Category Archives: god is good

The Romans Challenge: The Riches of His Kindness

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Today we start chapter 2

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“’Cause He is good, and He is God
What I earned, it’s not what I got
And He is just yet also kind
What I deserve, it’s not what I find
What more could I say about Him?
My God is love” – Chris Renzema “God is Love”

You and I are all lawbreakers/ sinners. It’s what is in us, our nature. We all need to recognize that sin has been our practice. What we deserve is punishment. BUT God!

Through Jesus we see the “riches of His (God’s) Kindness.” Kindness is defined as “Act of good will; beneficence; any act of benevolence which promotes the happiness or welfare of others.” Webster’s 1828.

God’s plans for us are good! He works in our circumstances to prosper and benefit us – which is love. He promotes our happiness – enjoyment of good – when our happiness is found in Him.

I love the song I quoted above. The phrase I quoted always sticks out to me. In Jesus, I don’t get what I deserve. God’s kindness is rich towards me. It is abundant and overflowing!

May we truly see what God has done for us! Then we will love Him all the more!

The Romans Challenge: The Wrath of Our Loving God

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“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today we read Romans 1.

God hates sin! But why? How could a God whose very nature is to love hate anything? The answer is pretty simple: Sin destroys the ones God loves. At the beginning with Adam and Eve, sin destroyed God’s connection to all of us and introduced death into our world.

God is perfect. He is perfect in love, goodness, doing what is right (righteousness), etc… His perfection has no sin within it. This means the consequences of our sin has to be separation from Him. Sin cannot live in Him. We experience death in our sin, because He is life. When God is not present within our lives, we are walking in “godlessness.” Our actions are “wicked” which is our departure from following His ways. His perfection means we cannot be united to Him in our imperfection or sin. His “wrath” is His “justifiable abhorrence” (Webster’s 1828) to sin. He cannot, in His great love and goodness, embrace the things that brings destruction— our sins…

Sin is a choice. It is not an uncontrollable impulse… I know because I have experienced it. For years, I wanted to do things my way. I chose to… I heard the Word of God at church and read it on occasion. But I chose not to obey. This lead to much anxiety, depression, anger, bitterness, etc.

But thankfully God wants us to live free! This is why He has given us the opportunity to know Him. 

“since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is making Himself plain to us! He has given us all we need to know Him! He doesn’t want the truth of His Word to be suppressed in our lives by our ignoring it or cherry picking it.

May we embrace the truth of God’s Word and obey it fully so we can live as we are meant to live — in a deep relationship with God.

The Romans Challenge: Live by Faith – Connection to God

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“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today we read Romans 1)

Sin divides. It separates. It keeps us from what we were meant to be all along, closely connected to God in an intimate relationship with Him. The gospel – Good News – is we do not have to live separated any more. Jesus made the way for us by paying the penalty for our sins on the cross.

The restoration of our relationship with God through Jesus and His gift of salvation is only the beginning! We receive what Jesus has done for us as a gift by faith. It isn’t anything we have done. He cleanses us from sin. We are made right with God. Connection is restored! BUT we were meant for more! This relationship we have with God is a daily living “by faith.” As we live connected to Him, our relationship is meant to grow!

Faith is trusting in God. It is placing our confidence in Him. It is believing what He says. Living by faith is a day in day out relationship of hearing God speak to us through His Word, listening to it – paying attention to it, and doing what He says. All of this is for our good. Because God is good, all He does is good, and His plans for us are good. In fact He is a work in our lives working ALL things for our good! (Psalm 119:68, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28)

A life of faith is a life living connected to God. It is like a baby in the womb. That baby is connected to her mom by the umbilical cord. Everything the baby needs is provided. The baby doesn’t have to second guess or worry about what will happen next. That baby is connected to her mom. We don’t have to worry or second guess. The power of the Gospel has connected us to God. The more we know Him and grow in our relationship with Him the more our faith will grow. We will rest in calm assurance that our God holds us closely to Him, and we can live our lives believing and trusting Him — We can live by faith!

The Romans Challenge- Called to Belong

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“And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬

(Today we read Romans 1)

You and I were created for connection. We were meant to be a part of and in relationship with someone greater than us. We were created to belong. Paul puts it this way, we are “called to belong to Jesus…”

When God first created man, He stated something very profound:

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone…””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is not good for any of us to be alone and disconnected. We can see it easily in the life of the most fragile amongst us, a baby. Without connection to their mother and father, lack of physical contact, (skin on skin time— close and intimate) a baby will present as “failure to thrive.” They simply will not develop correctly without experiencing “belonging.”

Spiritually, we will not as well. God knows this. His great love draws us in for connection to Himself. He knows that without us experiencing, “belonging” to Him, we will be “failure to thrive” spiritually. This will affect every area of our lives. We will lack peace, love, and joy if we live disconnected from Him. We NEED to belong to Him.

Paul states not only that we are “called to belong”, but we are “called to be God’s “holy people” i.e. “saints”. (Verse 7) To be holy is to be set apart for God. It is to be conformed to His image and have our life regulated by His divine precepts (i.e. God’s Word) -Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.

Our connection to our loving Heavenly Father, will cause us to grow as we were meant to grow. We will become more and more like Him in every way — His image bearer.

Do you feel the longing “to belong?” This is what you were created for — relationship with God.

He longs for you “to belong” to Him as well. In fact our verse says, He called us to belong to Jesus Christ. He called us to be His Holy people — set apart for Himself.

All we have to do is come to Him responding “Yes God, I want to be connected to you! I no longer want to live my life alone. I give myself to You. I belong to You!”

The Roman’s Challenge: Slave of God

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“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I cannot tell you how often I have wrestled with God. Beginning this study is another example of that wrestling.

Last month, as I was finishing my study of James, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to invite you all on a journey with me through Romans. But, I have resisted. I felt like it was too big for me. Truthfully it is. Anything we do in our lives is “too big.” That is why we need Jesus! This is why He has given us the Holy Spirit to be our helper.

Paul opens Romans stating He is a “servant of Christ Jesus…” The Greek word for servant is “duolos” which is interpreted “slave.” A slave is defined as “A person who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who has no will of his own, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

When you and I say that Jesus is “Lord” of our lives, we are stating that we have become His “slave.” He owns our lives. Whatever He says, we must do. He is not a harsh and cruel taskmaster. He is good and everything He does is good. What He commands us to do is for our good.

Our service to Him was purchased by His love, and our obedience to Him is a display of our love for Him in return!

Oh how I long to have a heart that is fully and instantly obedient to my Lord! I fail at times, but I am hoping that my response time to His call is getting better.

As Paul said, I am a slave to Christ and set apart for the gospel ( The Good News)! My obedience brings glory to Him and displays to others His image so they can see Him too. Then they can respond to His call saying, “Yes You are my Lord, I am a slave to Christ. Whatever You say, Wherever You send me, I will obey!

Join me in reading the Book of Romans. We will read chapter 1 for a week. Each day we will read it expecting the Holy Spirit to speak to us through His Word!  This is the Romans Challenge that God has put before me.Join me!

James: Turn Back the Wanderer

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This week is James 5.

“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Speak the truth of the Word of God! We do not know who it will be that we are in contact with that needs to hear it.

This verse is of great significance to me. Five years ago, I was living as one who had wandered from the truth. There was someone who was bold enough to tell me the truth about the lies I was believing. She turned “a sinner from the error of their way.” And she saved me “from death” and covered “over a multitude of sins” in my life. I am so grateful!

When we walk in error/ sin, we need someone who will stand firm on the Word of God and tell us the Truth in the Word. It is the only way for us to live free!

Don’t be afraid to be thought of as different, radical, or extreme! God wants to use you to bring back His children to Him!

James: Faith

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(Today is James 2)

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Faith — the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) When we hear the Word and take it into our hearts, it will do a work producing faith within us. When we receive what is said, we believe it!

What we really believe or our “faith” produces “deeds” or action within us. What is in our hearts will come out of us and be on display for everyone to see.

James tells us if our faith does not produce action it is dead. (Verse 17) A dead faith makes it impossible to please God.

God wants for us to believe what He says and to act on what He says because it is for our good! He loves us so much!!

James: Do What It Says!

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(Today is James 1) 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In America, we have ample opportunity to “listen to the word.” We can download the Bible to our phones. We can freely attend church without fear of persecution. We can tune into countless podcasts that talk about the word. We have Christian TV, Christian Radio, Christian entertainment —movies, concerts, etc.

We could listen to and or attend every single thing I have mentioned and walk away unmoved by it. Why? Because we refuse to act upon what we have heard.

This is not the relationship that God desires for us to have with Him! 

“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are to “look intently” and to “continue in” the Word. We are to “not forget what we have heard, but DO IT.”

Our encounters with God’s Word are to be taken into our heart and His Word is supposed to make a change in our lives. The Life the Word produces through our obedience is supposed to eradicate the death our sinful choices have brought. The Truth we are receiving is supposed to expose the lies. The Word will produce freedom where captivity to sin has abounded. The Word will bring blessing in all we do.

Why do we choose to stay in the pattern of our own ways when we hear the Word speaking the way to go?

Don’t merely listen to what the Word is saying! Do IT!

James — Stand My Ground

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“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today we read James 1)

Persevere – “To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what is undertaken” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Life is not easy! Jesus made it clear that this would always be the case. He told us: 

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are told frequently to “stand firm” in the Word of God. This is another term for the word “persevere.”

James tells us that we are “blessed” (Greek — Happy) if we “persevere” or refuse to abandon what we have undertaken — our close and intimate relationship with Jesus.

There will be tests or our faith, but when we have stood firm throughout the tests we are ultimately promised the “crown of life” (eternal reward and victory).

We are told in Ephesians 6:10 that our strength to make a stand against the enemies schemes is “in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

It is not easy, but it is the best. If we refuse to persevere and give up, our enemy will not stop his assaults. They will only intensify. Because he is bent on our destruction. Jesus put it this way:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our choice is clear. Persevere — life and true happiness. Cave to the pressure — death, darkness, and destruction.

Show Us The Father — Servant

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Today is Mark 10: 32-52.

“Love needs an object to whom it can give itself away, in whom it can lose itself, with whom it can make itself one.” — Andrew Murray

To be honest, thinking about Our Heavenly Father as a Servant has been uncomfortable to me. In my mind, I’ve had Jesus as “the good cop” in the trinity, and the Heavenly Father as “the bad cop.” Which is not true at all. There is no “bad” in God.

When I was reading this section of Scripture this morning and came upon this verse, I was in awe: 

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 ESV

Jesus came to reveal the Father to us. When we see Him, we see our Heavenly Father. Jesus came as the Humble Servant. This means our Heavenly Father is the Humble Servant too!

The Greek word for serve that is used in this verse is “diakonēsai.” This is translated in other verses as “minister.” To minister is to afford supplies, to give things needful, to supply the means of relief; to relieve. Our Heavenly Father has done just that. He gives and gives and gives. He provides all that we need. He is always at work for our good in every situation. He serves!

When Jesus knelt on His knees and washed the feet of His disciples, He displayed the very love of our Heavenly Father, who serves us. Jesus, the King of Kings, took the nature of a servant and gave Himself away to provide the very thing His disciples needed, His love.

Our Heavenly Father sent His Son to meet our most pressing need, salvation from sin. “For God so loved the world, He gave…” He ministered… He served us out of His love.

Our Heavenly Father serves us as any good Dad would. He takes good care of us! He provides, sustains, is attentive to our cry, etc,

Jesus shows us the Father who serves. We were made to display that image to others, i.e. imitate God! May we give ourselves away in service that glorifies our Heavenly Father who gives Himself in service to us!