Tag Archives: God

The strongest faith is childlike

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Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein (Mark 10:16, KJV).

Read Mark 10:13-16 for context.

Jesus corrected his disciples for trying to stop the children from coming to him. Somehow they thought the Master was too busy for pesky children. How many times have we felt the same way? I grew up in an “old-school” (old-fashioned) household where it was not spoken, but intuitively understood by me, that “Children should be seen but not heard.”

Unfortunately, in my early years of parenting, I did not quite know how to deal with a child who had myriad questions and expected answers or at least direction as to where to find them. When I commented on my child’s endless questions, someone told me, “Curiosity is a sign of intelligence.” After this, I viewed my precious boy’s questions as an opportunity to help him understand the world  around him, and although he’s much older, I continue in this vein today.

Children are always learning and we should be also. Are we not God’s children? And no matter how old we may be chronologically, he remains a Father, an excellent parent, who wants us to understand all we need to know to live in this world, to not be of this world (John 15:19), and to serve him.

Our faith in God should be strong–but childlike–just like the children who came to Jesus. Children trust, desire the best, and expect their parents and caretakers to honor their faith by providing what they, the children, need.

Innocent, beautiful children have strong faith, and do not worry about how their parents will care for them, but believe that it will be done.

If we trust God with total abandon, we will too.

Copyright © 2014.

God’s love is limitless

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When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:10-11, KJV).

Many know the familiar Bible passage about the woman the Pharisees brought to Jesus; they stated she had been, literally, caught in the act of adultery. Reading the entire story (John 8:1-11) can help us put the above two verses in context and also shed God’s light on the scriptures.

The woman in the story is nameless, and if her name, in the context of the story, was important, it would have been recorded in the Bible. However, male or female, there are many of us who could replace “the woman” with our name. Although we may not have committed adultery, each of us was or is in need of a Savior. The Bible states clearly that all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). We all can think of unrighteous thoughts or acts we have committed.

The Pharisees themselves sinned against Jesus by telling him that his statement that he was the light of the world (John 8:12-13) was not true. This begs the question: Were they on a higher spiritual plane than the adulteress woman because of their outward righteousness which concealed an inward calloused heart?

This woman humbled herself and referred to Jesus as Lord. His loving response was also instructional, as he told her he did not condemn her–but that she should go and “sin no more.”

Often God’s response to our past sins is not what we think it should be. We are told that God’s hates sin, and he does, but he also loves us. He loves us enough to accept us as we are and to empower us to change. People, even those in the church, often condemn.

If we are struggling with sins from our past life or from a time when we fell away from the faith (also known as backsliding), we would do well to remember God’s word, which tells us there is no condemnation for those who long for and chase after God (Romans 8:1-2).

If you continue struggling and Satan is condemning you about past deeds through people and through negative thoughts, it is imperative that you cast those thoughts down (2 Corinthians 10:5) and rise in the newness of Christ (Romans 6:4). Here is a prayer followed by helpful scriptures:

Father, I thank you for forgiving me, for showing me limitless love. The problem, Lord, is that I cannot seem to forgive myself no matter how hard I try. I know that you sent your son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on the Christ for me. He shed his blood and took my sins and the sins of the entire world upon himself, so I would not have to face condemnation. There is no greater love than this.

I must believe your word, Lord, that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and that the solution, the antidote for sin is Jesus the Christ. I will stand on your word and accept your love for me. Help me not to look back, Father, but to move forward as I obey you and live by your everlasting love and mercy.

In Jesus name, I pray.

Amen.

Know that God heard and will answer your sincere prayer for freedom from condemnation.

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Jeremiah 29:11

John 3:16-17

Romans 8:1-2

Romans 8:37-39

2 Corinthians 5:21

Hebrews 7:25

1 John 4:8

1 John 4:16

A New Year filled with promises and possibilities

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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17, KJV).

Each New Year comes wrapped in a bright, shiny package. Why? Because it is indeed a gift to each one who receives it (Psalms 119:16). Keep in mind that there are those who did not transverse into this New Year. Remember the ones who passed away last year, some almost–but did not quite–make it to see this glorious day.

But here we are with the strength to walk, think, see, hear, and speak. It is certainly miraculous to be a son or a daughter of the Most High God with the ability to serve him. Begin each day with prayer, pray throughout the day, pray at night, and pray without ceasing as God’s Word instructs (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

It is then, and only then, when answers to the relevant questions of life will become clearer, and we will see our way through the fog or the mist. It is dense fog for some and mist for others, but certainly, all need direction. It is through a personal relationship with God that direction and fulfillment in life are attained. With God all things are possible, and wherever he leads his children, he will see them through until the end of life on this earth and beyond.

There are mysteries and some will not be solved until we meet the Lord. Other answers will be revealed as we come to know the Lord (Daniel 11:32), not know of him, or know about him, but truly know him. Knowing God does not mean that we will have all knowledge, but it does mean knowing his Word, understanding His character from ages past, and comprehending that in him lies the answer to every question, because he is the omniscient God.

God bless every area of your life and may you realize the abundance God has for you (Matthew 6:11; John 10:10).

Copyright © 2014.