travisd

This question really got me thinking and left me with just one thought. Thank God that He didn't come for only the rich and powerful, the prideful and selfish people of this world, nor for only the "perfect" people of this world...He came for me...specifically...me...and for that matter specifically you...lowly sinners undeserving of the grace He cast down upon us. Each of us knows just how depraved we were when He reached down to save us and in that knowledge, who am I to say that I was good enough, but this person wasn't or that person was. The truth of the matter is everyone we look at in this world we should look at as a fellow brother or sister in Christ...if not today, then maybe tomorrow...and maybe based upon how you react to them today. Thank you Jesus for loving and choosing me...Amen.

There are a couple of things to claim I believe in the first question...the first being of course that if we ask God for wisdom, that we will receive it. This wisdom is not wisdom as the world knows it (1st Cor. 1:19-21), but it is the wisdom that saves and has been preached since the beginning when God has made Himself known to man. The other key thing to claim is this, God will give generously TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT. Pretty powerful statement I'd say. He doesn't give only to the most righteous or based upon what we've done but He promises to give to any who would seek Him...what a promise. That to even me, He would reach down and shed that type of grace. Sounds to me like we have to ask in that child-like faith we had when we were kids. God desires for us to believe and trust in Him when asking for something with the knowledge that He will provide. Imagine as a parent having your kids ask you for something the whole time thinking that you wouldn't do it for whatever reason. How mixed up and confused that kid must be and how sad for them and the parent. God wants our trust. For most of us, He's provided more than enough real examples in our lives where we can look back and see His hand if we'd just do that, but so many of us are focused on today and it's problems that we don't bother to look back and see how far He's already brought us nor the trials He has carried us through. In times of trial, we are the most apt to have no choice but to turn to the one who is most likely and most able to help us. Many including me will try most anything before we finally get to this point ... I guess because it just seems to easy...you know...that "you don't get anything for nothing mentality so ingrained in us". These are also the times where we most act in that child-like faith because at these times are when we are so broken and all of our adult logic and resources have failed us so much so that we have to revert back to when we had to rely on others like when we were children and that other specifically in this case being the best Dad of all in our Father in Heaven. God bless, Travis <><

Would like to take a second to look at Brian's question... "I dont know why we get tempted with sin but i know the bible says that God does not tempt. I would really like to know what I can do to stop falling into various sins. I love God and want to grow but i feel like it is beyond me. " This is one that is so close to my heart and the heart of every Christian who has cried out to God with this same question at some point. We all know of this scenario...we've committed a sin and we turn to God and repent of it...then find ourselves committing the same sin at some point thereafter. What happened, we must've failed right. What now, where do we go...what do we do? You know what, for me the first step is realizing it is beyond me as you have here. Only through His power can I overcome this temptation that has power over me. Alone, it owns me but through Him, I have been set free and He "owns" me. Even Paul wrestled with this problem as shown in Romans 7:18 The image that comes to mind is a prisoner who is shackled to a ball and chain. As Christ enters in, He frees us from this chain yet many of us (myself included) continue to carry this ball around for whatever reason...why? All I know as truth is that in coming closer to Him, we are more apt to make the right decision. As we go further away and focus more on this world, then the more likely we are to make the wrong decision. Remember what the Lord also said to Paul in 2nd Cor 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." It seems you've made the first step in that you've realized not sinning is beyond you, now you just have to seek God's strength in overcoming temptation when it appears at the door. One other step that might help you is just doing what the world and Satan would most like you not to do...focus on what is good (Philippians 4:8). Protect your mind and heart from the evil of this world...whether it's inappropriate TV shows, movies, internet sites, friends, whatever...focus on what is good according to the Word and I believe God will honor that. I also might point you to a great little devotional that deals directly with that issue as well. God bless you. http://www.carm.org/devotions/cross.htm Travis <><

Wow...there were a lot of deep questions in there. I guess I'll try to answer them for myself in the order they came. I love reading your thoughts so here are a few of my own. Why do people blame God for evil? Well, I think most people through faith believe God is responsible for everything that happens in their lives; which to a certain degree is right. I don't believe anything touches my life that God does not allow. At the same time, do I believe a perfect God created evil or had a hand in causing evil in my life just to purify me, no. We must recognize that the root of sin lies in oneself, and does not come from the Father although He may very well use what Satan wishes for evil for His own purposes and ultimately our own good. Verses 14 and 15 really sum up how sin enters in and that is "by his own evil desire." Does God tempt us with evil? No, but God doesn't make us puppets. What I mean is that God in His sovereignty has chosen to give us freedom...that freedom can lead us into sin or it can lead us right into His loving arms. Wherever we want or choose to go. If God wanted robots, He could have made us as such and then we would never deal with evil because we'd have preprogrammed responses to all things and would always make the right choice, but at the same time, would we ever be able to show Him love...can there be a true love without it being given by choice. If love were preprogrammed, it seems like it would be somewhat empty. Imagine, your wives, husbands, children, or parents only loving you because they have too...would it be the same...I don't think so. Because of the freedom He has chosen to give, we steer ourselves oft-times towards temptation and sin. Ultimately, He is always there to save us from our temptations if we allow Him and He enables Christians to make wise choices if they seek Him first and not the world, or sin. Does he tempt sinful people with evil? No...again, self(ish)-will does that by itself...not God. Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all? Truly, I don't know. I know that through our sin, ultimately we find Him or maybe better said, we find our need for Him. I also know that through choice, we are able to show real love. When we obey, we show our love and obedience for Him, and when we disobey, He shows His love for us by forgiving and leading us back to His fold. Why God wants or desires sinful man is a mystery to me, but I love Him for it...because He first loved me. If God chose to remove sin and choice from the world and people, He changes the very nature of people into something I don't think any of us would even be able to recognize as human...what makes us unique is that choice or nature He has enabled us to have. The question comes down to "does God by allowing temptation in our lives make Him the creator of evil?" Look deeper at that question...what would God have to do to keep temptation from our hearts and minds? Wouldn't He basically have to remove us from this world we live in today? Everywhere we look there it is. For each of us the temptation is different. By allowing free will and choice, or "true love (see notes above)" to exist, God also allows sin to exist in that people have the choice to either obey or not. I say thank God that He chose to have a real relationship with me by allowing me each day to make choices whether I will or will not follow Him and therefore come closer to Him or run from Him...and even when I run away, He chooses to follow me like that lost 100th sheep of the flock...I'm that important to Him and so are you. In Him, Travis <>< p.s. Here are my thoughts on Miss Dee's question "why wouldn't anyone believe that ALL things are from God? " I think this really depends on perspective. All things were created by God...all things including Satan, all things including sinful man, etc. His creation then went on to "create" sin. God simply did not and could not create sin as He is a perfect God unwilling and truly unable by His very nature to be sinful and therefore, to create sin. So yes, I guess, in a very broad sense, God created sin in that He created the people and beings which long for it and are such a major part of it. But on the other hand and in my mind a more true sense, I would say God did not create sin from the perspective that He simply could not. He may have allowed it to exist for whatever reason, but by no means did He create it. I'd love to hear others $.02 on that as that is just my own.