18:14 (NKJV)14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”[1]
Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV)27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?[2]
This question was not asked of God, about God, or to God. God asks that question-- twice. It is a rhetorical question. The answer is understood. Of course nothing is too hard for God.
God is omniscient—there is nothing He cannot know.
God is omnipresent—there is no place where He does not exist.
God is omnipotent—there is nothing He cannot do.
That means, there is no promise God cannot keep. In Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) we read, 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?[3]
There is no prayer God cannot answer. Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’[4] John 14:13 (NKJV) 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.[5]
There is no problem that God cannot solve. Jeremiah 32:19 (NKJV) 19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.[6]
That is why we can trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? No there is not. If you will trust and obey, you will find that God “. . . is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. . .” [7] Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
Father God,
May my trust and obedience increase every day.In Jesus name, AMEN.
[1] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[2] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[3] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[4] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[5] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[6] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[7] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
Genesis 18:14 (NKJV)14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”[1]
Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV)27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?[2]
This question was not asked of God, about God, or to God. God asks that question-- twice. It is a rhetorical question. The answer is understood. Of course nothing is too hard for God.
God is omniscient—there is nothing He cannot know.
God is omnipresent—there is no place where He does not exist.
God is omnipotent—there is nothing He cannot do.
That means, there is no promise God cannot keep. In Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) we read, 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?[3]
There is no prayer God cannot answer. Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’[4] John 14:13 (NKJV) 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.[5]
There is no problem that God cannot solve. Jeremiah 32:19 (NKJV) 19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.[6]
That is why we can trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? No there is not. If you will trust and obey, you will find that God “. . . is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. . .” [7] Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
Father God,
May my trust and obedience increase every day.In Jesus name, AMEN.
[1] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[2] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[3] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[4] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[5] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[6] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
[7] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
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