What a great illustration today by our pastor! Would you choose a soup from a gourmet chef or one full of bugs that has been sitting in the yard for two days? Well that’s a no-brainer, huh? Except, isn’t that what the Lord has done for each of us, by setting before us life and death, blessings and curses, and asking us to choose life, so that we may live?!
There are some things that are true. God loves us and has provided salvation through his son Jesus Christ. There are some things that are equally true. Alcohol and drugs can be killers. Why choose death when life is offered?
One who struggled in his own battles of self-control, Peter, said, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” He further said that we have his “very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Or how about Paul’s statement, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” So we are equipped to overcome any obstacle. If God is for us, who could be against us? So why do we struggle so? Why do we have self-worth issues if we really, truly believe that we are created in the image of God? How could we have self-worth issues if we believe and understand that Christ was willing to die so that he could spend the rest of eternity with us?
Scripture tells us that we need 1) to be in a right relationship with God, 2) to be in right relationships with others, 3) we need to have right thinking, which means to think, believe, and live the truth, 4) we need to lean on the Holy Spirit to do that which we cannot do by ourselves, and 5) we need to persevere through time. We are told it will be worth it. Paul said that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.”
As a counselor, I have watched in sorrow as many have chosen the way of death instead of the way of life.
Why eat two day old soup when you can “taste and see that the Lord is good”?
Gil Martin
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I felt a need to pray for God's people...
ReplyDeleteFather I thank You that You love us and care for us. I thank You that You give Your children good gifts but oh Father we in our selfish ways reject the Blessings You have for us. Lord I stand in the gap and confess our sins against You. We have harbored resentment, anger,bitterness, jealousy and done all these things which are an abomination to you. Father gossip is part of our everyday life and we have become immune to it. Oh Precious Jesus would you find it in Your Heart to forgive us and not hand us over to the enemy. Father have mercy on us so that we may walk in victory. Baptize us with Godly sorrow Lord. We desire to walk in Your ways. We love You Lord. This I ask in Jesus Name. Amen