The Impotence of God

Many who do not know the Lord, will say that God is impotent and that there is no help in Him; that He causes bad things to happen to us and our loved ones, without compassion or concern over the devastation caused by these trials and afflictions (Psalm 3:2).

God created Paradise and wanted us to live there. He only gave Adam and Eve one directive or restriction. They chose to listen to Satan and we all now bear the curse from their choice.

Satan takes pleasure in ensnaring the lives of every human ever born on earth. He offers them delights of the flesh; and makes sure they reap its destruction (Romans 1: 32, 6:23; Proverbs 11:19).

The devil plants his lies in our mind, and encourages us to falsely accuse God, to turn His glory into shame, to turn away from Him and to seek the false gods of pleasure, money, fame, success and power instead (Psalm 4:2).

God knew this would happen and provided the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. He became a man, Emmanuel, and paid our sin debt for us. Yet, many still refuse to put their trust in Him and they continue to reap sin's curse (John 3:18).

Authentic Believers realize that there is no reason to fear anything in life (Psalm 3:6). If we are walking in His Spirit, nothing will ever happen to us, which is not already part of His plan for us.

Evil, hardship and loss come from the god of this world, the devil. God will save anyone who surrenders their life to Him. When we are surrounded by evil all around us, with no way of escape, God is right there waiting for us (Psalm 3:6).

We can enjoy a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We know without a doubt that God's shield protects us. When we are drowning in life's circumstances, He lifts our head high above the waves of adversity (Psalm 3:3).

Prayer:

Father God, You call us to live a holy life and to trust in You. When people around us scoff at us for trusting in You, let us stand strong in our faith in Your faithfulness. Let them see Your goodness in Your provision and care for us.

Let Your light shine on us and let everything prosper, which we do according to Your will. Fill our hearts with Your peace and joy and allow us to enjoy deep and restful sleep. Keep us safe for the glory of Your name (Psalm 4:5-8). 

Thought for the Day:

God calls us not to sin (Psalm 4:4), to trust in His goodness and love, and to stand still and see the salvation of our God. - Exodus 14:13

This Free Gift is Yours

 

At the age of 18, I was plagued with negative emotions from betrayal by my father, who was supposed to protect me. I tired of my string of boyfriends, because I could not find my soulmate. 

I wrote morbid poems about the devastation, which I felt inside, and I even contemplated suicide. This drove me to question the empty spot within myself, which called out to me for fulfillment.

Thankfully, during an extra work-day to ready our college yearbook for press, I met a vivacious red-head who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with me (John 3:16-18).

This resulted in God giving me feet like hind's feet to traverse the heights of His love (Habakkuk 3:19; Psalm 18:33; 2 Samuel 22:34). Since then, I feel no shame in proclaiming to the world that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord.

So often, we reject Christ, because we fear the rejection of our family and friends, as well as ostracism by those we respect and hold in high esteem. Yet, we are willing, by our unbelief, to alienate the King of kings for all eternity.

I share the free gift of the gospel of Christ with anyone who will listen. I view every stranger as a potential friend, and I realize that everyone I pass in a day's time is a prospective member with me in the family of God.  

Christ paid the ultimate price for our salvation, but He gives it to us as a free gift (Romans 6:23). We do not deserve it, and we cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). We simply receive it. 

There is no end to God's love. I want everyone to enjoy God's bountiful benefits. There is no valid reason to miss out on His free gift (Psalm 103:2).

Prayer:

Father God, Your love is boundless and Your generosity is limitless. You spoil us as Your children and You share with us the inheritance of Your Kingdom for all of eternity. We simply need to believe and to surrender our entire body, soul and spirit to Your Lordship.

You do not demand perfection before we come to You; you perfect us from glory to glory once we trust You with our life (2 Corinthians 3:18). Your only requirement to receive Your free gift of salvation is that we love you with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Romans 6:23; Mark 12:30). This is so easy to do, because we simply respond to Your love for us.

Thought for the Day:

God gives us both the desire and the ability to walk in obedience to His ways. -  Philippians 2:13

The Law of Generations

When people read the fact that the sins of the fathers are passed down to the third and fourth generation, they rail against God for what they view as His unfair practice to force someone to pay for their ancestor’s mistakes (Exodus 20:5).

In reality, this verse is telling us that our sins naturally affect people for generations to come. For instance, war is a decision made by a president, or dictator; yet, this sin affects countless generations, which reap the devastation of this heinous crime.

When a man abandons his wife, it also negatively affects his children, grandchildren and many future generations (Malachi 2:13-14). Divorce even affects parents, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, siblings and friends.

Murder, theft, sexual abuse, and all the sins we humans commit have far reaching affects for future generations. Sin rips the heart right out of all of these victims through no fault of their own.

The consequences of the sin we commit affect generations to come (Jeremiah 32:18). However, God also put into play similar generational affects to bless those who love and obey Him.

God blesses thousands of generations of descendants, for no other reason than as a result of our relationship with Him (Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10, 7:9). I don’t know about you, but I want my successors to enjoy God’s blessings, not the consequences of my sins.

Prayer:

Father God, we so enjoy the blessings You bestow on us each day. Even when life throws trials and tribulation at us, as a good Father, You walk through them with us, helping us and encouraging us through the difficult times. You make Your presence even more real to us when we take the time to sit at Your feet (Luke 10:42). Remind us that You have a perfect plan for our life, and help us to obey Your Spirit’s direction through every moment of it (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:16-25).

Thought for the Day:

Through all generations, the Lord shares His love and righteousness with those who fear Him. 

– Psalm 103:17