I'm a sucker for verses like this one.
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"It's a bit like
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.What a pity more people don't believe God when he says things like this.
That is why we labour and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe.
[ 1 Tim 4 : 9 - 10 ]
And especially when he tells us that these statements are trustworthy.
This situation begs a huge question for me.
Don't Christians trust God, even with his trustworthy sayings?
I think so many, and particularly Christian leaders, have a lot to answer for.
They disbelieve God.
They discredit God.
They discount God's love and sovereignty.
They diminish the significance and value of Jesus' death and resurrection.
I wonder what these leaders think of God's stated purpose to be the Saviour of the world and to have everyone bowing their knee and confessing the Lordship of his Son.
I've even found pastors who become angry when I suggest that God saving all people might even be a possibility.
Which is a bit like the anger shown by the early workers in the vineyard when they discovered the owner was more generous than they thought he ought to be. (Matthew 20)
Or the disgust displayed by the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15)
We've got a long way to go before we become Christ-like, haven't we?
Blessings, Barry
Here's a thought.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the reason we struggle with God's extravagant grace is because we haven't yet learned to love as God loves.
We are pretty good at natural affection or brotherly love - loving our parents and children and friends.
But to love our enemies, or to love those we don't like, or to return kindness for aggression .....
Phew!
When we can learn to love as God loves, I think we'll be able to understand grace.
Barry
I'd agree Barry that we do not love as he loves. We are products of the tree of good and evil. Our good still has underlying selfishness behind it, while God has no selfishness. He loves as that is who he is and what he does. Our goodness is as much something to repent over as our evil.
ReplyDeletePondering on why there is resistance to the concept of universal reconciliation has me pondering more on how God is using his employee, Satan, to stir this up, and what good will come of it.
To me, God has allowed Satan to influence his people to have resistance to the idea (anything we understand of truth is a gift in my view - it is not a function of being intelligent or whatever). What the Lord is trying to achieve from this I don't know. There was a pharaoh whose heart was hardened by God for unique purposes with Israel. We can always ask him and see what revelation he gives us. :)
The hardship we experience from this resistance I'm sure does more to build and refine more of his character in us - is it just another form of refining fire?
Cheers, Rog
Hi Rog
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit leading us into all truth ...... refining fire .... all connected in some way.
Which reminds me of another verse (1 Cor 10 : 13) that could be better translated than it usually is.
Will discuss it in a new post, as it may lead to some fresh discussion of its own.
Blessings, Barry
Hi Barry & Rog and other bloggers
ReplyDeleteThat word 'especially'
Galatians 6:10
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
No problem there with 'especially' for the mainstream church. We need to do good to all people but be 'especially' to the believers. Easy.
Now I've seen all sorts of convoluted commentary on 1 TIM 4:10 with the purpose of trying to show that Paul did not really mean what he said there.
Strange that he used that word 'especially', again.
cheers
Glenn
Good one, Glenn.
DeleteBarry