Settling for Good rather than God

"A good thing becomes a bad thing when it replaces the best thing."

Good versus Best
I do a lot of good things.  I don't do a lot of better things.  My motives for doing and not doing these things vary from  pride, selfishness, fear, worry, and a whole laundry list of more things.  God has been gently calling me to himself through a variety of people and circumstances.  He has provided for me in ways that I can't explain except that it was ALL Him.

Settling for Good rather than God

God showed me on Sunday through Saul turned Paul's testimony the significance of a "good" person's testimony.  Saul was a Jew, a Hebrew of Hebrews from the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee very knowledgeable of the Jewish scripture and laws.  He was zealous for his beliefs so much so that he was willing to stop anyone that opposed his beliefs.  He was a "good Jew."  He was faithful and devoutly religious.  He followed all of the rules.  He did what he knew was right.

But God...
God interrupted Saul's religious devotion and law abiding goodness and showed him His abundant grace through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  God introduced the relationship that could if he chose to follow.  Saul gave up all of his accolades and accomplishments in his Jewish faith for the relationship he gained through Jesus.  Saul died to his rules and regulations and emerged as Paul, a sold out devoted follower of Jesus Christ with a real, relationship with God.  Paul was so changed by this relationship that he counted his previous life as a loss.  Nothing. Waste. (Dung in the KJV, which we all know is...poop).
My "good" is nothing without God.  It is waste.  I can't do anything without God.  I rely on God for my next breath.  I need to choose God rather than settling for my own "good."  I hope this is encouraging, and please don't settle for your good when God has what is best for you.  Draw close and be willing to trust Him and obey Him.  He is truly the best.

Walking by Faith,

Choose Your Consequences Carefully

I have noticed some beliefs floating around about God that are FALSE.  The idea that God is a loving God, and everyone should love everyone and accept them for "who they are no matter what they have done or are doing."  This is completely untrue!  You must love the sinner, but NOT the sin.  Yes, God is Love, but God is also just.  Because God is love and just, He can't stand sin.  Sin has to be paid for.  Sin is a debt that each person owes, and it must be paid.  The payment is death. His judgement will pour over all mankind in the near future.

Another thing people don't seem to understand is sin.  Most people have a sense of right and wrong. There are a few that believe everyone is good in the world, which I find nearly laughable in light of the events of this world and the evil reported each night on the evening news.  As for the majority with a knowledge of right and wrong, they know wrong is sin.  Simply put, sin is anything you think, say or do that breaks God's laws.  Yes, we could get into a debate as to what God's laws were and justify ourself out of nearly anything.  

Using the Bible as the source and standard for truth, God's laws are clearly found within its sacred pages.  This definition clearly addresses three areas where we sin.  It begins in our thoughts and moves out toward our speech and how we say things on to action, where we willfully take action against God's laws.  All of this can happen within seconds.  Sin is sin.  There is no sin bigger or smaller than another.  Let me say that again, Sin is sin.  There is no sin BIGGER or smaller than another. Sin is equal; the consequences are different.  Did you catch that?  Sin is equal; the consequences are different.  

Telling a lie and extramarital sex/homosexuality are sins.  One is not better or worse than the other.  The consequences are different.  A lie could result in other sin or if confessed immediately, the consequence is minimal such as parental discipline or such.  Extramarital sex could have a variety of consequences such as parenthood, STDs, emotional damage, strained relationships, and more.  Homosexuality has similar consequences such as STDs, emotional issues, broken relationships, social issues, and more.

There are many other examples of sin and its varying consequences, but there is good news.  The sin payment was paid for us.  God, out of His amazing love (that is where love comes in), sent His only Son, Jesus to die on a cruel cross as our sin payment.  Death was the required payment, so God arranged for us a alternate.  Because Jesus died on the cross, we are now given the choice to identify with Christ's payment or take the payment ourselves and live in separation from God forever in Hell.  It is your choice.  God is waiting.  

Churches are not to condone sin.  Their role in ministry to sinners is to love and assist them in making the neccessary changes from sin and towards Christ.  God is love and just, and so must our churches.