Smite

Something to think about.

Smite

Something to think about.
Smite

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel 15-3

God is good He is the provider of all our needs. His love is never-ending. He is long-suffering and patient, kind, forgiving and tolerant. He has given us more than we can hope or think. He has provided for our salvation and eternal life. He made way for us when there was no way. He is gracious beyond measure, and His glory fills our lives. He gives us purpose and fulfillment. He completes our lives. He is good to us. He is perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing. He fulfills and exceeds our expectations. He is better than I can describe.

He is also the one who commanded Israel to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Look at the verse again God commands Israel to kill everything. We want to quote and hide behind the goodness of God. It is almost like we want to present a one-dimensional God. A God who is only a benevolent king. You might say this command about the Amalekites is an aberration. This command is not consistent with the character of God. That is not true. Remember the flood. Remember the 3000 dead Israelite's on their way to the promise land. Remember the generation of Israel that died in the desert. Remember the judgments that were carried out by the enemies of Israel upon Israel. God throughout history has judged people, nations. He has continually judged Israel.

God is a complete God; He is full of compassion, love, and patience. But He is also a God of judgment, wrath, and fury. What I am saying is yes God is good, but He is also going to pass judgment on humanity. His judgment will be both just and fair. Which means some of us will celebrate with complete joy: while some of us will suffer unimaginable pain. Knowing Gods impending judgment is important to Christians. Because we need to be aware of the consequences of sin in the lives of those we love. Those consequences are not just for today they are also still to come. By preaching a one-dimensional God, we are hiding the truth of God's judgment.

Is it just to share only the grace of God and not mention the wrath of God? For me, I prefer to know about every facet of God, not just those things that are music to my ears.

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He is Good

Something to think about. 
 
He is Good

1 give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever. Psalms 118:1

 

What if God's mercies had limits? What if there was a point of no return? What if there was an expiration date on His compassion? There would be the vacuous emptiness of hopelessness, helplessness, and despair.

God is good because his mercies will last forever. Because His mercies are new every morning because His forgiveness does not have an expiration date. God is good because his compassion never fails. God is good because His love never fails. God is good because He can not be otherwise. God is good because He is just. God is good, praise the Lord.

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The Narrow Door

Something to think about.

The Narrow Door

24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.Luke 13:24:28

I used to think these verses referred to people outside of the Christian faith or on the fringes. But it does not, people on the fringes or outside the faith are easily identified. These verses, unfortunately, are referring to our present day leadership. Our leadership that has decided that modern reinterpretation of scripture should supplant or erase the undeniable word of God.  Leadership that has decided that it better understands the needs of man than God himself. Leadership that insists on putting forth their own errant interpretation of scripture rather than bowing down to the clear word of God. Our leaders and ourselves need to read the word of God and acknowledge it and obey it even if we don't agree with it.  Knowing that the God who created us is in a better position to supply our needs. He is the only one that sees the entirity of Humanity and knows how best to redeem it. If you are one of the ones that follow these leaders with their reinterpretation of scripture, you will in that day, find yourself knocking on the door requesting access and hearing;  'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'

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Authority

Something to think about.

Authority

¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

All authority means Jesus is the final appeal. He has the final say. Jesus is the one that dispenses justice and reward. He established standard and judgments.  God gave His son the sovereignty to rule the world as He sees fit. He gave Him, us to honor and glorify or to condemn and judge. Jesus is our savior and judge, and there is none other.

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Better or Worse

Something to think about.

Better or Worse

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3

If you are Clinton or Trump, known or unknown, proud sinner or self-proclaimed saint if you don’t repent you will perish. Perish does not mean you will cease to exist; that would be a blessing. Perish means you will live apart from the forgiveness, wonder, glory, majesty, justice, love, peace, joy, holiness and righteousness of God. You will live apart from God in uncontrolled chaos and unbridled unrighteousness, without the mercy of God. You will be condemned to know of God but denied any of His glorious gifts. 

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Love and Justice

Something to think about.

Love and Justice

9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. 10 But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him. Deuteronomy 7:9-10

If you Love Him, He will love you, if you hate Him He will destroy you. Notice there is no place given for ambivalence. You either love Him or hate Him.

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