If you are asking, "If I do what you tell me the Bible says I should do in the way God says I should do in how I approach my work, will I have a stable job that will give me a financially secure future?", I can't make any promises.
If you are asking, "If I do what you tell me the Bible says I should do in the way God says I should do it in how I pastor my church, will it grow numerically and will all the people love and appreciate me?", I can't make any promises.
If you are asking, "If I do what you tell me the Bible says I should do in the way God says I should do it in how I treat my spouse, will (s)he turn into a loving, godly, delightful person towards me?", I can't make any promises.
However, if you are asking, "If I repentantly believe in the Lord Jesus as the Bible says to do, will I be saved?", I can say an unqualified "Yes."
If you are asking, "If I come to the Lord Jesus, can I depend on Him never ever to cast me out", I can say an unqualified "Yes."
If you are asking, "If I believe in the Lord Jesus, are my sins washed away forever, am I reconciled to God, am I His child, will I be kept by His power through faith to the end?", I can say an unqualified "Yes."
If you are asking, "If I do what you tell me the Bible says I should do in the way God says I should do it, will that please and glorify God?", I can say an unqualified "Yes."
And if you are asking, "If I do what you tell me the Bible says I should do in the way God says I should do it, whatever the cost, will I be unreservedly grateful to God that I did it — within the next hundred years?", I can say an unqualified "Yes."
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7 comments:
Nice.
"For all the promises of God IN Him are Yes, and IN Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."
2nd Corinthians 1:20
That sums it up so well. How important it is that we come to God on God's terms, not trying to get something out of it that isn't there (and then be disappointed at not receiving what we thought was there). And how rich and deep and great the real promises in God's word, that which we will not be disappointed in.
One sure way to be branded as the bad guy - when someone describes a difficult situation and says he's trusting God to keep His promise (or be faitful, etc), just ask what God has promised. It's amazing how often you'll find people trusting God to keep promises He never made. And that's even without considering Proverbs 22:6.
Sadly, when God doesn't deliver on promises He didn't make, that can create disillusionment and a convenient excuse for unbelief in the things He did promise.
What!? You mean it's not all about ME?! (JK!)
Yes, and AMEN. And I love trogdor's exhortation as well. Let's not "claim" promises God hasn't made.
Well said, Dan, as usual.
Julie
Christianity "is" or "is not".
There is no "work".
Christianity "is" or "is not".
There is no "work".
Fine post. Good work. See you there!
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