Thoughts on Persistence

Thoughts on Persistence
New Book available from Amazon - for Kindle and Softbound

Saturday, May 11, 2013

God's Qualifying Rules


Welcome to Internet Church – the place you can come to just as you are.  This is a space created just for you.  If you seek a connection with God, then come on in. 


Let’s begin with this thought.

Does God have qualifying rules?  Are there certain words and phrases, stances, body postures and other such actions that we must adhere to in order to be accepted by God?


Consider the woman caught in adultery.  Christ came along when she was about to be stoned and rather than preach her a sermon, He turned to her accusers.  He said “If any of you are without sin, you may throw the first stone.” 

And when they all slipped away and she was left all alone in front of the son of God, He simply said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

That’s it.  End of story.  

Another example:
Zacchaeus was called down from his tree to go and have supper with Christ.  He didn’t seek Christ out.  And Christ did not make him bow and scrape all the way to his house.  Zacchaeus was the first one to offer repentance and reconciliation.  Christ just said “I want to have supper with you.”                                                                             

Supper! 
          Fellowship! 
                    Friendship! 

He didn't say, “But first you have to wash seven times.”  “Go run around Camelback Mountain and cut yourself and shave your head.” 

No such qualifying commands were given. 

Simply come be with me. 

The hallmark of God is love. 

We don’t change until after we come to Him.  It appears over and over that repentance and change follows forgiveness, not before. 

The prodigal son
The woman caught in adultery
Zacchaeus

What qualifies us in God’s eyes?  Coming near.  Turning toward.  It’s an action, not words. 

Do you want words to put with this concept?  Try this one.

HELP!

Anne Lamott says “this is the greatest prayer ever prayed.”  That sometimes is the hardest prayer of all.  It admits defeat, surrender, powerlessness. 

Help says “I’m done in.  I need something, someone bigger than what I face.  God, if you are listening then come forward, now!”

The God I serve responds to these kinds of words.  He has shown, again and again these attributes

Kindness
   Compassion
      Tenderness
         Forgiveness
            Abundant mercy

Come meet my God.  I guarantee that He will treat you with the same openness and acceptance.


Please watch this video of God Will Make a Way


If the above link does not work, 
please click here ...


My Prayer for You

God:
Your methods run counter to anything we’ve ever seen. 

-You offer love when it is undeserved. 
-You over forgiveness when punishment should be the norm. 
-And you offer peace and kindness in the face of turmoil and strife.

What a God you are. 
You respond to our faintest cry for help.
And you really do make a way where there is no way.


Thank you God.

Amen!


Pastor Mike
P Michael Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement Inspiration
One Word at a Time

No comments:

Post a Comment