“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

-Ephesians 1:5

The sovereignty of God in predestination is really one of the most debated issues among Christians today. On one hand you have those who believe humankind is a slave to the will of God and that each of us essentially are without any choice in the matter of our personal salvation, while on the other hand there are those who would rather not give any consideration whatsoever to what the Bible has to say about individual election. The most common response is to label oneself a Calvinist or Arminian, find a local church with the same message, and do your best to avoid confrontation with those who hold to a different interpretation of Scripture. Sounds a little like politics, doesn’t it?

The most prevalent argument I’ve heard against predestination as a whole is that it’s incredibly unjust on God’s part. And certainly it would be, if the mind of God was as limited as human intelligence. If without any knowledge of the future the Lord sat in heaven and randomly chose names out of a hat, awarding those lucky few the assurance of eternal life in heaven while damning all others to an eternity of torment in hell without any hope of redemption, predestination would indeed be the epitome of prejudice and injustice. But this is not the case. God is altogether beyond time (Ps. 90:2) and His wisdom and knowledge are infinite in nature.

I say this to point out that, even before the foundation of the world, Jesus Christ was fully aware of the impending fall of man. In eternity past His plan of salvation was already in place, insomuch that He was even then aware of what your personal response to the Gospel would be. He knows where you will spend eternity and how many others will follow you there. Nothing escapes our Lord’s awareness, and to portray Him as a nervous onlooker wondering whether or not we’ll “receive Him into our hearts” is to essentially attack His sovereignty.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

-Revelation 22:17

But to say none of us have any say in the matter of our salvation is equally as dangerous. If one’s eternity is entirely beyond his control, then why should we invest in outreach ministries or world evangelism? If a choice made by God long before I even existed is the only determining factor of my future, then shouldn’t I enjoy every sinful pleasure this world would offer me and trust that, if I’m lucky enough to be one of God’s chosen, He’ll figure out a way to save me moments before I die? Not only does this view undermine the holiness of God, but it often undermines the individual Christian’s commitment to holiness.

So then what are we supposed to believe? I’m not saying we should find a comfortable middle ground and compromise any facet of the truth, but my own prayer and Bible study has led me to believe there are certain spiritual truths which even the wisest of Christians can never fully comprehend. Knowing from Scripture I have a personal decision to make that will ultimately determine my eternal home, while also understanding that there is a God “Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11) seems like a contradiction, but it certainly wouldn’t stand alone as the only paradox in God’s Word. For instance:

• We’re exalted through humility (Jas. 4:10).
• Strength is found in weakness (2 Cor. 12:10).
• Through death to sin we find true life in Christ (1 Pet. 2:24).
• We’re to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15).

Certain things are simply beyond our full understanding and best serve as gentle reminders of God’s omniscience. Predestination and free will were not revealed to us for the purpose of creating church splits and relational discord; they are there to point to our Creator’s infinite wisdom and understanding. Let’s not allow Satan to turn them into stumblingblocks.

 

“And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

               -Luke 17:6

For many months now I’ve been struggling with the modern definition of  mustard seed-like faith. Most of the time verses like this are interpreted to mean that just a little faith in God is sufficient, but the fact is that we find just as many Scriptures in which Christ actually rebuked His followers for having only a little faith in Him (examples).

After thinking about this extensively, though, I think I’ve finally come to understand what our Lord truly meant when He said to have faith “as a grain of mustard seed.” The answer, as always, can be found in Scripture:

“The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

               -Matthew 13:31-32

Notice that in these verses the mustard seed is not only characterized by its size, but by its eventual growth into something large. It may start out small, but it certainly doesn’t stay that way and soon becomes something quite noticeable to all who pass by.

In the same way, our faith in God often starts out small. It might be just enough to bring you to an altar of repentance, but that’s okay. The moment that seed of faith is planted within you, if watered properly, should begin to grow and flourish in such a way that it soon breaks through the surface and makes itself known to the world (II Thessalonians 1:3).

The problem too many of us face, however, is that our faith never breaks through the hard and rocky soil of our pride. Far from being a tree which gives shelter to others when their own is lacking, we hide it away in the dark corners of our life and foolishly expect it to grow when it can barely even live. This certainly isn’t having faith like a mustard seed, and I suspect that most of us would greatly benefit from having our faith watered a bit. But just remember that a seed needs more than water to grow; it needs light, too.

 

 

“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all.”

               -John 18:38

We live in a society that constantly attempts to minimize the value of absolute truth. Everything is tolerated except intolerance, and anybody so bold as to think what they’ve found is exclusively right must be wrong altogether. Of course you can believe in God if you’d like, but you’ll still be required to “respect” the beliefs of anybody who doesn’t – even if those beliefs blatantly disrespect your Creator.

By definition, however, the truth can have only one form and is not at all manipulatable. If you bend it, break it, or twist it, you have thus departed from the very essence of what truth is: that which pertains to the way things are. If Jesus is in fact the Son of God, then why should we apologize for believing in Him or feel obligated to respect false beliefs which deny His deity?

“Sanctify them through Thy truth: thy Word is truth.”

              -John 17:17

The truth of God’s Word is universal and not at all dependent upon circumstance. No philosopher, textbook or science teacher has ever been able to prove otherwise. It shouldn’t surprise us, though, to know that a God Who literally is the truth (John. 14:6) would ensure that what He tells us is also absolute.

 

 

By the way, for those of you who are enjoying summer break a little too much, here’s an equation for you to work on over the next  few days:

Absolute Truth + X = Absolutely Anything

I’ll reveal the answer in my next post, so stay tuned. ;) 

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

                                                        -Matthew 28:19

Water baptism can be described as an outward declaration of an inward transformation. It represents not only the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3, 4), but the fact that we have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts and now walk in newness of life with our Lord (Galatians 2:20). While the Scriptures clearly emphasize the importance of every Christian being baptized in water, many have been falsely taught that, if you haven’t been baptized yet, you are not truly saved at all. This is an attack against the very core of the Gospel (i.e. salvation by grace through faith), which I’d like to address in this post by examining the essence of what the Gospel truly is. After all, as Paul wrote, “…it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1:16)

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul defined the Gospel as the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (v. 1-4). 1 Corinthians 1:17  makes it even clearer that, though it’s certainly important, baptism and the Gospel are two different things and should not be confused. If it is true that salvation is impossible apart from baptism, then it must also be true that the Gospel is not enough to save you and that the shed blood of Christ does not hold full redeeming power. Think about that. By suggesting that only those who have been baptized are saved, you are doing more than just saying faith is not enough; you are saying that what Christ did on the cross is not enough and that we must perfect our own redemption! Isn’t the fact that we can’t do that the whole reason Jesus died on the cross?

Nevertheless, I believe it’s important for us to remember that there is a very good reason for all those other verses that seem to tie salvation and water baptism together: they should always accompany each another! Asking whether you can be a Christian without being baptized is like asking whether or not you can live for Christ and disregard the beatitudes or the 10 Commandments. To neglect baptism is to neglect the commandment of the Lord and, when you neglect the Word of God, there will always be serious consequences. You might be forgiven of your sins at an altar of repentance, but rest assured that you are placing yourself right back under the wrath of God by disobeying the Lord - especially when you do so after being shown the truth (Hebrews 10:26, 28-29). The point of my writing this is not at all to diminish the importance of being baptized, but to show that faith, not baptism, is what saves a person from sin and an eternity in hell (see here for an explanation of saving faith). You should be baptized as soon as possible after receiving salvation, but you can be sure that, if you die on your way to the church, you will still go to heaven, as will your friend who was reconciled to God while lying on his or her deathbed. It’s not about what we can do, but about what He has already done for us!

 

 

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

                  -Romans 5:10

If you’ve been in more than a few church services and listened to more than a couple Christian songs throughout the course of your life, then you’ve probably heard it said that Jesus Christ is a “friend of sinners.” This is a very common misconception that has its root in Matthew 11:19 where the Lord quoted His enemies who, in an attempt to discredit Him before the people, proclaimed, “Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.”  Yet if this verse indicates that Christ is indeed a friend of sinners, then it would also indicate that He is a gluttonous winebibber and thus in violation of Old Testament teaching (Proverbs 23:21).

“Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” 

                                                        -John 15:14

Not only did Christ intentionally cast a negative light on the insults He received by the modern-day religious leaders, but completely contradicted their claim by describing His true friends as those Who keep His commandments. Since 1 John 3:4 defines sin as the breaking of God’s law and a sinner is one who does this habitually (3 John 1:11), it is utterly impossible for a nonbeliever to be meet God’s requirement for friendship. Just like the great patriarch Abraham, being called God’s friend requires us first to be justified and cleansed of the sin which serves as a divider between us and the Most High (James 2:23; Isaiah 59:2). It is only then that we can be saved from eternal destruction and enjoy personal and intimate fellowship with the Lord Himself (Revelation 3:20, 21).

Despite the sobering truth that all sinners are under the wrath of God (Ephesians 2:3), our Lord is One Who practices His Own teaching. That is, just as He instructed us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), He also loves His, and desires above all that we be reconciled by the blood of His Son (Colossians 1:21; II Peter 3:9). Unfortunately, this does not always happen and many choose instead to always pursue a life of sin and rebellion without ever acknowledging the grace and forgiveness of God. Don’t let yourself be numbered among those who rejected the offer of God’s salvation; those who stand against the Lord will never prosper (2 Chronicles 13:12; Proverbs 28:13).

 

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless…”

                   -John 14:16-18

The Holy Ghost is mentioned throughout the entirety of God’s Word. From the creation of the world in Genesis (1:2), to the closing verses of Revelation (22:17), It has always been active among God’s people. Yet in spite of this, we find that the Spirit’s dealing with mankind was significantly hindered during Old Testament times due to the sinful condition of humanity and need for redemption. You’ll often find instances where the Holy Ghost rested upon an individual (Num. 11:25; I Samuel 10:6), and perhaps even filled them (Luke 1:67), yet the Lord clearly differentiated between the Spirit’s work then and now by saying, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” (John 14:16) You see, the difference in New Testament times does not lie in Who is dealing with us; the difference is that the New Testament saint can now be filled with the Holy Ghost continually.

This promise of Christ to His disciples (and to us) was fulfilled not long after The Ascension on a day we now call The Day of Pentecost. Scripture says in Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This “initial evidence”, as it’s come to be known, of being filled with the Holy Ghost is found elsewhere in the New Testament where the recipients of this great Gift from God spoke in other tongues as the Spirit Itself gave them utterance (Acts 19:6).

But just as being saved consists of more than going to church and praying, being baptized in the Holy Ghost is much more than the outward manifestation of speaking in other tongues. The Holy Ghost also comforts (John 14:16), strengthens (Romans 8:26), keeps us from sin (Galatians 5:16), reveals God’s will (Revelation 3:6), and many other things too numerous to mention. Each of these benefits should be more than enough reason for each Christian to diligently seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost (study Acts 19:2).

Though many would say that the Holy Ghost only manifested Itself so mightily during the first century, Peter emphasized the lasting nature of this offer from God (Acts 2:39). Any saved, sanctified Christian is eligible to partake in this wonderful experience, and can seek it in faith knowing that “…every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:8)

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

                           -John 3:3

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

                             -John 3:5-7

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

                            -Matthew 7:13-14

Many months ago, I listened to a radio sermon by Pastor Alistair Begg. During his message he shared the story of a critic asking him if he thought Christianity was the only way to heaven, alluding to the millions who have not so much as heard of Christ, let alone had the opportunity to accept Him. He was live on the air at the time, so he knew it was especially important that he didn’t mess this one up. He certainly didn’t, and his response to this man has stuck in my mind all these months. He said, “I have no choice but to affirm that Christ is the only Saviour, because He is the only One qualified to save.”

Though there are many religions in the world today, there is only one Savior. I say this, not because I’m narrow-minded or judgmental, but because it is impossible for there to be more than one Savior. After all, the redemption of mankind required the sacrifice of One that was completely innocent of sin: a requirement that only Christ Himself could fulfill. All humans have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); if we died on a cross, we’d simply be getting what we deserved.

The Way to heaven is clearly marked, but scarcely traveled. It’s a narrow, often difficult, road to walk that has many hills and valleys, but no turns; it is straight, and will remain straight. The pavement might have a few cracks in it, but don’t worry. It turns to gold toward the end.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

                           -I Peter 3:15

Yesterday I talked a little bit about the importance of becoming grounded in what we believe. Today, however, I want to take things a step further and show you the importance of being able to defend your beliefs through Scripture to both sinners and Christians alike. In other words, though it is important to be grounded in our beliefs, we must make sure we are being grounded on the right foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

As we read in today’s Scripture, being able to defend what one believes is a vital part of each Christian’s faith. If we respond with “Ask my pastor.” whenever we are questioned about our faith or our convictions (I’ve been given that answer before), we are going to come across as nothing less than a narrow-minded, judgmental legalist who thinks that whatever he/she says goes. After all, would you give up driving your car just because an environmentalist said you should? In the same way, no sinner is going to forsake his sinful lifestyle without first being shown a good reason to.

Martin Luther once said, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” The fact is, you won’t have any luck convincing somebody of your convictions if they have no real Scriptural basis. In fact, if you are only holding onto those standards because your pastor said they were right, chances are you’ll leave them behind yourself as soon as the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence. I’ve seen this happen myself to many people who, though their convictions were not without Biblical foundation, eventually forsook them because they had never been shown the verses they were supposed to be living by. If you are absolutely sure that what you believe is true, then it’s more than worth the time necessary to look up a verse or two on the subject.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

                          -Galatians 1:8

A few days ago I asked you guys to briefly define Christianity in your own words. I had five great responses, with each one touching on a different aspect of our faith. But the truth is, as one follower stated, “…Christianity is a small term that defines a big thing.” In light of this, I think it would be very difficult (if not impossible!) to condense the Christian faith  into one comment or blog post. But as difficult as it’s going to be, I’m going to try it anyway!

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

          -1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

First of all, Christianity is putting into action your belief in these truths. After all, faith without works is dead (James 2:17), and so “believing” it without putting it into action is worthless. A true belief that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” will do more than just permeate our mind; it will affect the very way we live our life. To take it a step further, if we truly believe that Christ indeed rose from the dead, why do we so often live as if He is still dead? As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and God doesn’t care about what we profess with our mouth nearly as much as He cares about what we are professing with our our actions.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

                                                            -Luke 13:3

Secondly,  Christianity is much more than just a decision. Modern-day ministers often urge their congregations to “make a decision for Christ” without ever mentioning the need for repentance or Godly sorrow (II Cor. 7:10). They might speak of “being saved”, yet people leave without an understanding of what they even need to be saved from (i. e. sin and its consequences) . This type of “Christianity” might draw a larger crowd and appear to bring about more conversions, but it is without Biblical foundation and thus is not Christianity at all.

Finally, Christianity is (or at least should be) a lens through which we look at life. Those who have received salvation through the blood of Christ shouldn’t confine their faith to the four walls of their church, but instead allow it to shape every part of their new life. It should alter the way we view issues such as abortion and homosexuality, and even who we vote for in political elections. Not only that, but we should allow it to determine where we work, who we hang out with, and the amount of time and money we spend on nonessential things. You see, Christianity is more than simply a religion or a political standpoint; it is a way of life that we should be living out from day to day.

I know this is a somewhat of a broad definition, but I did my best to cover it as well as possible in a single post. Thank you guys for your input, as it helped me tremendously in putting this together. I hope that we all gained a deeper understanding of what Christianity is all about, and the weight of our words when we claim the name of a Christian. 

Usually, when you come to my blog you can expect to find an encouraging, and hopefully edifying, devotional that challenges you to move deeper in your spiritual walk and draw closer to God. But today I want to do something just a little bit different and, instead of me writing to you, I want your input on a very important question: What is Christianity?

The majority of us already know what we believe and how to defend it, what it means to be saved, and can explain to an unbeliever how they too can experience God’s grace. But for some reason the above question, as simple as it may be, can be a very tricky one to answer. That’s why I want your opinions!

Anyway, if you’re reading this post, please leave me a comment less than 100 words in length and explain your definition of Christianity (or reply to me by email if you’re reading this from your inbox). I too will be meditating on this question over the next day or so, and will use your comments as a resource for a post I’m planning on this topic.

Again, please don’t click away from this page without commenting! Your post could be just what it takes to spark an enlightening discussion.

According to Scripture, there is a time for everything. There is “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;” (Ecclesiastes 3:2-3).

Likewise, I believe there is a time to share with you messages that give us a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, and a time to share messages that have the potential to ruffle a few feathers. Today somebody shared these videos with me, and I felt compelled to share them with you as well, even though some of you may not agree with me. Even if you can already tell where this post is headed, I’m asking that you please take the time to watch the below videos – even if you’ve already made up your mind to disagree. If you don’t watch each one, you’re going to miss it. They were a huge eye-opener for me, and I hope they are for you as well.

 

“Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

                          -John 6:60-62 & 67-68

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."

                            -Exodus 12:13 

Because Pharaoh had refused to let the Israelites go free after 9 plagues, God had to use extreme measures and take the lives of all the first-born. It didn't matter if it was Pharaoh's son, or the first-born of a prisoner in the dungeon; they all had to die (v. 29). However, God made a provision for the Israelites to be saved: through the blood of a spotless lamb. Each family was required to take a lamb, slay it, and then use its blood to mark their door post. When God saw that the blood was applied to that families home, he would not allow the death angel to enter into it and they would be saved (v. 23).

Just like the Egyptians failed to heed God's command, mankind has rejected the Word of God and instead has followed after a sinful lifestyle. As a result, "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." (Romans 1:18) But because He is longsuffering toward us and desires that all might be saved (II Peter 3:9), God has provided a way for us to escape the coming "day of wrath" (Romans 2:5), in which judgment will be poured out upon mankind: through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His blood, we can have forgiveness of sins, and when God sees that blood applied to our hearts, He will know that we are forgiven. Instead of being objects of His wrath, we can now be the objects of His grace and mercy. Not because of our good works; but because of the blood.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh, precious is that flow,
That makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know, 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.*

*Nothing But the Blood - Rev. Robert Lowery

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."

                            -Psalm 139:7-8 

Just like His omniscience, God's omnipresence is something that can cause either fear or peace depending on who you are. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they tried to hide from His presence, not realizing that doing so is as impossible as a fish hiding from water. The presence of the Lord cannot be hid from or avoided; He is everywhere.

No matter where we are or what we go through in life, God is there. Just like the sun is always shining, even when we can't see it, God is always there, even when we can't feel Him. I think the song by Third Day says it best:

Like the rain that falls to the earth below
Watering the seed to grow
So it is with Your precious word, O Lord
It won't return until I know that


You're everywhere
You're everywhere


Like the wind that blows no one really knows
From where it comes or where it goes
So it is with your Holy Spirit, Lord
Falling down on us to show that


(You're everywhere) Like the rain that's falling
(You're everywhere) Like the wind that's blowing
(You're everywhere) Like the sun upon my face
I feel the warmth in Your embrace
You are everywhere


My Lord, now I truly know
That I could never go from Your presence
My God, You are everywhere
From the lowest depths to the heavens
You're always there*

*You're Everywhere - Third Day
  Copyright 2000 New Spring Publishing, Inc.

"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

                            Genesis 18:14 

In view of our own weaknesses and shortcomings, it is somewhat difficult to imagine a God Who's power is limitless. Even in the current age of mind-boggling technological advancements, we still have to flip a switch in order to turn on the light, turn on the faucet to fill a glass full of water, and tend a garden to make plants grow. God, on the other hand, simply spoke the words and created light. His very command was enough to make the seas, the forests and plants, not to mention all the other objects of creation. As humans, we feel as if we have accomplished something great if we can get our dog to listen to what we say, let alone creation itself!

"Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them."

                            -Luke 4:40

The healings that Jesus performed while on this earth are one of the greatest Biblical examples of His omnipotence that we have. Not once will we find a verse that says a certain person's illness was too severe to be healed, or that Christ was unable to meet that individual's physical need. He healed "all manner of sickness" (Matthew 4:23).

I've often wondered how Luke, who was a physician, must have felt after talking with those who had been healed by the hand of Jesus. Perhaps some of these same people had visited his own office at one time seeking medical treatment, only to be told there was none available. Could it be that Luke was at Lazarus' bedside when he died, using his years of accumulated knowledge in an attempt to save his life, only to see his best efforts fail? And then four days later, a man named Jesus comes by and reverses death itself! What a humbling experience to know that what was too difficult for him, Christ was able to do effortlessly!


Like Luke, we are anything but omnipotent. But how wonderful it is to know that, though we may be incapable of doing a lot of things, our heavenly Father possesses power beyond our wildest imagination! Nothing is too hard for Him.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

                            -Hebrews 13:8 

Few of God's attributes are of more comfort to us than His immutability. He has never, and will never, change. This means that the same promises He made thousands of years ago are just as applicable to us today as they were the day they were spoken. We have no reason to worry that He may "change His mind", because God's mind is not subject to change concerning those things.

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

                            -Malachi 3:6

Times may change, people may change, but our God will never change. If He was faithful yesterday, He will be faithful today; and if He is faithful today, He will also be faithful tomorrow. Unlike many of us, His faithfulness is not affected by varying circumstances. If it's written in the Bible, we can stand on it though all hell assail us.

For all eternity past, God has remained the same. Why would we expect Him to change now?

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

                            -Numbers 23:19

"I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."

                            -Job 42:2 

For many people, the omniscience of God is a scary thing. They tremble at the idea of their every thought being known to their Creator because, in most cases, those thoughts are wicked and immoral. Instead of finding their delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2), they are like those in the day of Noah who thought upon only evil things continually (Genesis 6:5). Those people have every reason to be afraid, for one day they will give an account to God for their actions as well as their thoughts. And while God's omniscience may cause the unsaved to be fearful, the Christian can take comfort in knowing his/her God knows all things.

"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

                            -Matthew 6:8 

The Lord knows all of our needs even before we ask Him to meet them. Because of this, He is able to answer our prayers before we even speak (Isaiah 65:24)! Not only that, but He knows all of our secret fears and weaknesses, and thus can strengthen us in those areas before we even realize we are in need of help. Truly, the omniscience of our heavenly Father is a consolation, not something to be afraid of.

Though God's immeasurable knowledge ought to motivate each of us to purify our hearts (not just our conduct), it should also give us an increased sense of joy and peace to know that there is no problem He cannot solve, no answer He cannot supply, and no hurt He cannot understand. Nothing is too hard for Him and, when the storms of life come our way, we can take comfort in the fact that, though we may not understand it all, He does.

"His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God."

                            -John 16:29-30 

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True..."

                            -Revelation 19:11

My Bible reading this week has found me in Genesis 37-50: the story of Joseph. Ironically, my post on God's faithfulness falls right in the middle of my study of a man who experienced this faithfulness like few others ever have.

At age 17 it looked as if all was going well.  He was frequently receiving visions from God, and his father loved him more than any of his brothers. Obviously this made Jacob's other sons very jealous, and in turn they sold him to a band of Ishmaelites who then proceeded to sell him to the Egyptians. One minute all is going well, the next he is being sold from person to person like a piece of merchandise.

Once established in Egypt,  he once again had a very good and prosperous life. But this also was short-lived and he was thrown in jail due to the lies of a deceitful woman. Yet even through this, "the LORD was with Joseph" (Gen. 39:21), and "that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper", despite his uncertain future and circumstances (Gen. 39:23)(see also Psalm 1:3). After a time in prison, the Lord delivered him and made him one of the most powerful officials in all the land of Egypt, and eventually reunited him and his family.

My point behind all of this is that Joseph experienced his fair share of hardships. He knew what it was like to stand on a mountaintop, but he also knew what it was like to look up at one from the lowest of valleys. Yet through all of these things, the Lord never left his side. In fact,  chapter 39 says four times that God was with him. When he was loved and when he was hated, he was never abandoned by his heavenly Father.

God will never leave us and He will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When the sun is shining, but also when the rain is pouring, He is there. We may not always feel Him, but we can always trust Him.

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

                        -I John 4:8 

Because many people misinterpret this verse and forget that our God is also a God of justice, I have devoted a number of posts to clarifying that misconception. However, it is just as dangerous to pay so much attention to His justice that we forget about His love. There must be a balance between the two, and so that is why today I want us to carefully consider the love of God and what it means to be the objects of that love.

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

                            -Jeremiah 31:3

The love of God is no ordinary love. It is an extraordinary love that cannot be dispelled by death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, or any other creature (see Romans 8:38-39). It is an "everlasting love" that moved the Father to send "His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) It is a love that cannot be explained, described, or even understood; for those who have been made to receive it have done nothing at all that would make them worthy of such a great and invaluable treasure.

It is evident from such verses as II Peter 3:9 that God loves all humanity and has a desire for each of us to receive salvation through His Son. But there is a special love, known only to believers, that we are instructed to walk in (Jude 21). This love is not based on good works, but upon the fact that we have been adopted into the family of God as His sons and daughters (Romans 8:15). Just as an earthly father has a unique love toward his children and is always seeking their well-being, our Father in heaven watches over us and makes certain that all things work out for our benefit (Romans 8:28).

No doubt, if it were not for His love, God would be neither merciful, gracious, or compassionate. In light of this truth, love is surely one of the most important attributes of God.