Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — May 2010
2 Samuel 12 -- Are You REALLY Sorry?
Nathan's God-directed story was designed to show David the depths of his sin with Bathsheba. As David listened, he swelled with anger at the man most like himself, declaring that he should die and also repay fourfold for his sin. That
Nathan's God-directed story was designed to show David the depths of his sin with Bathsheba. As David listened, he swelled with anger at the man most like himself, declaring that he should die and also repay fourfold for his sin. That's when God directed Nathan to say, "You are that man!"
Faced with God's exposure of his sin and the judgment He was calling for, David did exactly what God wanted him to do. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord." He'd quickly come to the place of repentance.
It's important to note what Nathan said next: "The Lord has also taken away your sin." My commentary quoted G. Campbell Morgan as saying: "Note the ‘also' in verse 13. A man puts away his own sin when in sincerity he confesses it. That makes it possible for God ALSO to put it away."
In other words, without our own repentance, God will not put away our sin in His own eyes. We falsely presume when we fail to recognize sin as sin in our own lives, yet expect God to "deal with it" simply because we are Christians and He's told us that Christ's blood covers all our sins.
My youngest son has a high shelf over the head of his bed and he uses it to store candy and other edible things that our dog might otherwise find and devour. He also is quite lazy, in that he grabs a piece of candy (or five) from the shelf, unwraps it/them, and then throws the wrappers back up on the shelf! I've told him multiple times to stop doing that, and each time I get a strident, "I'm SORRY!" Last night, the wrappers were there again, and again he pathetically said, "I'm sorry!" I told him that his "I'm sorry's" didn't mean anything and were not enough. He only appeared sorry at being caught again. True repentance isn't like that at all. It's grief for having disobeyed. It's recognition of sin and agreeing with God that it's sin. Just saying, "I'm sorry" won't cut it. I told him that if he couldn't even obey in small things like this, then bigger things would cause real obedience problems. He was perfectly content to leave the "trash" in his life. I wasn't. God isn't either.
Father, I know You've probably gotten tired of my strident "I'm sorry's" over the years, too, when You see me having to say "I'm sorry" more than once for the same sin. Help me to throw my heart into it as David did. I'm thankful that You are a God of grace. Help me not to presume on that grace too much. Keep me honest with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Faced with God's exposure of his sin and the judgment He was calling for, David did exactly what God wanted him to do. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord." He'd quickly come to the place of repentance.
It's important to note what Nathan said next: "The Lord has also taken away your sin." My commentary quoted G. Campbell Morgan as saying: "Note the ‘also' in verse 13. A man puts away his own sin when in sincerity he confesses it. That makes it possible for God ALSO to put it away."
In other words, without our own repentance, God will not put away our sin in His own eyes. We falsely presume when we fail to recognize sin as sin in our own lives, yet expect God to "deal with it" simply because we are Christians and He's told us that Christ's blood covers all our sins.
My youngest son has a high shelf over the head of his bed and he uses it to store candy and other edible things that our dog might otherwise find and devour. He also is quite lazy, in that he grabs a piece of candy (or five) from the shelf, unwraps it/them, and then throws the wrappers back up on the shelf! I've told him multiple times to stop doing that, and each time I get a strident, "I'm SORRY!" Last night, the wrappers were there again, and again he pathetically said, "I'm sorry!" I told him that his "I'm sorry's" didn't mean anything and were not enough. He only appeared sorry at being caught again. True repentance isn't like that at all. It's grief for having disobeyed. It's recognition of sin and agreeing with God that it's sin. Just saying, "I'm sorry" won't cut it. I told him that if he couldn't even obey in small things like this, then bigger things would cause real obedience problems. He was perfectly content to leave the "trash" in his life. I wasn't. God isn't either.
Father, I know You've probably gotten tired of my strident "I'm sorry's" over the years, too, when You see me having to say "I'm sorry" more than once for the same sin. Help me to throw my heart into it as David did. I'm thankful that You are a God of grace. Help me not to presume on that grace too much. Keep me honest with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 13 & 14 -- What's Lust Got To Do With It?
Satan would try to make us believe that lust is okay, so long as we never act upon it. But God shows us the lie in these verses. Amnon, David's oldest son, has been lusting after his half-sister. He reveals this to his cou
Satan would try to make us believe that lust is okay, so long as we never act upon it. But God shows us the lie in these verses. Amnon, David's oldest son, has been lusting after his half-sister. He reveals this to his cousin-friend, Jonadab, who seems to have a penchant for seeing that people in power get what they want. "You lust? You're the prince. It's your right. Go for it! Here's how..." Verse 2 says that Amnon had made himself sick just thinking about his sister. He didn't stop the thoughts, and they soon translated into actions.
He deceived his father, David, with his plan and raped his sister. And as is often the case, he despised that which had caused him to despise HIMSELF. He threw her out. It hadn't been love - just lust. My commentary notes that lust and hatred are closely related.
His half-sister returned to her brother Absalom's house, disgraced and unwanted. Again, my commentary noted that lust hurts the INNOCENT as well as the GUILTY.
King David soon learned of all this, but he did not have the freedom to punish Amnon because his own sin with Bathsheba had "robbed him of his moral freedom, liberty of speech, and testimony," my commentary said. Lust strikes again, years later.
Meanwhile, Tamar's full brother, Absalom, let the hatred build up inside as he bided his time to take revenge. Finally two years later, he was able to manufacture circumstances that allowed him to kill his brother for the rape. Yet now, he found himself on the run, another victim of that original lust. For five years, he didn't see his father, David, even after being brought back to his home. Lust tears families apart.
David's sin affected his judgment. He returned his murderer son to Jerusalem and restored him despite the fact that Absalom was unrepentant. "It was most unrighteous for David to do this, and he was to pay for it dearly," my commentary says. "David spared his son's life, but in response Absalom schemed his father's death."
Amnon probably never dreamed that his private thoughts would have such public results. He failed to chase them out of his head, and they cost his family so much. Satan tries to lie to us to minimize the impact of our thoughts as well. I watched this happen just this week on a popular show on an alleged family channel. We simply MUST NOT buy the lie.
Father, You taught me years ago to teach others that it's the thought that counts, and even though I thoroughly believe it and continue to teach it, I like all men, still find myself attracted to Satan's bait. Help me to stop it as soon as the thought enters my mind. Don't let me indulge myself by rolling it over even once in my mind, for that only stokes the passions and makes it tougher to remove. Let me see it for what it is - a lie straight from the pit of hell.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
He deceived his father, David, with his plan and raped his sister. And as is often the case, he despised that which had caused him to despise HIMSELF. He threw her out. It hadn't been love - just lust. My commentary notes that lust and hatred are closely related.
His half-sister returned to her brother Absalom's house, disgraced and unwanted. Again, my commentary noted that lust hurts the INNOCENT as well as the GUILTY.
King David soon learned of all this, but he did not have the freedom to punish Amnon because his own sin with Bathsheba had "robbed him of his moral freedom, liberty of speech, and testimony," my commentary said. Lust strikes again, years later.
Meanwhile, Tamar's full brother, Absalom, let the hatred build up inside as he bided his time to take revenge. Finally two years later, he was able to manufacture circumstances that allowed him to kill his brother for the rape. Yet now, he found himself on the run, another victim of that original lust. For five years, he didn't see his father, David, even after being brought back to his home. Lust tears families apart.
David's sin affected his judgment. He returned his murderer son to Jerusalem and restored him despite the fact that Absalom was unrepentant. "It was most unrighteous for David to do this, and he was to pay for it dearly," my commentary says. "David spared his son's life, but in response Absalom schemed his father's death."
Amnon probably never dreamed that his private thoughts would have such public results. He failed to chase them out of his head, and they cost his family so much. Satan tries to lie to us to minimize the impact of our thoughts as well. I watched this happen just this week on a popular show on an alleged family channel. We simply MUST NOT buy the lie.
Father, You taught me years ago to teach others that it's the thought that counts, and even though I thoroughly believe it and continue to teach it, I like all men, still find myself attracted to Satan's bait. Help me to stop it as soon as the thought enters my mind. Don't let me indulge myself by rolling it over even once in my mind, for that only stokes the passions and makes it tougher to remove. Let me see it for what it is - a lie straight from the pit of hell.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 15-17 Not WHY, But HOW
David suddenly found his life turned upside down. His son Absalom first began to electioneer, striving to increase his own popularity with the people. Before long, he amassed a following at Hebron and set out for Jerusalem to claim the cr
David suddenly found his life turned upside down. His son Absalom first began to electioneer, striving to increase his own popularity with the people. Before long, he amassed a following at Hebron and set out for Jerusalem to claim the crown for himself and to depose his father. As David fled the city, he faced me who cursed him and threw rocks and dirt at him. Yet he wouldn't allow his followers to attack these people, saying that God might have directed this.
David skipped the why questions and concentrated on his response to adversity. The sidebar in my Bible today, by Charles Stanley, said, "Adversity, regardless of the source, is God's most effective tool for deepening your faith and commitment to Him. The areas in which you are experiencing the most adversity are the areas in which God is at work ... The best way to identify God's involvement in your life is to consider your response to adversity. God uses adversity, regardless of the source. But your response to adversity determines whether or not God is able to use it to accomplish His purpose. As much as we all want to know the answer to the why question, it is really not the most significant question. The real question each of us needs to ask is, "How should I respond?" To spend too much time trying to answer the why question is to run the risk of missing what God wants to teach us."
I've certainly witnessed adversity in my own life during the last week, and yesterday seemed the culmination of it all. As I thought back over the events of that time and applied what Charles Stanley had written, I was glad that I did not find myself asking why. I had simply concentrated on my response.
Father, help me to remember that others are watching to see how I react to adversity. Please help me to understand that You are working in my life whenever adversity exists. Allow me to learn what You are showing me through all of this and help me not to worry about the why's.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
David skipped the why questions and concentrated on his response to adversity. The sidebar in my Bible today, by Charles Stanley, said, "Adversity, regardless of the source, is God's most effective tool for deepening your faith and commitment to Him. The areas in which you are experiencing the most adversity are the areas in which God is at work ... The best way to identify God's involvement in your life is to consider your response to adversity. God uses adversity, regardless of the source. But your response to adversity determines whether or not God is able to use it to accomplish His purpose. As much as we all want to know the answer to the why question, it is really not the most significant question. The real question each of us needs to ask is, "How should I respond?" To spend too much time trying to answer the why question is to run the risk of missing what God wants to teach us."
I've certainly witnessed adversity in my own life during the last week, and yesterday seemed the culmination of it all. As I thought back over the events of that time and applied what Charles Stanley had written, I was glad that I did not find myself asking why. I had simply concentrated on my response.
Father, help me to remember that others are watching to see how I react to adversity. Please help me to understand that You are working in my life whenever adversity exists. Allow me to learn what You are showing me through all of this and help me not to worry about the why's.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 18-20 Loving The Hard-To-Love
Absalom's revolt against his father David was put down, and Absalom was killed despite David's orders. The civil war that had almost started within the tribe of Judah almost spilled over into the other tribes as they jockeyed with Judah
Absalom's revolt against his father David was put down, and Absalom was killed despite David's orders. The civil war that had almost started within the tribe of Judah almost spilled over into the other tribes as they jockeyed with Judah for position in bringing their king back from exile.
David mourned his son's death, despite the fact that Absalom had been trying to usurp the throne. This made David's supporters feel like victims rather than victors. David's army commander Joab let David know in no uncertain terms that it had to stop. Joab had been the one to thrust a spear into Absalom's heart. My commentary said, "Joab did what was best for the kingdom. David had consistently refused to punish his sons for their crimes, so the task fell to someone else."
It's a shame when parents fail to parent their own children for whatever reason. It's a great disservice to the child. Last night at youth, the soon-to-be-sixth-graders came in for a preview night Most of the kids were familiar to me - I'd coached many on teams in the past. We'd received word that over the past year, many in the class had been unruly in Team Kids - the Wednesday night Bible study for elementary school kids. What a great thing it was to have all of the existing middle schoolers providing such a great example of how to act during Bible study.
Over the years, there have been so many GOOD kids who have not been parented well when they first get to youth. I count it a privilege to have the God-given opportunity to be a dad to kids who yearn for someone to love them enough to confront them and to care about them.
Father, bless me as I get to know better this new crop of Your children. Give me an extra measure of patience whenever I need it, and help me to shape them into the image of You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
David mourned his son's death, despite the fact that Absalom had been trying to usurp the throne. This made David's supporters feel like victims rather than victors. David's army commander Joab let David know in no uncertain terms that it had to stop. Joab had been the one to thrust a spear into Absalom's heart. My commentary said, "Joab did what was best for the kingdom. David had consistently refused to punish his sons for their crimes, so the task fell to someone else."
It's a shame when parents fail to parent their own children for whatever reason. It's a great disservice to the child. Last night at youth, the soon-to-be-sixth-graders came in for a preview night Most of the kids were familiar to me - I'd coached many on teams in the past. We'd received word that over the past year, many in the class had been unruly in Team Kids - the Wednesday night Bible study for elementary school kids. What a great thing it was to have all of the existing middle schoolers providing such a great example of how to act during Bible study.
Over the years, there have been so many GOOD kids who have not been parented well when they first get to youth. I count it a privilege to have the God-given opportunity to be a dad to kids who yearn for someone to love them enough to confront them and to care about them.
Father, bless me as I get to know better this new crop of Your children. Give me an extra measure of patience whenever I need it, and help me to shape them into the image of You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 21-22 MAN, He Had A Way With Words!
David's words show what a close relationship he had with God. I have several favorites that describe my relationship with Him: "The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock... He is my shield and my savin
David's words show what a close relationship he had with God. I have several favorites that describe my relationship with Him:
Father, I praise You as David did. I want to know You as he did. Please continue to reveal Yourself to me. Thank You for loving me so much!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.
My God is my rock...
He is my shield and my savings strength ...
In my trouble I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God.
From His temple He heard my voice ...
He tore open the sky and came down ...
The Lord thundered from heaven ...
The Lord reached down from above and took me;
He pulled me from the deep water.
He saved me ...
The Lord supported me. He took me to a safe place.
BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN ME, HE SAVED ME ...
You have stooped to make me great.
You give me a better way to live,
So I live as You WANT me to ...
The Lord lives! May my Rock be praised!
Praise God, the Rock, who saves me!
Father, I praise You as David did. I want to know You as he did. Please continue to reveal Yourself to me. Thank You for loving me so much!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 23 & 24 -- Like David, Like Me
David once allowed Satan to stoke his pride so that he desired to know the size of him army (by making a census of the people which would in turn allow him to know the potential size of his army - all men capable of bearing arms). God had earli
David once allowed Satan to stoke his pride so that he desired to know the size of him army (by making a census of the people which would in turn allow him to know the potential size of his army - all men capable of bearing arms). God had earlier forbidden the counting of the people because He knew it would lead to pride and dependence upon the army instead of Him.
"David felt ashamed after he had counted the people. He said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly by what I have done. Lord, I beg You to forgive me, Your servant, because I have been very foolish.' " Don't we all have to say that all too often as well! Thankfully, David knew to be penitent.
God caused a terrible disease to kill 70,000 people. "When David saw the angel that killed the people, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who sinned and did wrong. These people only followed me like sheep. They did nothing wrong. Please punish me and my family.' "
In effect, David was saying, "Let my family take on their sins." And Jesus did.
As if to clarify that, in 23:5, God spoke through David, saying, "This is how God cared for my family. God made a lasting agreement with me, right and sure in every way. He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy all my desires."
God did accomplish David's salvation - by bringing Christ through David's lineage, who died for the sins of all men.
Father, over my lifetime I too have been very foolish and sinned greatly. And each time You have been faithful to forgive and forget my sins. I cannot thank You enough. David's words in Psalm 40 fit my life as well: "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth - praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and trust in the Lord." Thank You, Father!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"David felt ashamed after he had counted the people. He said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly by what I have done. Lord, I beg You to forgive me, Your servant, because I have been very foolish.' " Don't we all have to say that all too often as well! Thankfully, David knew to be penitent.
God caused a terrible disease to kill 70,000 people. "When David saw the angel that killed the people, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who sinned and did wrong. These people only followed me like sheep. They did nothing wrong. Please punish me and my family.' "
In effect, David was saying, "Let my family take on their sins." And Jesus did.
As if to clarify that, in 23:5, God spoke through David, saying, "This is how God cared for my family. God made a lasting agreement with me, right and sure in every way. He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy all my desires."
God did accomplish David's salvation - by bringing Christ through David's lineage, who died for the sins of all men.
Father, over my lifetime I too have been very foolish and sinned greatly. And each time You have been faithful to forgive and forget my sins. I cannot thank You enough. David's words in Psalm 40 fit my life as well: "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth - praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and trust in the Lord." Thank You, Father!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Romans 1 -- God WILL Oblige You....
An unrepentant, unsaved sinner ought to be thrilled by reading Romans 1, for if their desire is to get as far away from God as possible, it reveals how readily God will oblige them. Verse 18 says that God's wrath is revealed against thos
An unrepentant, unsaved sinner ought to be thrilled by reading Romans 1, for if their desire is to get as far away from God as possible, it reveals how readily God will oblige them.
Verse 18 says that God's wrath is revealed against those who suppress the truth. How?
1) God gives men over to uncleanness (our physical bodies)
2) God gives men over to vile affections (our emotional selves)
3) God gives men over to a reprobate mind (our intellects)
That means He lets them have their way, if they want it.
My commentary says, "They gave THEMSELVES over to futile philosophies and speculations about other gods, and as a result LOST the capacity to see."
It continues: "As men grew more conceited over their self-styled knowledge, they plunged deeper into ignorance and nonsense. These two things always characterize those who reject the knowledge of God - they become insufferably conceited and abysmally ignorant at the same time."
Father, "free will" amounts to You giving us as much rope as we want to hang ourselves. You could have kept us tightly to Yourself, but You valued even more the worship of a creature who could choose NOT to worship You. I'm sorry that I ever allowed myself to ask or demand more rope than I ever intended to have. I became insufferably conceited and abysmally ignorant in my rebellion. I'll never be able to thank You enough for choosing to reel me back in when You could have simply let go. I certainly deserved it.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Verse 18 says that God's wrath is revealed against those who suppress the truth. How?
1) God gives men over to uncleanness (our physical bodies)
2) God gives men over to vile affections (our emotional selves)
3) God gives men over to a reprobate mind (our intellects)
That means He lets them have their way, if they want it.
My commentary says, "They gave THEMSELVES over to futile philosophies and speculations about other gods, and as a result LOST the capacity to see."
It continues: "As men grew more conceited over their self-styled knowledge, they plunged deeper into ignorance and nonsense. These two things always characterize those who reject the knowledge of God - they become insufferably conceited and abysmally ignorant at the same time."
Father, "free will" amounts to You giving us as much rope as we want to hang ourselves. You could have kept us tightly to Yourself, but You valued even more the worship of a creature who could choose NOT to worship You. I'm sorry that I ever allowed myself to ask or demand more rope than I ever intended to have. I became insufferably conceited and abysmally ignorant in my rebellion. I'll never be able to thank You enough for choosing to reel me back in when You could have simply let go. I certainly deserved it.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Romans 2 -- It's What's On The INSIDE That Counts
A popular Christian song says, "And we're all guilty of the same things - we think the thoughts whether or not we see them through ..." That comes right out of verse 1: "If you think you can judge others, you are wrong.
A popular Christian song says, "And we're all guilty of the same things - we think the thoughts whether or not we see them through ..." That comes right out of verse 1: "If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty, because YOU do the SAME things THEY do."
My commentary could foresee someone claiming that they haven't committed "every sin in the book", and had these answers:
1) He is capable of committing them all.
2) By breaking one commandment, he is guilty of all.
3) He has committed sins of THOUGHT which he may never have committed in actual deed, and these are forbidden by the word. Jesus taught that the lustful look, for instance, is tantamount to adultery."
As if backing this up, it mentioned about verse 16: "It teaches one final truth about the judgment of God - namely, it will take into account the secrets of men, not just their public sin."
Knowing what the Bible says is never enough, these verse tell us. God is looking for a life change. Otherwise, it's "simply pride ... without any corresponding moral transformation ... God is not a mere ritualist; He is not satisfied with external ceremonies unless they are accompanied by inward holiness ... He looks for inward sincerity and purity, " my commentary said.
Father, I don't want to be guilty of "high talk and low walk". I know that You see to the core of me. I know that, without divine strength, I am incapable of living the kind of life You call me to live. Please continue to provide me with that strength, so that my actions and my thoughts will honor You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
My commentary could foresee someone claiming that they haven't committed "every sin in the book", and had these answers:
1) He is capable of committing them all.
2) By breaking one commandment, he is guilty of all.
3) He has committed sins of THOUGHT which he may never have committed in actual deed, and these are forbidden by the word. Jesus taught that the lustful look, for instance, is tantamount to adultery."
As if backing this up, it mentioned about verse 16: "It teaches one final truth about the judgment of God - namely, it will take into account the secrets of men, not just their public sin."
Knowing what the Bible says is never enough, these verse tell us. God is looking for a life change. Otherwise, it's "simply pride ... without any corresponding moral transformation ... God is not a mere ritualist; He is not satisfied with external ceremonies unless they are accompanied by inward holiness ... He looks for inward sincerity and purity, " my commentary said.
Father, I don't want to be guilty of "high talk and low walk". I know that You see to the core of me. I know that, without divine strength, I am incapable of living the kind of life You call me to live. Please continue to provide me with that strength, so that my actions and my thoughts will honor You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Romans 3 -- Calling A Spade A Spade
Paul was directed by God to spend time showing us hard-headed sinners that we are indeed sinners -- that we can in no way pull a rabbit out of a hat to save ourselves. He first says unequivocally that being Jewish does absolutely nothing to put anyon
Paul was directed by God to spend time showing us hard-headed sinners that we are indeed sinners -- that we can in no way pull a rabbit out of a hat to save ourselves.
He first says unequivocally that being Jewish does absolutely nothing to put anyone on a surer footing with God. If anything, it should make a person know all the more what a sinner he is.
"There is no one who always does what is right, not even one. There is no one who understands [the depths of their sin]. There is no one who looks to God for help [apart from His allowing the Holy Spirit to bring such a desire into someone's heart].... All have turned away ... There is no one who does anything good; there is not even one."
My commentary foresees someone saying, "But I'VE never done that sin!" It says in reply, "Obviously every man has not committed every sin; BUT he has a nature which is capable of committing them all." God does not have such a nature.
If everyone's a sinner, how can they be justified by a holy God? In verse 21, we are shown that, "Because God is holy, He cannot condone sin or overlook it or wink at it. He must punish it. And the punishment for sin is death. Yet God loves the sinner and wants to save him. What a dilemma. It requires a God-sized solution, and He gave it to us in His Son."
God made provision for a perfect, sinless, substitute -- His Son -- to take the punishment for any and all sinners. Through His life, He'd met all of God's demands. And when we realize this, believe it, and ask him to step in for us, He does. We can say, "I did all the sinning; Jesus did all the saving."
In our arrogance, we like to think that we could have "not sinned", but we're just fooling ourselves if we do. Intellectually, we have to be truthful with ourselves about our capacity to sin, whether in thought or in deed. We have to stop lying to ourselves and just admit three little words -- "I'm a sinner." That's the start it takes to find our way back to God.
Father, I can remember my own false pride, knowing full well how sinful I was and utterly afraid to admit it. You were my only hope. And this creature trusted his Creator. Now that I look back, it was the only logical thing to do. That's where it had to start, and I'm glad You wore me down until I truthfully admitted it, so You could save me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
He first says unequivocally that being Jewish does absolutely nothing to put anyone on a surer footing with God. If anything, it should make a person know all the more what a sinner he is.
"There is no one who always does what is right, not even one. There is no one who understands [the depths of their sin]. There is no one who looks to God for help [apart from His allowing the Holy Spirit to bring such a desire into someone's heart].... All have turned away ... There is no one who does anything good; there is not even one."
My commentary foresees someone saying, "But I'VE never done that sin!" It says in reply, "Obviously every man has not committed every sin; BUT he has a nature which is capable of committing them all." God does not have such a nature.
If everyone's a sinner, how can they be justified by a holy God? In verse 21, we are shown that, "Because God is holy, He cannot condone sin or overlook it or wink at it. He must punish it. And the punishment for sin is death. Yet God loves the sinner and wants to save him. What a dilemma. It requires a God-sized solution, and He gave it to us in His Son."
God made provision for a perfect, sinless, substitute -- His Son -- to take the punishment for any and all sinners. Through His life, He'd met all of God's demands. And when we realize this, believe it, and ask him to step in for us, He does. We can say, "I did all the sinning; Jesus did all the saving."
In our arrogance, we like to think that we could have "not sinned", but we're just fooling ourselves if we do. Intellectually, we have to be truthful with ourselves about our capacity to sin, whether in thought or in deed. We have to stop lying to ourselves and just admit three little words -- "I'm a sinner." That's the start it takes to find our way back to God.
Father, I can remember my own false pride, knowing full well how sinful I was and utterly afraid to admit it. You were my only hope. And this creature trusted his Creator. Now that I look back, it was the only logical thing to do. That's where it had to start, and I'm glad You wore me down until I truthfully admitted it, so You could save me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Romans 4 -- No Surer Thing In The Universe
Paul faced a pretty tough job trying to convey this new gospel to his fellow Jews, who'd pretty much always thought that if they were able to trace their bloodline back to Abraham, then they were God's chosen people and therefore had special
Paul faced a pretty tough job trying to convey this new gospel to his fellow Jews, who'd pretty much always thought that if they were able to trace their bloodline back to Abraham, then they were God's chosen people and therefore had special privilege before Him.
I thoroughly loved the masterful arguments that God had given him; it was almost like hearing an Author point out connections in His book that I had totally missed as a reader.
My commentary cut right to the chase in verses 20-22:
"The apparent impossibility that the promise [of a son] would ever be fulfilled didn't stagger Abraham. God had said it; Abraham believed it; that settled it. As far as the patriarch was concerned there was only one Impossibility and that was for God to lie ... Abraham did not know how God would fulfill His word, but that was incidental. He knew God and had every confidence that God was fully able to do what He had promised. In one way, it was wonderful faith, but in another way it was the most reasonable thing to do, because God's word is the surest thing in the universe, and for Abraham there was no risk in believing it! God was pleased to find a man who took Him at His word; He always is. And so He credited righteousness to Abraham's account."
I felt the same way when I was in the process of adopting my oldest son. God had told me just as clearly as He did Abraham that He was giving me a son. I'd heard God say it, and from then on, it was only a matter of how God was going to remove roadblocks, not if He could. I took Him at His word, and He blessed me indeed!
Father, I wish everyone could hear from You so clearly and know and feel what I did. There is nothing more sure than Your word. All other things might fail, but Your word will never fail.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
I thoroughly loved the masterful arguments that God had given him; it was almost like hearing an Author point out connections in His book that I had totally missed as a reader.
My commentary cut right to the chase in verses 20-22:
"The apparent impossibility that the promise [of a son] would ever be fulfilled didn't stagger Abraham. God had said it; Abraham believed it; that settled it. As far as the patriarch was concerned there was only one Impossibility and that was for God to lie ... Abraham did not know how God would fulfill His word, but that was incidental. He knew God and had every confidence that God was fully able to do what He had promised. In one way, it was wonderful faith, but in another way it was the most reasonable thing to do, because God's word is the surest thing in the universe, and for Abraham there was no risk in believing it! God was pleased to find a man who took Him at His word; He always is. And so He credited righteousness to Abraham's account."
I felt the same way when I was in the process of adopting my oldest son. God had told me just as clearly as He did Abraham that He was giving me a son. I'd heard God say it, and from then on, it was only a matter of how God was going to remove roadblocks, not if He could. I took Him at His word, and He blessed me indeed!
Father, I wish everyone could hear from You so clearly and know and feel what I did. There is nothing more sure than Your word. All other things might fail, but Your word will never fail.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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