misterg

Justice would be fair and equitable treatment. Vengeance is repaying the crime as it was meted out; mercy is receiving forgiveness in place of punishment. I've been approached with this question before, especially as it copncerns hell. People argue, "How can a loving God send people to hell?" They forget that He is a righteous and just God also, who must punish sin. The reason for hell is because of all the crimes committed since the dawn of time. If God allowed all the murderers, rapists, warmongers, etc., to go free without retribution for the victims, then He is not a loving God, much less a righteous one. I also tell people that God's mercy is greater than all our sins, that mercy does have limits, and we cannot casually dismiss sin for any reason. That's what makes the cross so wonderful. Jesus cancelled the sin debt so that we can be free from the bondage of sin. This does not give us freedom to sin. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection on my behalf, I want not to sin. Willfully being disobedient is out of the question. Grace gives us freedom from sin and the need to sin.

Christ followers should be the first ones to help out the helpless. This could start by giving to the local church. Dr. Tony Evans made the remark that if every person who calls themselves a Christian gave as they should, they would be no poor in America because the church would be able to supply everyone's need. The number one cause of starvation and hunger in the world is because of natural causes like draught, but because people in power are witholding the supplies from the powerless. This is true of dictators and regimes who hoard necessary supplies so that they would remain in power. Sadly, it's true of us when we withold our blessings for ourselves and not help the least of these. God, help us. Many people are wary of giving to the poor because a lot of us have heard of others who sponge off the system and won't lift a finger to help themselves, causing an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. While there are some whom Paul would admonish like to the Thessalonians that "if they don't work, they don't eat," there are far more people who are indeed unable to help themselves out of their state who need help. We should be their advocates, not their enemies. We should not only give, but also build relationships with them and share the love of Christ.

I counted seven- Yahweh, the Rock of our salvation, the presence,great God, great King, our Maker, and Shepherd. When the psalmist says that we are "the sheep of his hand," we need to be like sheep, who constantly rely on the guidance of a shepherd to keep from going astray.

The one word that stands out for me is "weary' which is used four times. It contrasts our strength vs. God's strength in that while we finite beings grow weary and weak in our old age, God'd strength never diminishes. If we will call upon Him, he can give us the strength we need. Our Creator is also our Re-Creator, giving life back into things that were once considered dead. This is the image that Jesus was trying to give Nicodemus when He told him in John 3 that "You must be born again."

If I were an artist, I would have unlimited rights as far as my art is concerned. First, I have royalty rights, which means that my work belongs to me and no one else can use my work for their own purposes without my consent. Second, I determine the value of my work. I could sell my work to the highest bidder or set a price on it myself and charge the price I want for it. Finally, the art would be a reflection of me. Great artists are identified by their masterpieces. It's like a reading passage I read in my class called, "What Makes a Rembrandt a Rembrandt?" The gist of that is that you can rec oignize an artist's work by the lines, colors, styles, and nuances he or she uses. In drawing the analogy to God, He is our Maker, and therefore we belong to Him. He also gives us our value and worth. Finally, since we are made in His image, we reflect what God is like. WE can reflectt His might, His goodness, His love, etc.

The Potter knows exactly what He had in mind when He created us. I want certain talents, gifts, abilities, etc., but I know that the ones I have came directl from God Himself. People often think that they have no gifts or abilities and therefore think they have nothing to offer other people. Others are jealous of other people's gifs and abilities and think to themselves, Why couldn't I be more like so-and-so?" These are ways we show contempt for our Maker. We should be grateful and recognize our makeup and allow God to use us in the capacities He created us to be in.

I think David's faith allowed him to face the giant, knowing that a) the Living God would protect him, or if he died, the Living God would protect his soul. I may be stretching a bit when I suggest this, since there is no evidence that David believed in an afterlife. At the least, he knew that Yahweh had the ability to do anything he wanted and David could rest knowing, as long as he stayed in his will, he would be covered one way or another. As far as Hebrews is concerned, I defer to the Jameson commentary: 31. fearful . to fall into the hands-It is good like David to fall into the hands of God, rather than man, when one does so with filial faith in his father's love, though God chastises him. "It is fearful" to fall into His hands as a reprobate and presumptuous sinner doomed to His just vengeance as Judge (Heb 10:27).[/i][/i][/b]

John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This confirms God saying, "I AM THAT I AM". God has existed from the beginning and will continue throughout eternity.

I dunno. I'm having a hard time handling things in the finite sense that eternity seems like a totally abstract idea. But I like it. My sense is that I will have such joy and overwhelming awe of heaven and of God Himself that forever will seem like a day.

Yahweh reveals God's eternal nature, that there was never a moment in time where He did not exist. Since He was eternal and everlasting, He could not die or fade away, so that He will always be with His people and His children. All the gods had some sort of beginning or existence that wasn't everlasting. In most cultures, they believed that even the gods would have an end. But Yahweh made it clear that he would never end, that all hings would pass away, but the Word of God would remain.

For some people, knowing the victory is ours is enough for them. Surprisingly, I don't. The best way I can explain it is in sports terms. Sometimes, if a team builds up a commanding lead in a game, they tend to relax more. In some cases, they get careless and start getting lazy. Then the other team comes back and by this time has built enough momenum to take the lead. I sometimes take for granted that God is fighting the battle for us that I get lazy myself. Then I find myself in the same messes I had gotten myself into, then start beating myself up for being lazy. Thank God for His mercy and grace to help restore. I must never forget that though the battle is the Lord's, we are still called to "be ever vigilant" in our lives so that sin doesn't overtake us. Timidity has no place in this battle. Neither does brashness. While God fights for us, we are still called to "put on the armor" and fight for ourselves. We win "not by our might, not by our power, but by His Spirit". If we deceive ourselves and think we have things under complete control, God may let us "fall" a little in order for us to see the error of our ways and turn back to Him.

I'm reminded of the climax of the movie "The Patriot". Near the end of the film, when it looks like the Patriot army was to suffer yet another demoralizing defeat at the hands of Conwallis and the British, the lead character, played by Mel Gibson, rallies the troops by carring the American flag into battle. At the point, these men, who seemed scared and depressed, suddenly find the courage to stand their ground and eventually gain a decisive victory over the British that day, which turned the tide for the entire war, leading up to Yorktown. While this was probably a fictitional story for the most part, it proves the point. I'm sure that there were times that the Israelites were on the brink of disaster in their fight with the Amalekites at times. All throughout the Pentateuach (sp?), it seemed like their faith was literally hanging by a thread. As long as they saw Moses's rod, it reminded them that God was with them and would not forsake them. That would be enough motivation for them to rally to victory. In the midst of our struggles in life, it seems like God is very far away. But we have this promise from Jesus that He will "never leave you nor forsake you." I can always trust in my Jehovah-nissi to remind me that I am already victorious, that all I have to do is look to him and be saved from my enemies. Hallelujah!

Jesus had to face this alone because He was the Lamb of God. According to Hebrews, he was the perfect, unblemished lamb that would be sacrificed for the paymen of sin on behalf of all humanity. None of the angels in heaven could have been qualified to make that kind of sacrifice. Plus, if Jesus called the heavenly hosts to battle at that moment, it would mean the end of the world as we know it. When he does, indeed, call on the heavenly hosts, it will usher in the new age of heaven and earth.

I nsometimes forget that while God was the God of the Israelites, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacb, He is still the God of all creation and Lord of the nations. While He specifically chose the people of Israel to enter a covenant relationship with Him, he was still concerned for other peoples. I'm sure He took no delight in the destruction of other people; in fact, He must have been saddened to think that there was no there was no other recourse of action. At the same time, Joshua needed to understand that He had to be on God's side, not the other way around. When we pray in the Lord's prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," we are saying that His will should be done, regardless of what our wishes are and what our will is. We need to conform our will to God's, not the other way around. Because this came at a moment of where he's about to engage in the battle of his life, Joshua found the strength and courage he needed, knowing that God was going to be with him. It is both encouraging and uplifting kinowing that he would not have the weight of this battle squarely on his shoulders, but that God would help him gain the victory.

Moses, whenever he went into the tabernacle to talk with the Lord, came out with his face literally radiating with God's glory. That kind of close contact with God changed him so dramatically that it even changed his physical appearance. Wow, I wish that I could be that close with God! The fact that we worship a glorious God should change us dramatically. When I spend time with the Lord in worship and meditation, I feel much different. I'm not weighed down by my mistakes, my weaknesses, my faults and my cares. I want God's glory to luminate all parts of my life and change me into his likeness. Lumination may not be comfortable at first-- darkness doesn't take to light very kindly. But if we allow God to penetrate the dark places, he can heal us and change us from within. Oh Lord, let that be my prayer; that ou would send your light into the dark places of my life and change and transform me into Your likeness. To God be the Glory!