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Are YOU committing idolatry in your walk with Christ?

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©2013 πίστις

Originally appeared on Vine of life News

I do not write this article as an attempt to denigrate those who are Catholic. It is not my intention to insult anyone in any way. I personally know people who are Catholic, and though I do not agree with many things this religion teaches, these folks (the ones I know and others as well) are good people, people who truly know the Lord.

This has in truth been on my heart for a long time now, but I have been ignoring it. Trying to ignore it…but this just will not go away.

I see in so many places statues, statues of Mary the mother of Christ. So what you say. The real problem is what I do not see…Jesus. Let me elaborate a little on this.

First, there should not be any statues at all, we are not to have any graven image, nor any idols. Leviticus 26:1 “Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God”.

Statues are also a prime target of demons, statues, idols etc CAN have power behind them, the power of demons.

Second, these statues are set up to honor Mary, God is to be honored, not Mary…at least not in this way. It is fine to honor Mary as a wonderful woman of God, it is not fine to pay homage to her, worship her, or pray to her. That is God’s province only. Doing these things is actually a doorway for demons to come through and a way to harm your spiritual walk with Christ.   

I have serious problems with this, what really matters however is that God has a problem with this. While honoring Mary is fine, she is not ever to be prayed to, never for any reason. We are told in many verses Who to pray to. Luke 6:12  is Jesus Himself praying to the Father. Philippians 4:6 present your requests to God. 1 John 1:9 “He” is faithful and just to forgive us. Matthew 6:6 Jesus telling us to pray to our Father. Matthew 6:9 Jesus speaking once more, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven”…

Nowhere in the Bible will you find a single word concerning praying to Mary, the ONLY One we are to pray to is God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

This is just plain wrong, this is a prayer addressed to Mary, which many don’t seem to realize is the equivalent of elevating Mary to equal status with God. Mary was the mother of Jesus, she is not God, and is not His equal, nor does she have any power to grant anything to anyone. This is completely unbiblical.

Mary was a woman, a woman highly favored by God, and chosen to bear Jesus in her womb. There is no question that Mary was a great woman, but how does she become elevated to semi-godhood status because of this? Remember, God chose Mary and He could have just as easily chosen someone else. Praying to or worshiping Mary does one thing and one thing only; it dishonors both Mary and God.

God will have no other before Him, nor does He share His glory with any other. Praying to Mary is a huge affront to God. No one that believes in God would pray to the sun in the sky, why would you pray to Mary? Are you trying to incite the wrath of God? I’m not at all trying here to make anyone angry or personally attack anyone…but please show me where in the Word of God it says even one word concerning praying to Mary.

Then there is calling the priest “father”, the Bible and Jesus specifically state not to do that. Matthew 23:9 Jesus speaking; Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. How is this then ok? It is not.

The priest also hears confession, while confession is good for the soul it is not good that the priest hears what is said and then tells the confessor that they are indeed forgiven, or even at times tells the penitent they are not forgiven. The idea is that the priest hears confession of sin, and he judges if the person confessing is sincere or not. Then he assigns what he feels is the proper penance to them, often including some Hail Mary’s. Then the priest grants absolution by the power of the church, which in turn was granted this power by Christ Himself. Except that none of this is true.

No one but God has the power to forgive sin. There are various verses pointed to that make some think others have the power to forgive through God, simply unbiblical. If this is true, then why does the Bible not specifically say this?

Think about this, why would God share the power of forgiveness, His own personal bailiwick? Who was on the cross to pay for those sins? It was Jesus, and Jesus only alone.

After confession as I said the priest assigns a penance. Under whose authority? It certainly isn’t under Christ’s because Christ never commanded such a thing. Read your Bible, it’s not there. We are told in James to confess our sins to one another…that in no way means that anyone you confess to has the power to forgive you, they do not! God put that in His Word for a simple reason…He knew that once we confess what we have done wrong, “get it off your chest”, we will feel better…and we DO feel better. But feeling better has little to do with forgiveness, which comes from God only.

If this is Biblical, then why are these things not required by God Himself? How do you receive forgiveness of sin from God? You ask with a sincere heart, genuinely being sorry for what you have done, and God forgives you. It’s that simple. Is there any form of penance? Yes there is. Lets say you have lied about your friend this is a sin obviously. So you confess this to God and are sorry you did it…God forgives because you asked. Then you go to this friend and confess that you did this, ask forgiveness from him (you are forgiven by God regardless of the persons answer) and do your best to make things right…that is the penance, or what is termed as being repentant of your sin. In other words making a U turn, not continuing in this sin. But no man on earth has the power to assign anything for you to do that is strictly between you and God alone.

In part two we will look at penance among other things.

God’s richest blessings be upon you all
Greg

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The most powerful force on earth: Words

Some people would name a particular weapon (nuclear bombs?) as the most powerful weapon on earth, and to a point that is correct for obvious reasons. Some might even name death as the most powerful force. Death is a powerful force to be sure, but far from the most powerful.

When death claims a person, well there will be no more suffering here on earth anyway. Bombs and guns and other things kill, they cause pain and suffering. Usually one will heal from these things unless the obvious happens and a person is killed. Yes the pain may be substantial, and may even be long lasting.

Be that as it may…all things pale in comparison to the force of words. Think back in your own life for a moment, what are some of your most powerful memories connected to? I am willing to bet words were involved, both good and bad.

If a person was lets say physically abused, well as terrible as that is…the pain goes away and the bruises heal. I do not want to minimize physical abuse, this is very serious and can be deadly.

Still, all things considered, what sticks with you the most are words. Words have tremendous power to hurt, and the hurt can and does often far outlast physical pain. Some of the most painful memories I have revolve around words.

Children especially will remember the negative hurtful words much more than the positive ones that are spoken to them. As a rule we tend to remember the hurtful words more than the positive ones, this is just our human nature. 8-10 positive affirmations are needed to overcome one negative.

The words we speak can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life, especially the negative ones. Many people will tell you about words spoken to them by a parent that stuck with them for life. Because a person chooses to forgive does not mean the pain just disappears.

When speaking to others, emailing, posting on Facebook, and tweeting on Twitter…choose the words you use with care. Even things said innocently may cause pain, be careful what you say. In our discussions with others, especially our Christian brothers and sisters…we need to be mindful of what words we say, or write.

Is this worth saying? Is this worth writing? Might these words hurt even though I don’t mean to? Is this argument worth the pain it might cause? Do I really need to be right? At what cost to my brother or sister?

Understand folks…I am not pointing fingers here. Matter of fact, to be honest I recently offended and hurt a very good friend of mine. I will not name names of course, but I am truly sorry to have done this, it was not intentional. It was this occurrence that prompted the writing of this post.

Just please…be careful in your choice of words. Think on this a moment if you will…wars are started how? Words. Marriages end why? Words. Friendships are destroyed how? Words. Peoples’ reputations are destroyed how? Words.

Pictures are worth a thousand words they say, I say that is not true. Words can completely and totally destroy a person, can even cause a person to commit suicide.

Words can also build a person up and change who they are for the good. Look at how you have changed due to the words of Jesus Christ.

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God????


Christians hold Jesus to be the Christ.

(Photo credit Wikipedia)

 

Who is God and why do I need Him? I’m just fine on my own!

 

I will worry about God later, much later.

I have plenty of time to worry about “getting right with God”.

God?? Who needs that hassle?

I need a life, not a jail cell.

Why would I want to give my life to a God that will not let me have any fun?

 

Have you ever lied, even once? The answer had better have been yes…or you just lied. Ever say anything hurtful to someone? Ever steal anything, no matter the circumstance or how small the item was?

How about adultery? Ever kill someone? Ever have sexual relations outside of marriage? These are all sins.

It only takes one sin to be guilty before God. What happens because of even one sin? The punishment for even just one sin is eternal life without God in hell. There will be no comfort, there will be no parties, and you will not be spending the hours, days, weeks, years…forever with your buds. No you will be spending all your time completely free from that God you had no time for…in a state of perpetual suffering, alone. There will be no enjoyment in hell, and no second chance when you realize you made a mistake…the mistake of not accepting God as your Lord and Savior.

After you die, you will live again. Say what??? Yes you will live again regardless of what you believe. This is all in the Bible; these are not my thoughts but the facts from the Word. The only question is, where are you going to be spending all your time when you are resurrected at the end?

Everyone has sinned no matter who they are. The difference is some have accepted Christ and His incredible offer of forgiveness and some have not. I have sinned, I have also accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior…therefore I will spend eternity in heaven with God Himself. This is in no way because of anything I have done, I am an imperfect sinful man and remember it only takes one sin to be sentenced to death. Accepting Jesus frees me from paying that penalty, Jesus Christ paid it for me.

 

If you do not accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are sentencing yourself to eternity in hell.

 

The awesome thing is…you need only admit your sinfulness to God and ask His forgiveness. Believe in the fact that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and that He was resurrected to life on the third day and is even now alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. Accept Him as Lord and Savior, and you will be forgiven and saved…you will posses eternal life. Eternal life is yours right now, not later, not after you die, right now…as soon as you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Yes you will need to make some changes in your life, but the changes are for your own good anyway. The changes that God desires you to make will actually grant you freedom, not enslave you. I drank to excess, that was not freedom as the world thinks it is, that was a bondage to a horrible life. I do not drink anymore thanks to God, that is freedom! Whatever you struggle with, God can help you too.

Do not wait to accept Christ; you never know when your last day is going to be. Accidents happen, but it will be no accident that you did not choose Jesus, that is a choice and not a good one. You will never ever hear a Believer say that they are sorry they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It is not that life will be perfect and you will not have any problems anymore after accepting Christ. It is this; Jesus will be with you through those problems and trials. You can depend on God to never forsake you; you cannot say that about any human. God will give you strength to carry on; He will love you…after all He gave His only Son up to death so that you and I could have life.

For help in accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior please visit the helpful folks at

http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/


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Whose Truth do You Follow?

Christ and Pilate
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

What is truth? Ever hear of this gem…your truth is not necessarily my truth. I guess that all depends on where you get your Truth from now doesn’t it?

If I expound on what I believe is true, then my statements are open to debate. Truth cannot be based upon what I think, or for that matter what anyone else thinks either.

What I think is my opinion, not fact. Sadly however in today’s society, many people’s basis for truth is what they themselves believe to be true. The modern approach to truth, or the worlds approach to truth is that if you personally believe something to be true, then it is. However, that being said your truth is not necessarily anyone else’s truth. Confused yet?

If I present what is the “real truth”, I’m perceived as being narrow minded; judgemental, intolerant, and even a liar. Contrary to popular opinion, there is only one source for truth. There is only one truth, and that is God.

What is truth anyway and where does it come from? Truth, real truth is based solely on God…always. Jesus said I am the truth, (John 14:6) (John 14:17) and that we would posses the Spirit of truth. God is truth, and all truth comes from Him. Don’t be led astray by today’s world, which is full of foolishness and un-truth. There is an ultimate truth, a single source of truth to live by…the Word of God. As God is truth, so His Word is truth also.

John 8:32 states, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Knowing Jesus as Savior and understanding His teaching, the Truth, will set you free. Free from bondage to sin, free from death everlasting, free from guilt over your sins, free from a meaningless existence.

If you however subscribe to the “world’s truth” you will not be free, you will in fact be enslaved. Worse yet, your enslavement won’t end in this life, but will continue on into eternity. Truth as the world sees it, (see above) is a very clever trap designed by Satan. Worldly truth is appealing because whatever you choose to believe is true, that way whatever your actions are in life, you are justified. Isn’t that great? The problem with this is your conscience knows better…which is why you have the guilt factor in your life. Your conscience was given to you by God, it is His law written on your heart!

Romans 2:15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

The world’s truth also has a one very unpleasant side affect, your death. So we all die so what? Well after death we all will have one of two destinations, heaven or hell. If you are a follower of worldly truth, you will at the judgment be cast into the lake of fire

(Revelation 20:15).The believers of God’s truth will be in heaven.

There is only one truth, the Truth of God. Believe in it and receive life everlasting. Receive forgiveness of sins. Be free from guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1). Be right with the Living God…we all will bow before Him, willingly or unwillingly. I choose willingly because Jesus saved me, because I love Him.

Confess your sins to God acknowledging you are a sinner. Tell God you are sorry for your sins. Ask Jesus to come into your life as Savior and Lord, believing that He died on the cross for your sins, and rose to life and is living even now. You will be forgiven and granted eternal life.

Welcome to the family of God!
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Granting Forgiveness to Others

Rembrandt – “The Return of the Prodigal Son

Forgiveness…this is such an important area in our lives, and in our walk with Christ. As we are forgiven in Christ…so must we forgive those who trespass against us. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. As you can see…forgiveness is rather important to God.

Why else should you forgive someone? After all…they hurt you…it’s their fault not yours, right? Do you have people you have not forgiven? How does this make you feel? The burden of carrying around that unforgivingness has to be pretty heavy. You really don’t have to carry this burden with you anymore. Pray that God would help you to forgive… then lay the burden at Jesus feet…and don’t pick it up again.

Forgiveness is quite often easier said then done. It is well worth the effort however. Think about forgiveness for a minute…who is it really for? Forgiveness is more for you…then for the person you are extending it to. When you forgive someone a wrong…it does not absolve them of what they did wrong…this is a key concept. You are forgiving…not absolving them. This allows you to move on. You don’t have to carry with you the bitterness, anger, and resentment that you feel.

Unresolved issues that are carried with you long term can eat away at you.

This can cause you to be bitter, more prone to anger, untrusting, depressed, and can cause so many problems in relationships. If there are people in need of forgiveness from you…really think about granting it to them. You will feel so much better when you do. Think also about this…Jesus suffered agony beyond imagining…and then willingly died. All so that you may be forgiven your sins. Should you also then forgive others who sin against you? The answer is clear…don’t you think?

For another great perspective on forgiveness, and incidentally the reason I thought of publishing this article I wrote a few years ago…please see my friend Debbie’s post over at Two Minutes of Grace. You can see her post here.

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To Gospel or not to Gospel, part two

If you did not read part one of this two part article, you can find it here,
http://believinggodtoday.com/2012/04/30/to-gospel-or-not-to-gospel/


The teachings of the bible are distorted by so many for personal gain. They are also distorted or just plain not taught at all because these churches are looking to not “offend” anyone. These are people pleasing churches, teachers of what I call the “tickle my ears phony baloney gospel”. This is obviously no gospel at all. What value is there in teaching only what people want to hear? Is the Gospel of Christ about people, or is it about Christ?

The bible is full of teaching, and what is there is there because God wants it there regardless of what man thinks about it. Our opinion of what is in the bible is irrelevant. It is God’s Word, not our word. This would also mean that if it is in the bible, then it follows that we are to teach it!

The Word of God clearly teaches that sex outside of marriage is wrong. The bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is wrong, not that God hates those who are of this persuasion, but that what they are doing is sinful and wrong. The bible teaches that lying and stealing is wrong. These subjects need to be taught in the church! If someone doesn’t want to hear it…that is too bad.

The Word of God also teaches Christ crucified. The Lord of glory, the Creator of the heavens and earth, was crucified and died a gruesome death…to save us. Jesus came here and His own people did not accept Him. Why is this not taught in some churches?

The Word also teaches that if we don’t repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will go to hell for all eternity. Does this fact upset you? Tough!  Why oh why is this not taught in every single church on the face of this planet???? Put it into perspective; the Lord God almighty said that if you commit one sin, you will spend all of eternity in hell, spiritually dead because you will be separated from Him forever. Wow, that sounds nasty, maybe that should not be taught, we wouldn’t want to upset people, really?

This same God who pronounced this awful (and it is awful) judgment…He came down here in the flesh, and took upon Himself this death penalty that we all should receive. God paid our penalty for us. All we have to do…believe in His Son, and do some things He asks us to do.

If we follow Christ we will suffer. Many churches deny the truth of that because of what they teach, or don’t teach. It’s right in the bible, John 15:18-20 says,

18“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.20Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

Let me ask you a question, if God Himself in the form of Jesus came here to this earth and suffered tremendously, why would it be any different with us? The Lord of glory suffered at the hands of men, and we will not in any way? It is ludicrous to think so. The Apostle Paul suffered a lot of hardship; he was shipwrecked, stoned, jailed, flogged, beaten, and ultimately killed, because he followed Christ.

The rewards need to be taught as well as the unpleasant things. We may suffer a little, or a lot. In the end however, we will inherit the Kingdom of God. We will live with God, in perfect bodies, forever. Always in the perfect will of the Father, no more sin, no more anything that is bad or unpleasant.

People today don’t want to hear anything that implies there is a cost to following Jesus. People don’t want to have to think and put effort into anything. They would rather be fed some watered down baloney that slides down the palate with ease. That is not the Gospel of Christ, and worse yet, it does not save! It’s all good when things are easy, when Jesus is cool. As soon as there is a cost involved and the going gets a little tough, people are done, gone.

If you don’t want to hear the truth, then get out of the church. If you can’t handle the truth and what that means as applied to your own life, then you are not one of His anyway. The Gospel should offend us on occasion. We should be worried about what we hear sometimes, that is the true Gospel.

Praise God that He cared enough about you to tell it like it is. He came here and paid for every mistake you and I ever made. He lays it all out in the bible and all of it is not pretty. That’s ok, God says no, because He does not want us to hurt ourselves. Isn’t it better to be told the truth, even if it is not what you want to hear?

Teach the Word of God…all of the Word of God.

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The Beautiful Cross of Christ

Crucifixion of Jesus on a two-beamed cross, from the Sainte Bible (1866)

We have received an amazing gift; words do not begin to describe it, yet I try.

We all sin, we do things wrong. We don’t treat others right, we don’t do things we know that we should. We have anger towards others, and it is not gone in a day. These things and so many more are sins.

You may think that your sins are not as bad as that guy down the street…he is really something. I’ve got news for you, God sees us all the same way. Whatever sins you and I have committed, doesn’t matter. You see, it only takes one sin…just one to incur the penalty for sinning. That penalty is death, not physical death although that will happen…I mean spiritual death, separation from God.

We were (or if you don’t know Christ are) God’s enemies because we sinned. But even though we disobeyed God and were His enemies, He made a way out for us. We sinned; we caused the problem through our own actions. The Lord in His gracious mercy gave us a way out.

Jesus who was God in the flesh, died on the cross, you see that was the solution to the problem WE caused! Think about it…we caused the problem by disobeying God, and He in effect took away our death sentence by dying for us…that should have been you and me on that cross.

Jesus Christ, a sinless, perfect, beautiful, loving, caring, human being…who was also God. This God/man…chose not to avail Himself of His vast power as God. Instead He came here and lived life as a man, a very special man, but a man nonetheless.

Christ chose to suffer the same things that we do in life, He did not have to. He chose to suffer through the pain on the cross, He didn’t have to.

He chose to die, no one could have killed Him…He was and is God.

Crucifixion is one of the most, if not THE most painful, horrible ways there is to die. The scourging done before hand often left a person half dead already. Scourging was a severe beating with strips of leather attached to a pole of some kind, the leather strips also had items in them that ripped into the skin and muscle and did horrific damage.

Jesus, in love, suffered this for me, and for you…that we may have life, because He suffered and died. Yes Christ rose from the dead never to die again…but let us not ever forget that He did die, He did suffer actual separation from the Father. Jesus also had to take all the sins of the world upon Himself, and suffer for them.

What A God, what a love for us!
Who are we that we are to be loved so deeply?
Who are we that God Himself steps down from heaven, and pays for all our sins?

We are God’s children…that’s who we are.

The following is a beautiful song by Jonny Diaz called, Beauty of the Cross




At the cross I find the beauty
Of Your matchless grace
At the cross I see a King
Who died to take my place

It’s the moment that
You made me clean
And pardoned my soul

Amazing grace that I would be allowed
Unto Your throne
Not by my own will
But solely by Your will alone

I’m unworthy of this love
You have shown to me
I see my desperate need

The beauty of the cross is that
There’s One who has redeemed my soul
Beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
Beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am

Not by my own works
That I may boast or I may come
But simply through Your son
The sinless and exalted one

Only through the cross that
I’m made clean to draw near to
You Draw near to You, draw near to You

Saved so that
You would receive
All glory due Your name
Everlasting God from age to age
You never change

A true love story
Remains for all eternity
That all the world would see

The beauty of the cross is that
There’s One who has redeemed my soul
Beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
Beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am

My sinful soul could only be
Redeemed by the blood of a sinless King
So you came to the world that You had made
Conquered sin on the cross and You rose from the grave

The beauty of the cross is that
There’s One who has redeemed my soul
Beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
Beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am

The beauty of the cross is that
There’s One who has redeemed my soul
Beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
Beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am

Yeah, just as I am

That’s the beauty of the cross

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How can God Forgive Me?

Have you ever thought to yourself, “how can God forgive me after what I have done”? Or maybe you asked yourself that question along with this one, “how can God love me after the things I have done?”

I have a couple answers for you, actually several answers.

Matthew 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. As you can see here in this scripture, all sins will be forgiven, so no matter what you have done, if you ask with a sincere heart, you will be forgiven. As for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, if you are worried about it, then most likely you have not committed it, and if you are a believer…you cannot commit this sin.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Note the wording of this verse; it does not say for God so loved only the people who committed “these” sins…it says that whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life! “Whoever”, is you! There are no hidden stipulations here, if you believe in Jesus and His work on the cross as being sufficient to forgive your sins…you are forgiven and you receive the free gift of salvation as well.

Roman’s 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were for all intents and purposes God’s enemy! Keep in mind here that God’s enemies will at the end of all things wind up in hell. However, God is not willing that any would perish.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Since God has this great love for us, all of us, He made a way out of our sins for us. Confess your sins to God; accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and you will be forgiven…not just the believer who sins, but also the person who has never asked forgiveness, regardless of what they have done. Yes even that person, who is God’s enemy, will be forgiven!

Still you think to yourself, “what I have done is unforgivable”, well let us look at an example of some one who really offended God. This man did so many things over many years to anger and offend God; it is in a way amazing that God did give him another chance. Then again, remember who we are talking about here, a God that is willing to forgive all sins, so He says in His Word. I am talking about King Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-17).

King Manasseh was a very bad man. He erected alters to Baal, he made Asherah poles. Asherah was the name of the wife of the chief Canaanite god El, and the poles were set up in her honor. King Manasseh also built alters to all the starry hosts, right in the Lord’s temples. King Manasseh sacrificed his own children to these pagan gods. He also practiced sorcery, divination, witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and spiritists. All these things are of course forbidden by God to do. King Manasseh was then a very bad man, a man who spit in the face of God and did unbelievably evil things.

King Manasseh was punished, and when he called out to God, God listened. God did more then listen though…He forgave King Manasseh his sins and even restored his kingdom to him! After all this man had done against God, God forgave him and set him back on the throne of Judah.

Regardless of what you have done, go to God and truly, from your heart ask forgiveness. God will hear you and forgive you your sins. God loves you and wants to forgive you, but you need to go to Him and ask for forgiveness. Do it today, right now.

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A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, As I start my day help me to commit myself to You. Lord help me each day to commit my body, my mind, and my spirit to You. To your service and your glory, I am dedicated.

As I go through the day, Lord let me be mindful of your will. May my actions, my attitude, and my choices be a reflection of who I am in Christ.

Father grant me wisdom to make wise choices each day. May my choices glorify You Lord.

Father grant me grace; grace to forgive, grace to endure hardship, grace to grant grace to others deserving or not.

Father forgive me my iniquities, and enable me to grant forgiveness to all others at all times.

Lord I pray as I go through each day, that I would see opportunities to bless others. May I put others first before me.

Father in heaven, teach me to be obedient to You. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may in your strength do all things needful today.

Thank you Father for your provision of grace to me.

Thank you Father for the victory I have over sin and the flesh through your Son Jesus.

Thank you Father for your mercy.

Thank you Father for salvation, a free gift You have given to me.

Thank you Father for loving me.

In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

gth                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1/28/12

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God’s Love For Us

God’s Love For Us

We were created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Do you notice in this verse that it says not once but twice that we were created in His image? God created everything…and in all of creation nothing else was created in God’s image. Man was even allowed to name the creatures God created! (Genesis 2:19-20) God gave us dominion over all things, all creatures great and small…even all the Earth itself. (Genesis 1:26)

We are special to our Heavenly Father. Just think about all the things that God created. We have all seen pictures of indescribable beauty…a beautiful sunset over the ocean, or a majestic mountain wearing a white cap of snow. A stunningly colorful coral reef or a field of colorful flowers and grasses with a backdrop of trees. How about some of the views we see courtesy of astronomers? God created all these things, yet values us far and above all of them. Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Even the angels are not above us, for we will judge the angels! 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

Not only did God create us in His image and give us dominion over the world…He died for us. What parent no matter how much they love their child…can compare to how much God loves us? When Jesus died upon that tree, He did so willingly. That is key here, no one made Him do it…not even the Father. Jesus chose to give up His life for us. John 10:18 makes this clear…No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

God cannot lie, and must be true to Himself at all times, or He would not be God. God set the rules in the OT and enforced them. There were penalties to be paid for wrong doing. God stated very clearly that no sin would go unpunished. (Exodus 34:7) The penalty for sin is of course death. (Romans 6:23) Since we all sin, we would all die and then suffer the second death…permanent separation from God. So what was God to do about this? The Father sent the Son…Jesus Christ. Christ was the only one good enough to pay our debt of sin. He came here and lived a perfect life, free of all sin as a man, and at the same time He was God. Then Jesus gave His life as a ransom for us. The price for our sins was paid in full by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God…His own Son Jesus.

Do not doubt that God loves you, even if you don’t feel He is near at times. God answers prayer, but it is not always the answer we want. He does what is best for us. God does care, and He does love you. God the very creator of all things died for you, for me. Jesus values us so much He was willing to experience great pain and suffering, that we may be forgiven and have eternal life with Him.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

gth                                                                                                                                              6/15/11
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