When you think about it, people relate differently to God...

Some people relate to God, as some giant, distant "force" in the Universe.

Other people relate to God simply as a "rule-setter," disciplinarian, or as a source of morality (what is right and wrong).


Yet others relate to God, only as someone they have to deal with when they die.


Many Christians relate to God, as an overbearing master who is very demanding of them. Who conspicuously critiques their daily lives.

Yet, for the person who has accepted Jesus Christ, God's Son, into their hearts and lives, how should they relate to God? As a loving, caring, Father; as demonstrated by how Christ Himself, related to the Father. It is why Christ instructed us to call God "Abba Father."


John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Seated "With" Christ?

Ephesians 2:6

I don't know about most people, but whenever I have read this verse previously, I always thought the portion that says,

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" vs. 6

implied that "God raised us up (from the dead) with Christ..." etc.

BUT! If you read verse 5, it already covers the fact that we have BEEN made alive with Christ! So, what then does the word "raised" signify in verse 6?

I believe it means that, just as Christ ascended physically into Heaven, so God has likewise raised us up, lifted us up, so that, just as Christ has been seated at the right hand of God with authority, power, and right-standing, we are likewise seated WITH Christ!!!

What a powerful truth!

Why Wasn't Cain's Offering Accepted?

Background Text: Genesis 4:1-7

Why was Cain's offering rejected? Because it was of the fruit of the ground, the very ground that God had cursed (Genesis 3:17). Cain's offering represented man's efforts to achieve, to earn, right standing with God. Abel's offering of a choice, firstborn lamb, however, was met with God's approval. Why? Jesus Christ is symbolized throughout the Scriptures as "...the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7, etc. etc.). He is the Father's firstborn, His "...only begotten Son" (John 3:16). As the Scriptures tell us, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins, no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22, Lev. 17:11). This principle is likewise portrayed earlier in Genesis, shortly after man's original sin in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin and shame, by making for themselves garments of fig leaves, of the fruit of the ground. However, these garments, symbolic of man's own efforts, his good works, to try and earn right-standing with God and cover his sin, were absolutely unacceptable unto God. Afterward, Genesis tells us that God made clothes of the skins of animals, for Adam and Eve. Where did God get these animal skins from? The animals had to be killed, their blood shed, their lives given, for these clothes to be made. Likewise, only the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus, is truly acceptable to God. (Note: Righteousness in the New Testament is often referred to as a "Robe." Just an interesting thought). So many times throughout the Old Testament, this truth is made evident. From the Ram that God provided, which Abraham offered in place of the life of his son Isaac, to the numerous sacrificial offerings which God instituted, and numerous more examples.

Referring back to the original text, God gave Cain the opportunity to change his offering for one that would be accepted, but instead of obeying God, Cain became bitter, hateful, and ended up killing his own brother. We must not be like this, but rather, we must, with grateful hearts, freely accept the righteousness, the true righteousness, which is in Christ alone, by faith.

Don't Doubt God's Promises!

Genesis 16:1-2

God promised Abraham that he would bless him, and that he would be the father of a great nation. Sadly however, Sarai doubted. She looked at her situation, her barrenness, and couldn't SEE how God could fulfill His promise. So, instead of trusting God to keep His Word, she resorted to her own human efforts to try and bring about God's promise. When God promises us something, we need to trust Him. Even though a situation may look hopeless, remember, God keeps His promises! Trust Him, and, in His time, He WILL bring it to pass.

Note also, in verse 2, that Sarai said, "The Lord has kept me from having children..." Sarai seems to be blaming God for her situation. God was not the one causing her barrenness! If we have a preconceived idea of how God is going to fulfill His promise, and we don't see it happening it that way, it is very easy to blame God, and to become bitter against Him, and try to do things our way. However, this is not right. Remember: God is a GOOD God. He does not put sickness, disease, or evil upon His children! Don't blame God for your situation. Instead, trust Him to fulfill His promises toward you.

Romans 4:17
As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Abraham didn't even have one son, and yet God had told him that his seed would be as numerous as the stars. That must have seemed impossible to Abraham. Yet, when we look back today, we see that God indeed kept His promise. How many times has God promised US things, and we think, "Oh, that's simply not possible, that's 'unrealistic' to expect," or something like that. We need to have Abrahamic faith! When Abraham looked around, his situation looked hopeless, and it seemed like an impossibility for God to fulfill His promise. But, God always comes through. He is faithful. See things today through the eyes of faith as Abraham did.

The "BAGS" Principle: 

Be
A
Good
Steward

Because all that we have, God has given to us.

‎"18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." I John 4:16 NLT

‎"Seeking first..." the Kingdom of God is not simply a matter of putting God first chronologically (time-wise), in our day, but rather, it is seeking the Kingdom of God in EVERYTHING we do throughout the day. It is having our minds set, focused, on eternal things; having a perspective of "...working as unto the Lord, and not unto men." (Colossians 3:23)

‎"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." - Ephesians 1:4

George Washington Carver - “When I was young, I said to God, god, tell me the mystery of the universe. But God answered, that knowledge is for me alone. So I said, god, tell me the mystery of the peanut. Then God said, well, George, that's more nearly your size.”

How we measure the success of a day, should not be based upon HOW MANY things we can cram into that day, but rather, a day's success should be measured by the QUALITY, the ETERNAL significance, of those things which we have done. There is such a tendency today to "rush" through things, to be "efficient." Yet, this can oftentimes mean we are too busy, too caught up in our own activities, to hear the voice of God.

When we think of what Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." (John 14:6 - http://bible.us/John14.6.NLT

 

), it highlights, what I believe, are some of the most basic questions about life that people often ask today. Questions like,

"What is the true way to knowing God?"
"What is truth, real truth?"
"What is the true meaning of life?"


In Christ, these questions and more, are answered.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

Thought for the Day: When reading the Scriptures, we must keep in mind the "time" aspect. When we read certain Bible stories, it can seem like things are happening so fast! However, if we read carefully, this is not always so. There is often a significant period of time in between.

‎...Likewise, God's promises to us are sure, steadfast, we can trust them. But, they are not always realized, fulfilled, the next morning. Can they be realized almost immediately? Yes, definitely so. But in every case, remember, God's timing is always perfect. He is never early, and never late. God's delays are NOT God's denials.

"...You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." - Hebrews 10:36

‎"Is anything too hard for the LORD?..." - Genesis 18:14
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" - Jeremiah 32:27
"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

NOTHING is too hard, NO situation is too hopeless, NO life so far gone, for God. He can do anything, if we will just trust Him.

Jesus: One perfect sacrifice for ALL people, for All sins, for ALL time.

For everything got started in Him (Christ) and finds its purpose in him - Colossians 1:16

Don’t doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. - Charles Price

There is no other means by which the Gospel spreads. God has entrusted its spread to ordinary people like you and me who take the time and open our eyes and find people. - Charles Price

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Romans 5:1

There is nothing you can do today to make God love you more, and there’s nothing you can do to make Him love you any less. - Joseph Prince

We need to, not stand to one side and just criticize our world; we need to understand it's heartbeat, for that heartbeat will be that which God created in it, in humanity, in human people. Eternity is in their hearts, a thirst is in their hearts, a conscience is in their hearts. Let's love them and understand them, and help them connect the dots, to lead them to Christ.

We cannot separate the teachings of Christ, from the person of Christ Himself.


If we try to reduce Christianity to a set of teachings, rules and regulations, it becomes a dead, useless religion. Only Christ Himself can give life to the human soul. What separates Christianity from all other faiths? The living Christ.

Adversity is one of the greatest tools in the hand of God to shape our lives.

‎"We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon." - Adrian Rogers

After WWII, a group of German students offered to repair a damaged statue of Jesus which bore the inscription "Come unto me". Sadly, due to the damage, both of the hands on the statue were missing. The students tried to repair the hands of the statue, but were unsuccessful. They decided to change the inscription to "Jesus has no hands but ours."

God doesn't want us to present Him a list of items of things we want to do; He wants us to present Him a blank sheet of paper with our signature on it.

You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother. Albert Einstein

Until you know how much God loved Jesus, you will never know how much God loves you, because God gave Him up for you. - Joseph Prince