Thursday, August 1, 2019

Blessing vs. Punishment


Isn’t this why we think God is “unfair”, because we wonder what we’ve done to deserve bad things? Isn’t this why so many of us don’t trust God, because we think He plays Good and Bad according to His whims?
But it isn’t true.
He doesn’t repay good for good (our righteousness and good deeds are as filthy rags.)
He doesn’t repay evil for evil (Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.)
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“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45 ESV

We suffer much less when we see everything in our lives through the lens of His undeserving and undeservable grace, freely given to ALL without partiality.
His only criteria is that we come to Him to collect all that He already wants to give ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฝ‍♀️:
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
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And when the bad stuff happens, it’s not punishment! It’s life — times and seasons:
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: [...] A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; [...] A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.” etc etc etc.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,8 NKJV

Selah, mehn ๐Ÿ˜“

Dear “Matured” Single ๐Ÿ˜…


Dear “Matured” Single ๐Ÿ˜…
We’re in August, o! Before you start lamenting, “God, whennn?!” Before you run to ori-oke to inquire of the gods whom you must appease to end this cycle of singlenessssss๐Ÿ˜ฉ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜…, please note: Singleness is not a punishment for past sins, and marriage is not a stamp of approval from God, either.

Life is present-continuous, unending, season upon season, time upon time. There is no end, because even when we die it continues somewhere else. Your experiences depend on the story of your life, the chapter you’re in and how much you trust God each day.

Trusting in God is different from Trusting that God will give you something. Trusting God for something that hasn’t come is all well and good - but also a little pointless because there’s nothing you can do about it. Rather, trust in God, knowing that He’s got you - whether or not you get the things you want.

I’m rambling a bit but look: God isn’t punishing you. And if you’re in God, then it’s not your village people, either ๐Ÿ˜… It’s just that the chapter you’re in has a different theme and subject-matter.

Stop waiting for your imagination to come to pass; you have no idea what God has written in your life’s book. Finish acting this scene, first, then we’ll see what the next page brings.

And while you’re living fully (not “waiting”❗️), a word:
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Selah.