Does God Envy?

January 9, 2013 By 25 Comments
envy

A misunderstood God leads to a misguided faith. If you think God is insecure and constantly assessing you on your performance, you will be insecure yourself. You will be forever wondering whether you have done enough to please him. Some time ago I wrote that God loves us unconditionally, that contrary to what some scriptures say, God is not a jealous God. How dare I contradict the written word? Well, I’ve met the Living Word and I can tell you that Jesus is the very picture of love and grace. However, the concept of a jealous God is hard to shake. We’ve heard so many times that he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible puzzles, love of God Tagged With: , , ,

Acceptance Elevates Us

November 19, 2012 By 5 Comments
What is the 5th word?

When you know God is pleased with you regardless of your productivity, it will free you from the pressure to perform. When you’ve heard God say “Yes” to you, it will empower you to say “No” to the unhealthy demands of Pharaoh’s whip-cracking taskmasters. If you have been burning the candle at both ends trying to get ahead, a revelation of God’s acceptance will bring you to a place of rest. It will get you off the merry-go-round and sit you down in pastures green. But that doesn’t mean you will be idle. Those who wait upon the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: acceptance, love of God, rejection, works of faith Tagged With: , , ,

What if I Disappoint God?

October 9, 2012 By 39 Comments
GITW_5a_word

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Eph 1:6, NKJV) We are accepted “in the Beloved.” Some take this to mean we are only in the kingdom because we have a friend in high places. This is misleading. It’s like saying, “God can’t stand you personally but as a special favor to Jesus he’ll pretend he can’t see you.” I know, it’s silly. Yet some Christians are worried sick that if God knew the secrets of their hearts he would kick them out in a heartbeat. In order to avoid detection they maintain such a low profile you could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: acceptance, gospel of grace, love of God

The End of the Slave Trade

September 10, 2012 By 18 Comments
rejection

In this world acceptance comes at a price. If you want to be accepted you have to perform, you have to deliver, you have to shine. You have to be first in and best dressed. You have to close the deal and make the sale. You have to woo the girl and win the crowd. You have to dazzle the customer and impress the boss. In other words, your acceptance is determined by other people. To win respect and approval, you have to play by the rules others have set. You have to conform to their standards. Live like this and your legitimate need for acceptance will dictate what you do, where you live, how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: acceptance, dead religion, gospel of grace, love of God, rejection Tagged With: , , ,

The Way

May 4, 2012 By 13 Comments
The_Way

“Lord, may this stone, a symbol of my efforts on the pilgrimage that I lay at the foot of the cross of the Saviour, one day weigh the balance in favor of my good deeds when the deeds of my life are judged. Let it be so.” Last night Camilla and I finally got to see the Martin Sheen movie, The Way. I had been wanting to see this movie ever since my friend Steve Hackman posted his review on it six months ago. But since New Zealand exists on the edge of the cinematic galaxy, we had to wait. If you haven’t heard, The Way is the story about a doctor who travels to France to collect the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: acceptance, love of God, movie reviews

“The Misunderstood God” by Darin Hufford

April 26, 2012 By 12 Comments
Misunderstood_God

If you have ever looked at a couple of hormonal teenagers and thought to yourself, “Those kids don’t know the first thing about love,” then you may have a fair idea of how God thinks about some of us: We hardly know the first thing about love. You only have to listen to the way we talk to know that this is so. We tell others that we want to be “used by God” as if love ever uses people. We boast of our “commitment to Christ” as if the substance of love consisted of making promises. We testify that God has sent us into the wilderness or made us sick to teach us things as if God … [Read more...]

Filed Under: book reviews, Darin Hufford, love of God, new covenant

Top 12 Verses on the New Covenant

April 19, 2012 By 17 Comments
good-news

I have this strange idea that we should preach nothing but the gospel. Two reasons why: (1) Jesus told us to and (2) it’s the only thing we’re really good at. Any club or religion can teach you about good works and charity and seven steps to financial freedom, but the church has a monopoly on grace. You will never hear about the good news of grace except from someone who knows Jesus. The gospel of grace is such a matchless message that any time we preach something different, we are giving less than our best. “But Paul,” you may say. “There are so many needs.” Then preach the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: gospel of grace, lists, love of God, new covenant Tagged With: , , ,

Forgiven, Reconciled, and Saved?

March 13, 2012 By 22 Comments
be_reconciled

The world sure is a strange place. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, something new hits you on the side of the head. When I was growing up, the number one theological question was this one: “Once saved, always saved?” People who asked this question wanted to know whether it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation. Well if bullfrogs and butterflies can turn back into tad-poles and caterpillars, then I guess it’s possible.  But now there’s a whole new question being asked, which is this: Is everybody saved? Many are saying yes: “Jesus is the Savior of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: forgiveness, historical reconciliation, love of God, salvation, union Tagged With: , ,

Your One Big Truth and the Wisdom of Puddleglum

November 1, 2011 By 18 Comments
Wisdom_of_Puddleglum

What is the most important lesson you have learned in life? Your answer to this question defines your One Big Truth. Your One Big Truth is the truth you cling to when all is lost. It’s the backbone that helps you stand and the keel that keeps you on course. It’s the spark in your imagination, the drive in your engine, and the peace in your sleep. Do you have a One Big Truth? Perhaps you’ve never thought about this before. Then consider Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle. Puddleglum is one of my favorite characters from the Chronicles of Narnia. He is grim, gloomy, and famously … [Read more...]

Filed Under: CS Lewis, dead religion, living under grace, love of God, Narnia Tagged With: , , ,

What Happens to Christians Who Commit Suicide?

July 4, 2011 By 54 Comments
suicide

What do you say to the parents of a Christian teenager who has just killed himself? I faced this situation several years ago and, I have tell you, it’s not easy. Premature death is hard to handle at any time but suicide leaves loved ones bewildered at its senselessness. It seems the subject of suicide is one of those sensitive issues that Christians don’t like to talk about. That’s probably because most of us don’t have anything good to say! Ask a believer, “What happens to Christians who kill themselves?” and you’ll likely get one of the following responses: 1.    They go … [Read more...]

Filed Under: forgiveness, love of God, repentance, suicide Tagged With: , , ,

What Happens to Unfruitful Branches?

June 5, 2011 By 63 Comments
the_gardener

Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). In the hands of a religious person this becomes a conditional statement: You have to keep the commands of Jesus to prove your love. The problem with that, however, is the commands of Jesus are impossible to keep. As we saw in our last post, Jesus said anyone who keeps His commands, “will do what I have been doing and even greater things.” Well Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. Can you? On your own it’s impossible, but that’s okay because you know what? Jesus has a plan. In the very next verse He begins to tell … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible puzzles, living under grace, love of God, supernatural, works of faith Tagged With: , , ,

God Doesn’t Change; We Do

May 20, 2011 By 11 Comments
Mt_Sinai_Torah

In a recent post I argued that God is not a jealous God, even though He said He was. I am either the world’s greatest heretic, or I am confident that I know who my Father is! How can I say God is not jealous when it’s right there in black and white in both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 6? Because I have learned to filter what I read in the Bible through Jesus and His finished work. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). Don’t you know that Jesus loved us and died for us while we were still idol-worshipping sinners (Rms 5:8)? That doesn’t look like jealousy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible study, David, love of God, new covenant Tagged With: , , ,
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