Post by jay0heavenly on Jul 29, 2008 10:15:27 GMT -5
God loves you...
Yes, this statement in and of itself is true. But, in and of itself this statement is only half of the message that God wants us to apprehend.
I was in the barber shop and a barber (a Christian guy) was complaining that its so hard to reach youth for Christ, because its impossible to compete with sex, fame, music, parties, etc.
Why is that? Because EVERYONE has circumstantial priorities. Case in point:
If I walk up to you in your office with $1,000.00 in cash and a gallon of cold, pure water and say pick one, anybody in their right mind would choose the 1k.
But, what if you and your 4 year old daughter were in the middle of the desert, starving and desperate for water and I offered you the same proposition. Anybody in their right mind would take the water, because if you didn't both you and your child would die.
Our circumstantial priorities determine what we choose in life.
The same is true for us spiritually. God, for many people is not a priority because whether they will admit it or not, they feel as if they don't need Him, and if you tell them "Hey man, God loves you" it makes no sense.
It makes no sense because it is out of its proper context. Just like a cure makes no sense without the disease, God's love makes no sense without God's wrath.
In its entirety, read John 3:16... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes will not perish, but have everlasting life."
Embedded in God's love is the message that believing on Christ Jesus is the only way to escape from perishing by God's wrath. Until people are convicted of their sin, they will not come to Christ, because circumstantially, in their eyes, they have no need of a savior, because they don't know what they need to be saved from. This is where the law comes into place. To convict men and women of their sin and guilt and drive them to the foot of the savior.
Galatians 3:24 states "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith."
Just like the scenario in the desert, when we are convicted of our sin, our priority changes. No, the club won't be our choice anymore, we'll choose Christ and His way because we know that God's wrath will be poured out on children of disobedience.
Ask God to prick your heart and pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Yes, this statement in and of itself is true. But, in and of itself this statement is only half of the message that God wants us to apprehend.
I was in the barber shop and a barber (a Christian guy) was complaining that its so hard to reach youth for Christ, because its impossible to compete with sex, fame, music, parties, etc.
Why is that? Because EVERYONE has circumstantial priorities. Case in point:
If I walk up to you in your office with $1,000.00 in cash and a gallon of cold, pure water and say pick one, anybody in their right mind would choose the 1k.
But, what if you and your 4 year old daughter were in the middle of the desert, starving and desperate for water and I offered you the same proposition. Anybody in their right mind would take the water, because if you didn't both you and your child would die.
Our circumstantial priorities determine what we choose in life.
The same is true for us spiritually. God, for many people is not a priority because whether they will admit it or not, they feel as if they don't need Him, and if you tell them "Hey man, God loves you" it makes no sense.
It makes no sense because it is out of its proper context. Just like a cure makes no sense without the disease, God's love makes no sense without God's wrath.
In its entirety, read John 3:16... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes will not perish, but have everlasting life."
Embedded in God's love is the message that believing on Christ Jesus is the only way to escape from perishing by God's wrath. Until people are convicted of their sin, they will not come to Christ, because circumstantially, in their eyes, they have no need of a savior, because they don't know what they need to be saved from. This is where the law comes into place. To convict men and women of their sin and guilt and drive them to the foot of the savior.
Galatians 3:24 states "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith."
Just like the scenario in the desert, when we are convicted of our sin, our priority changes. No, the club won't be our choice anymore, we'll choose Christ and His way because we know that God's wrath will be poured out on children of disobedience.
Ask God to prick your heart and pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
