We can’t help it, even a Christian college aged women like myself, whenever we see someone on social media or in real life who seems to be steps ahead of us, we can’t help but compare our lives to theirs. Comparison today goes beyond the traditional definition of examining things to establish similarities and dissimilarities and tends to be more about defining our self-worth by comparing our successes or failures with someone else’s.
Sadly, the destructive nature of comparison leads many of us to sink into depressive thoughts, jealous behaviors, and even feelings of defeat. Most of all, it can rob us of living the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
If you’re struggling with comparison, here are four prayers to help you on your journey:
“Lord, I Believe; Help My Unbelief.” One of the most authentic and powerful prayers in the Bible was stated by a father who was desperate for his son to be healed. As he spoke with Jesus, he admitted he believed the Lord could heal but followed it up with an honest admission that he struggled with unbelief. What a powerful example for us who are caught in the trap of comparison! We can take our honest feelings of unworthiness, jealousy, or defeat to Jesus and admit we struggle to believe. By doing this, we are surrendering all pretense and humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Not only can this lead to a breakthrough, but it can also steer us away from comparison into sweet fellowship with the Lord.
Let’s pray.
Holy God, we come to You today and declare, “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief!” As we compare ourselves to others, it’s easy to forget that You have a plan and purpose for our lives. We can trust You with all our hearts, minds, and souls. There is no need for comparison when You are leading us in the way we should go. Our journey will not look the same as others, and that’s okay. We only want to do Your will for us – Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Please heal us today from the stronghold of comparison and give us peace. Thank you, Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
“Lord, Here I Am; Send Me!” The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, had a vision of God on His throne, high and lifted up. In awe of such a vision, Isaiah was immediately made aware of his sins and shortcomings when he described himself as “a man of unclean lips.” At once, he was assured his sins had been atoned for as a seraph touched his mouth with a burning coal from the altar of God. Then Isaiah heard the words of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah’s response was one of faithful obedience, saying, “Here am I. Send me!” This imagery is a beautiful depiction of a gracious God who atoned for our sins through His Son and calls each of us to a specific purpose. When we focus on God’s plan for our lives, we are much less concerned with what others are doing and how we compare. With one simple statement, “Lord, send me,” we redirect our thoughts to the path God has marked out for us, and it’s a direct path out of comparison.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for focusing on other people’s lives when You have a specific plan and purpose for us. Turn our thoughts away from what others are doing and turn them towards what You would like to do through us. Give us the motivation to say, “Here I am. Send me!” Just as the prophet Isaiah was able to move past his failures, so we would like to move past our failures and walk in Your ways. Thank You for leading us in the way we should go. We look to You for guidance and direction. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Lord, Turn My Mind Toward Excellent Things.” So often, when we compare ourselves to others, our minds are filled with thoughts that are contrary to God. Jealousy over the way people live, look, and act becomes like idols in our minds, consuming us with “what ifs” and if only’s.” In contrast, when our minds are full of the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8—things that are pure, noble, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy—we don’t have time to compare our lives to others. Turning our minds towards excellent things enables us to rejoice in God for the blessings we’ve been given. The best part is, gratefulness and praise can replace comparison faster than anything.
Let’s pray.
Lord, we know that comparison usually starts with our mindset. A thought comes in, and we entertain it until it becomes jealousy over what other people have. Please forgive us for allowing those thoughts to marinate in our minds. Help us replace them immediately with the attributes mentioned in Philippians 4:8. Turn our comparative thoughts into praiseworthy things. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving so that we are humbly grateful for what we’ve been given. We pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
“Lord, Remind Me of Your Blessings.” As the old chorus goes, “Count your blessings; count them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.” This simple song is a wonderful reminder to count every blessing and recall God’s goodness. From childhood to the present day, how has God blessed you and come through for you? In remembering the mighty ways in which He’s worked through your life, you’ll be shining a bright light on His provision and turning out the light of comparison.
Let’s pray.
Gracious God, thank You for your many, many blessings over my life. Please forgive me for overlooking the ways You’ve come through for me. Instead of comparison, please help me remember Your favor and goodness to me. In turn, help me bless others with the overflow of blessings You’ve poured out over my life. I love You and praise You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
It’s exhilarating to know that God sets the standard for the best gifts when it comes to gift-giving. James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” This passage is a sweet reminder that God’s gifts are good and perfect.
Matthew 7:11 states, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” This passage indicates that just as humans give pleasant gifts, our heavenly Father provides supreme and superior gifts. So, let’s take a look at some of the amazing gifts our Father provides those whom He calls His children.
Gift #1 – Jesus The very best gift God gives us as His children is Jesus. He was the most sacrificial gift God gave, which demonstrates His immeasurable love for us. Because of Jesus, we have access to all of the other gifts our generous, heavenly Father has to offer. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Gift #2 – Eternal Life As stated in the previous gift, God gives us eternal life once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The precious blood of Jesus covered all of our sins, and as a result, God mercifully gifted us with the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in heaven instead of the fiery pit of hell.
Gift #3 – Forgiveness Forgiveness is another remarkable gift that God gives His children when we confess our sins. God does not have to do it, but He forgives us over and over. He loves us just that much. Micah 7:18-19 states, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” God not only forgives our sins, but He casts them away and no longer brings them up. What an incredible gift!
Gift #4 – Holy Spirit Have you ever found yourself saying “something told me not to do that” or, “something told me to do that?” Well, that something is Someone. The Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Two of the many names and functions of the Holy Spirit are comforter and spirit of truth. God gave us this ever-present gift to guide, teach, and comfort us whenever we need Him. God is such a great Father that He did not leave us unaccompanied.
Gift #5 – Wisdom Do you need clarity or direction? Are you trying to determine what the right decision to make is? God has the ideal gift for these concerns. James 1:5 states, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” God wants to hear from His children and grace them with His matchless wisdom so that you and I can be all that He has created us to be and so that He may be glorified. We certainly do not have all of the answers, so we should choose to accept the gift of wisdom by asking God for it just like we ask for a new job, finances, good health, etc.
Gift #6 – Way of Escape One sneaky (and sometimes not so sneaky) thing that creeps up in all of our lives is a 10-letter word. T-E-M-P-T-A-T-I-O-N. Temptation has our address, phone number, and email address. There is hope, though. God has just the right gift to help us when temptation comes knocking at our door. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” There is always a way out. We must open our eyes, ears, and hearts to accept the gift and proceed to the nearest escape route.
Gift #7 – Abundant Life We have an enemy that is always on the prowl to see who he can devour, demean, and diminish. If the enemy had his way, our lives would be desolate, depressing, and deplorable. But God had a better gift and plan in mind. John 10:10 states, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The fact that Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, and rose again canceled out the enemy’s plan. Instead of an empty life, God gifts each of us with abundant life in Him. We just need to embrace this wonderful gift.
Gift #8 – Spiritual Gifts God created each of His children uniquely and gave each of us spiritual gifts. While all of us do not have the same gift(s), each of us is given gifts to edify the kingdom and point others to the Lord. The entire chapter 1 Corinthians 12 highlights an array of spiritual gifts and callings such as apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, governments, and diversity of tongues (verse 28). Additionally, other references for spiritual gifts can be found in Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. The recurring theme surrounding spiritual gifts is service. Our heavenly Father gave each of us as His children spiritual gifts to serve one another.
Gift #9 – Power, Love, and a Sound Mind God gives His children a threefold gift that can combat fear when it arises. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” This gift bundle is valuable when the spirit of fear tries to seep in and cripple us. We can tap into power, love, and a sound mind to confidently pursue both great and small tasks that we are presented with each day, knowing that the spirit of fear is not from God. Embracing these gifts takes practice because fear can be persistent, but we must remind ourselves that God freely gives us power, love, and a sound mind.
Gift #10 – Beauty for Ashes There are times in life when tragedy strikes, and we find ourselves in a season of mourning. God graciously has gifts for us during these seasons. Isaiah 61:3 states, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” While we cannot avoid sorrow and pain, the gifts of beauty, joy, and praise are promised in exchange. We do not have to remain in a season of mourning forever, thanks to these precious gifts.
Gift #11 – Peace When we feel confused, uneasy, or anxious, God has the perfect gift. Jesus stated in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” His peace that surpasses all understanding is available for the taking. We must choose to accept the gift, and in exchange, give God all of our cares. We can lay them right at His feet, leave them there, and walk away with the gift of peace.
Gift #12 – Victory God gives His children victory. Not defeat, but victory! 1 Corinthians 15:57 states, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ, who overcame death, we as children of God always win. Trials will come. Situations may appear bleak, but defeat is not our destination. Instead of a period, there is a comma, and the gift of victory proceeds every storm and each tribulation. When we hold on to this gift, we can grasp hope in those moments where it seems like we have lost. After all, God reminds us that the battle is not ours, but it is His. When He is fighting for us, the result is always victory.
My parent’s used a few of the ten methods below to help encouraged me to pray and to become a better Christian overall when I was a teenager…I’m not a parent yet, but if you’re a parent that’s reading this, and are having a difficult time getting your teen to pray, then I suggest these 10 methods of encouragement below because they really do work…
Be an Example
We aren’t going to be much help to teens if we’re leading with a “do what I say, not what I do” perspective. We need to encourage teen’s prayer life by modeling our own. Let your kids of all ages see you pray. Let them know when you’re having your quiet time with the Lord.
Initiate prayer in front of them—and not just around the dinner table (though that’s a great start!) Start small but start somewhere!
Talk about Prayer Organically
Normalize prayer. Don’t let it become an awkward, taboo subject in your family. Talk about it! Ask your kids if they’ve prayed today. Talk about the reasons maybe why they didn’t. Never shame or punish if they forgot or didn’t make the effort—but discuss it and see what is holding them back so you know how to help.
But if you don’t talk about prayer with your kids, it’s going to be rare that it’s in their minds frequently enough to do it on their own.
Point out That Prayer Isn’t Always Formal
Sometimes, teenagers hold back from something new because they don’t want to get it wrong or embarrass themselves. So make sure your teenagers know that prayer doesn’t have to be formal or stilted.
They’re not going to “mess it up”. They don’t have to be on their knees or in a certain room or pray at a certain time of day. There’s nothing legalistic about talking to the Lord! Tell them they can prayer anytime, right where they are—whether that’s in the school hallway, in the car, on the ball field, or even in the shower.
While it’s important to come to the Lord with respect and reverence, it’s of the utmost importance just to simply come. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Buy Them Books/Find Podcasts on Prayer
If your teen enjoys reading, there are so many quality books on prayer that you could purchase for them as a guide. Ask your church friends or online community for recommendations, and get your teen set up with some nonfiction books to help develop this area of their life.
Sometimes, reading about someone else’s experiences can help pave the way to make our own. If your teen needs an icebreaker, reading a book on prayer could really make a difference in their life. If your teen isn’t a reader, but loves listening to audiobooks or podcasts, research some quality Christian podcasts that tackle the topic of prayer, and invite them to listen.
Read the Lord’s Prayer Together
Jesus gave us an example of how to pray in Scripture. It would be incredibly beneficial to discuss that model prayer together as a family and dissect it. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t meant to be the way we pray as a rote citation, but rather, a template to follow where we can plug in our own thoughts, thanksgivings, and petitions.
Matthew 6:9-14 (ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…
Discuss the “Why” behind Why We Pray
One of the best reminders I can give myself about why it’s important to pray is the simple fact that Jesus did. Maybe your teenager isn’t going through anything difficult at the moment and doesn’t understand why he/she should pray when they’re not asking for anything.
Take the chance to point out that even Christ, in all His sinless perfection, made specific effort to get away and pray to His Heavenly Father. If Christ needed to do so, how much more do we as sinful humans?
Give Them a Prayer Journal
I don’t know many teen girls who wouldn’t jump at the chance to own a new journal! There’s something so comforting and aesthetic about a fresh journal and a new pen.
Purchasing your teen—boy or girl!—a prayer journal and their favorite box of colored pens or markers might be one way to get them interested in writing their prayers. This can be especially helpful if your teen struggles to focus mentally and tends to drift off into distraction when they pray. Writing requires a different type of mental effort and could be a solution.
Also, it’s cool for teens to be able to look back when they’re adults and have a tangible reminder of how they grew in their faith over the years.
Challenge Them to Pray for Something Specific and Watch for Results
There’s nothing more motivating to pray than watching an answered prayer come to pass. While we know that God’s ways are higher than ours, and that not all our prayers will be answered with a “yes”, it’s so encouraging when they are.
To pique your teen’s interest in this partnership with the Lord, encourage them to pray for something specific and then watch for the results. Maybe it’s for healing, or for a friend to come to salvation. Maybe it’s to make a good grade on a big test coming up. Whatever is important to them in their life right now, challenge them to pray for it and then look for the Lord at work.
This could also be a great opportunity to point out how God answers prayers in different ways—sometimes with “no” or “wait.”
Explain the Benefits of Prayer
Your teen is probably more naturally bent toward prayer when they need something. Maybe they’re hoping a certain boy or girl asks them to the dance at school, or they’re struggling with math, or maybe are going through a health issue they need relief from. Those are good times to pray—the Bible makes it clear we are free to bring our petitions to the Lord.
But be sure to point out that prayer isn’t just asking for things—it’s also praise and thanksgiving. And when we’re worshiping the Lord with praise through prayer, we’re naturally filled with peace. Our anxieties fade. Our tension eases. We’re trading our burdens for the Lord’s comfort and filling our minds with thoughts of Him, rather than the world around us.
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Pray Together
Be sure to pray with your teenager. While this can be awkward at first, it’s a great habit to get into. It doesn’t have to be long or official—taking turns saying a quick prayer in the carpool line on the way to school or at the end of the night can be a simple way to normalize prayer for your teen and get them used to praying out loud.
This will build their confidence and likely cause them to pray more often on their own
The Lord called Abram out of his homeland and later made a covenant with him (Genesis 12:1-3). The sign of this covenant was circumcision (Genesis 17). At this time, Abram became Abraham, the father of many nations.
This covenant was given before Jehovah ever gave the written Law to men. Abraham was counted as righteous because he believed God, thereby showing that the Law cannot save anyone.
The promise of a future redeemer that was laid out in the Garden could only be preserved by the Lord setting apart a society that would see their sinful ways and repent. They were to be a sign to other nations of who God Almighty was.
Four hundred years in Egypt had kept them in one place until they were grown into a nation. They lived in slavery and became numerous. The Holy One was ready to shape them into His representatives.
To set them apart, they needed to know what Heaven’s standard was. They had been surrounded by false gods in Egypt and would encounter more idols in the days ahead. They were to be holy. Israel would be the only nation on earth who served the living God.
Keeping the Law was so unattainable, the objective was to show people they couldn’t keep it. It was given so they would cry out to God for salvation.
Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)
We can see this in modern terms by looking at a speeding car. If there is no speed limit, there is no penalty for going too fast. However, going too fast can still kill a person. The car can exceed safe speeds without the driver being held accountable for it by getting a ticket or going to jail.
But the vehicle is still transgressing the laws of physics as the driver acts in ways that can get him or her killed or injured. Once a speed limit law is enacted, drivers will know if they transgress.
Okay, this is a VERY long post….so if you do not have time to read something long then I totally understand..but if you do have time to read this then I’d really appreciate it!
Who Was John the Baptist in the Bible? John the Baptist was a great prophet. His birth was foretold in Luke 1. He is the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth. He would eventually be the one who baptized our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Look at Luke 1:11. The angel Gabriel appeared unto Zacharias and made the announcement about the birth of John the Baptist.
The angel told Zacharias to name their baby John. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall not drink wine or strong drink. John would was filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb. He shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Verse 17 states: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zacharias and his wife were both old in age. So, he questioned how this would happen to them. Gabriel reminded Zacharias that he was an angel of the Lord who stands in the presence of the Lord. “And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things are performed, because you do not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.” His wife Elisabeth becomes pregnant. Six months later, Gabriel goes to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus.
Let us fast forward in the book of Luke. After the virgin Mary is told that she will be the mother of Jesus, she goes to visit her cousin Elisabeth. Elisabeth is also pregnant and in her sixth month. Luke 1:37 declares “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Ghost.
After John was born and his mother named him. His father could not talk until after John’s birth. Some wanted them to name him Zacharias after his father. Elisabeth said no. John would be his name (Luke 1:60). When they asked John’s father, he motioned for something to write with. He wrote that his name is John. His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed. All those around him became fearful.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). Zacharias had a lot to say since he could not talk for nine months. He spoke of John being the forerunner of the Lord. John grew and was strong in spirit. He lived in the deserts until the day he showed up in Israel. This was about 30 years of his life. His spiritual strength was developed in solitude for use in his public ministry (The KJV Study Bible, Barbour Publishing, 2011).
What Did John the Baptist Do in His Life? John is also referred to as a forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was born before Christ in Judea, Palestine near Jerusalem. John the Baptist’s ministry is evident throughout the New Testament especially in Matthew 3 and Luke 3. In Matthew 3:1, we find John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He reminds the people that Jesus is the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah. I know you are familiar with verse four. His clothes set him apart from other religious leaders in those days (The KJV Study Bible, Barbour Publishing, 2011). His outfit was made of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather girdle for pants. He feasted on locusts and wild honey. During those days, religious leaders would have worn fine garments to reflect their position.
He baptized many people in the Jordan River after they had confessed their sins. Pharisees and Sadducees came to get baptized. John rebuked them and told them to repent because judgment will come upon them if they do not. John makes it clear that he can baptize people with water unto repentance but there is one coming after him whose shoes he was not worthy to bear. Jesus will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized. John tried to resist this because he felt that Jesus should baptize him. Jesus told John that he needed to baptize him. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
Why Did Jesus Say He’s the Greatest Prophet?
John has often been called a forerunner of Jesus. He preached all about the country of Jordan calling for repentance for the remission of sins (Luke 3:3). He taught that all flesh would see the salvation of God. He instructed those who came to be baptized to bring fruits worthy of repentance. He taught charity and said that if you have plenty that you should share with others. John preached even to soldiers that they should not do violence to any man, not to falsely accuse anyone, and to be content with their pay (Luke 3:14).
Also, remember that there is about six months difference in their age. They are also cousins through their mothers. When the virgin Mary visited Elisabeth, the Holy Ghost was present there as the baby leaped in her womb. He referred to John as the greatest prophet because of his boldness. He was not afraid to preach the Gospel. It was quite dangerous to do so in those days. John would later die for his faith. Jesus says in Matthew 11:11 “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” When Jesus said this. John was already in prison.
How Did John the Baptist Die? Herod put John the Baptist in prison because John told him that it was unlawful for him to have his brother’s wife. Herodias was divorced from his half-brother. Herod the tetrarch also had divorced his wife. He would have put John to death, but he feared the multitude who counted him as a prophet (Matthew 14:5).
During his birthday celebration, Herodias’ daughter danced for him. It pleased him so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted up to a half of his kingdom. Read Mark 6:14-29. She asked her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. The king was sorry, but for his oath’s sake and those who set before him, he granted her wish. He sent and beheaded John and his head was brought in a charger. She gave John’s head to her mother. The disciples came and took up the body of John and buried him and then told Jesus. After the news, Jesus departed by ship into a desert place.
Christians Need To Cling to FAITH When Life Knocks You Off Balance
“For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Whenever bad things unexpectedly happen to us (like a job lay off, an unfaithful spouse, or a shocking doctor’s diagnosis), we can be knocked off our “spiritual balance.” It’s important at these times to realize that our troubles didn’t surprise God! When the bad news hit Heaven, God didn’t say, “No way, it can’t be!” God’s jaw didn’t drop. He didn’t go into a state of shock. And because God is not surprised by our problems, I’ve got good news for you – it means there is a promise waiting for you in your future.
Because of who God is (the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End), He exists outside of time. He has already seen your troubles and has planned for them. And because God is not surprised by your test, He has already arranged for your testimony; He’s seen your future, and provided a way out of your present situation.
God Provides for Us When Bad Things Happen
The Bible is full of examples of God’s provision for people ahead of their problems. For example, God made arrangements for Joseph to be placed in power in the palace of Egypt, before his brothers threw him into the pit, before Potiphar threw him into prison, and before his family would need his political influence to survive a seven-year famine.
God arranged for ravens to feed Elijah meat in the morning and evening even before he hid himself away in the wilderness. God lodged a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay the Temple tax, even before Peter and Jesus had a tax liability. And before the serpent deceived Adam and Eve into sinning and separation from their Creator, God provided a plan of redemption for mankind through the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). The only thing that should actually concern us is how do we get to that place where God has provided for our deliverance?
There’s a popular saying that goes like this: there are only two absolutes in life, death and taxes. But I believe there’s a third: sandwiched between you and the promise God has to deliver you from your problem, is a test of faith. As James 1:2 says “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Jesus also said it plainly in John 16:33, ”in this world you will have tribulation.” Since we can’t get around these tests of faith, we need to prepare for them.
By studying the life of Abraham and Sarah, we can learn three important strategies that will help guide us to experience God’s promises, especially when we have been knocked off balance by a trial which puts our faith to the test.
Develop a “Test Ready” Kind of Faith
“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am’” (Genesis 22:1).
Most Christians know of Abraham’s story, how God called the man Abram out of obscurity in the land of Ur and led him to the Promised Land. How this ordinary man, by faith and patience, became Abraham – the Father of our Faith – and received a promise that through his supernatural offspring, Isaac, God would redeem mankind with the coming Messiah.
In Genesis 12, Abraham embraced God’s calling on his life and left everything to pursue the promise of God. But after going 15 years without a child, Abraham began to question his calling, and made a series of bad decisions. Even so, in extreme old age, Abraham and his wife Sarah received their miraculous, promised son.
“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness’” (Romans 4:19-22).
I don’t know about you, but when I read that description of Abraham’s faith, it seems pretty perfect to me. But then I realize that’s not the full story behind Abraham’s faith. It’s not where Abraham started in faith, it’s where he ended up. And along the way, he was anything but failure free.
He lied about Sarah being his sister to save his own life, and God had to rescue her from being prostituted to Pharaoh.
He was enriched financially from this deception, when Pharaoh paid him to leave the country (Genesis 12:11-20).
He did it again to King Abimelech, and again was enriched financially (Genesis Chapter 20).
At first, he laughed at the promise of God (Genesis 17:17); he then slept with Sarah’s maid and fathered Ishmael, who was ultimately rejected by God and sent away from his father’s house (Genesis 21:9-12).
If you are going to have a “test ready faith,” it’s not that you’ll never make mistakes. What’s truly important is that you learn from your mistakes and grow. You must be able to say next time it’s going to be different. Next time I’ll do it God’s way. Next time, I will absolutely get it right! You don’t have to be failure free, but when you learn from your mistakes, you will be prepared for the next trial and develop your test-ready faith.
Trust God When Things Don’t Make Sense
“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you’” (Genesis 22:2-5).
At this point in Abraham’s journey of faith, he had received his supernatural, promised child – the one through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed, the one through whom the Messiah would come. And then God says to him: Go, and offer him up to me as a sacrifice. And even though it didn’t make sense, Abraham took the boy up to the top of Mt. Moriah, and reasoned that God could raise the child from the dead.
Has God ever asked you to do something that doesn’t make sense?
Bless those that curse you
Do good to someone who has spitefully used you
Turn the other cheek when someone hurts you
Give to those who steal from you
Go here…when the logical thing is to go there
Say this… when the logical thing is to say that
Do nothing…when the logical thing is to do something
In order for us to walk in faith from where we are now, to the promise that is waiting for us in the future, we must be willing to trust God even when it doesn’t make sense. That is, trust that God always has our best interest at heart. It’s not our job to know how God is going to work things out; it’s our job to simply trust that He will!
Be Obedient, Even When It Is Difficult
“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son” (Genesis 22:6-10).
If somebody told you that laying hold of the promise of God was easy, they lied. Sometimes the obedience that is required is really quite difficult. It isn’t always easy to put God first, crucify your flesh, take up your cross and follow Him. It isn’t easy, but it’s often a necessary part of the process to develop the faith to receive the promise.
Abraham, sacrifice your son Isaac
Widow woman, give away your last bit of oil and flour
Noah, build an enormous ark
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, don’t bow, go into the furnace
Daniel, keep praying, and be thrown into the lion’s den
David, go fight that giant Goliath
However, big acts of obedience are often the final push that propels us out of our problem and into our promise!
“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me’” (Genesis 22:11-12).
Ultimately, we are all on a journey toward God being our first priority. And that is the set up for the breakthrough! When God is number one, when Christ becomes the center of our lives, there is no promise from Him that we will not walk into.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13).
It’s no coincidence that the ram was there, caught in the thicket near the place of sacrifice. It was part of God’s plan even before the problem existed. It was God’s miracle provision before Abraham even knew there was a mountain called Moriah that he had to climb in his future.
God, the Alpha and Omega, had already gone there and set the pieces into place for Abraham. He cleared a place for the altar, grew a thicket of bramble bushes, and provided the ram at just the right time for Abraham’s need. So Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14), which means not just the God who provides, but more accurately, the God who sees in advance and provides!
God is never surprised by our problems. The same God who provided a ram for Abraham before he ever stepped on Mt. Moriah has seen our needs and has provided for us as well!
Have you ever seen a movie where one actor plays multiple roles? Isn’t it fascinating that one person can portray so many people and appear to operate in each part seamlessly? The reality is that God is even better at playing numerous roles, and the critical element to consider is that He is not acting.
He already is in each position that we will explore, and He is able, willing, and ready to fill each of the roles if we simply allow Him to. This list scratches the surface but is a good starting point to be reminded of some of the remarkable roles God can play in your life.
Savior First and foremost, God is our savior. Mom can’t save us, dad can’t save us, our friends cannot save us, and we can’t even save ourselves, but God can!
Isaiah 45:21-22 states, “Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.”
When we allow God to play the role of savior in our lives, we are saved from our sins and blessed with the opportunity to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.
Father Depending on the type of relationship you may have had with your earthly father, the role of God as Father can be easy to embrace, or it may be challenging. Nevertheless, one of the beautiful roles God wants to play in your life is Father.
Romans 8:15-17 states, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
When we recognize God as Father, we can take comfort in knowing that He wants a relationship with us, desires what is best for us, and He is ultimately working everything in our lives out for our good.
Rock Feeling shaky or unsteady? Are you in search of a firm or solid foundation that doesn’t shift? God is the answer.
He is our rock. Psalm 18:2 states, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” When we allow God to fill the role of rock in our lives, we can find a sense of safety and security. People change, situations come and go, but God remains the same; therefore, we can be strengthened and hopeful in God our rock.
Refuge Have you ever needed a safe place in which you could rest and find shelter? The role of refuge is God’s specialty. Psalm 62:7-8 states, “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
Take comfort in knowing that we can find refuge in God in the presence of trouble or hardship. He is a reliable resource with whom you can share all of your concerns and any thoughts you have been holding within the depths of your heart.
Helper Raise your hand if you are someone who tries to do everything on your own? Are you someone who struggles to ask for help or feels as if you are on your own when it comes to getting duties, assignments, and tasks completed? It does not have to be that way, beloved.
Psalm 46:1 states, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Also, Isaiah 41:13 states, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Both scriptures are reminders that you can go to God for help. You may have to loosen your grip on that situation and allow God to fill the helper role. You do not have to go through life without His divine help.
When we let God be our helper, we often find a sense of relief and even ease in completing whatever we invite Him to be involved in.
Guide Feeling lost? Need directions? God has that role covered. Psalm 48:14 states, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Furthermore, Psalm 25:8-10 states, “The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
Comforter In times of distress, grief, or sorrow, God is our comforter. 2 Corinthians 1:3 states, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort…”
Isn’t it good to know that we have access to the ultimate GPS? God lives within us to lead, guide, and direct our paths, but we must first surrender playing that role in our lives and allow Him to take the lead.
Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 states, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”
Both passages show that when we allow God to fill in the role of comforter, we can gain strength and hope to make it through some of the most difficult times of our lives.
Provider I have needs, you have needs, all of God’s children have needs, and guess what? One of God’s many roles is to meet our needs as a provider. Philippians 4:19 states, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
This passage points us to our source for resources. While we might not get everything that we want, God graciously provides exactly what we need. Don’t get me wrong, there are times where we may feel like our needs are not being met as quickly as we would like, or we might have our needs confused with our wants, but the truth is God always provides.
Defender There will be times in life when we are wronged or deeply hurt. Our human nature is to retaliate or take matters into our own hands. The fact that God is our defender is a thought that we must rehearse in our minds. Romans 12:19 states, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”
The latter portion of 2 Chronicles 20:15 also reminds us, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Even when it may appear that our enemies are winning, the truth is that God is always fighting for us. Certainly, we may find difficulty with surrendering and allowing God to play the role of defender, but He has proven over and over that He stays faithful to His promises.
Deliverer Oh, how we would love to go through life problem-free experiencing nothing but sunny days, cool breezes, rainbows, and butterflies with optimal health. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of this life.
Psalm 34:19 states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” We are reminded that life is full of trouble, but the essential truth we must remember is that God is our deliverer. He was gracious enough to forewarn us that pain and suffering will come and loving enough to promise to deliver us.
So, amid many tests and trials, cling to the fact that God is your deliverer.
Paul wrote to God’s holy people in Ephesus who were faithful followers of Christ Jesus, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV).
Other English Bible translations use words such as “handiwork, masterpiece, accomplished, creative work, or the product of His hand” (heaven’s poetry etched on lives) instead of workmanship.
In the Oxford English Dictionary, workmanship is defined as “the degree of skill with which a product is made, or a job done” and synonymous with craftmanship, which is “the quality of design and work shown in something made by hand; creative skill or ability.”
The truth that Christ’s believers are God’s workmanship reflects His works of creation, redemption, provision, and sanctification in every believer’s life.
God’s Work of Creation in His Workmanship All human beings are created in the image of God, regardless of whether or not they put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26-27). All we are the clay, and the Creator is our potter (Isaiah 64:8).
God created the universe by His word: He spoke, and things came into existence. But it was only when He created man that He did something different: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
Therefore, unlike animals and plants, every human being possesses a spirit, which means having the ability to perceive spiritual realms or matters and the things of God, who is Spirit (John 4:24).
God’s Work of Redemption in His Workmanship Because of sin, originated by the enemy (i.e., the fallen angel or Satan), God’s image in every human being is corrupted. As a result, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we are all sinners, by nature and by choice, and no amount of good works can save us from the penalty for sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
We all need God’s mercy and grace for our salvation. We all need God taking the initiative to restore the relationship — and thankfully, He did! (by sending His Son, Jesus Christ) — so that we can have peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
This redemptive and restorative mission has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Here is the wonderful truth: God’s image in every believer is restored by Jesus Christ, the perfect, visible image (i.e., the exact representation) of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Romans 8:29), as we live in Him, and He lives in us.
God’s Work of Provision in His Workmanship Everyone who trusts in Jesus can be sure that God is able to supply all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
As King David declared, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).
It is for His name’s sake that God provides all our needs. We can trust Him, the Possessor of heaven and earth, for our every need, including physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Note that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,” having been blessed, not only with eternal life but also with a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and abundant life (John 10:10) in Him. Praise the Lord!
God’s Work of Sanctification in His Workmanship As we receive and believe Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit resides in us, making our hearts His home (Romans 8:9). By the Holy Spirit alone, we can realize that Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, of our need for God’s righteousness, and of His judgment (John 16:8), and He guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
We live in a broken world and oftentimes our faith in Christ is challenged by the temptation and values of this world. Hence, we need God’s Spirit to continue to sanctify us from the sins of this world that could “pollute” our hearts.
And as we are God’s workmanship, the Holy Spirit ultimately transforms us into Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18), producing the character of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit in us (Ephesians 5:8-10; Galatians 5:22-23). This means that our sinful nature (i.e., tendency to disobey and rebel against God) is replaced with a new, godly nature that desires to please, obey, and glorify the Lord.
The Purpose of God’s Workmanship It is amazing to see that the triune God (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) all participate in this workmanship, which displays His divine nature — His greatness and goodness.
And now, Ephesians 2:10 tells us further that we are God’s workmanship for good works, which He ordained beforehand that we should walk in them.
The preceding verses say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV). It is clear that we are saved by God’s grace through faith that should be manifested in good works.
In other words, God’s grace in our lives through Christ Jesus should result in good works, which, I believe, speak of our unique calling and purpose in Him. These are related to God’s original plan in creating mankind (Genesis 2:28), which is then translated into the Great Commission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
These good works ultimately bring honor and glory to the One who creates, redeems, provides, and sanctifies us with His unchanging love. All glory to God!
Mercy and grace are the utmost attributes of love. The essence of the Bible is loving God and loving people through the lens of Jesus Christ. Two grand works of God have displayed His all-powerful, gracious, and merciful nature: creation and redemption.
While God’s work of creation demonstrated His mighty power, God’s work of redemption revealed His marvelous love, shown through His mercy and grace. This very love of God is indispensable for the existence of life and the salvation of humanity.
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:8-9)
Grace and Mercy: Definitions and Differences:
The Greek word used for mercy is most often eleos (pity, compassion) and for grace is charis(favor). Mercy and grace, as paraphrased from Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, can be differentiated as follows: mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment, while grace is the act of endowing unmerited favor. In His mercy, God does not give us punishment we deserve, namely hell; while in His grace, God gives us the gift we do not deserve, namely heaven.
Mercy and grace are two sides of a coin – and the coin is love. In the author’s own words, mercy is a compassionate love to the weak, and grace is a generous love to the unworthy. Humans are weak and unworthy – we all need God’s mercy and grace. Mercy takes us to the path of forgiveness, while grace leads us to reconciliation.
Examples of God’s Grace and Mercy in the Bible:
Mercy and grace are often mistakenly thought to be a New Testament concept. But in fact, they are manifested throughout the entire Scripture.
The Bible is filled with the story of God using imperfect people to accomplish His purpose. There are many examples of God’s mercy and grace in the Old Testament. David is perhaps the most prominent example: he was called “a man after God’s own heart” despite his great sins. David lusted, killed, and fornicated. Abraham feared and lied, Sara was impatient, Jacob was a cheater, Moses was stubborn and doubtful, Rahab was a prostitute, and the Israelites rebelled many times against God – yet God still used all of them to accomplish His purposes.
God was faithful and His promises never failed (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 4:31, 7:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Numbers 6:24-26).
More examples of God’s grace and mercy in the New Testament:
Saul was a persecutor, yet God converted him to become Paul, the apostle of Christ, the author of nearly half of the New Testament.
Peter was temperament and denied Jesus, yet God used him to preach and about 3,000 were saved.
Thomas was a doubter, yet God used him to preach the Gospel in India and possibly Indonesia (according to traditions),
Mary Magdalene was demon-possessed, yet God graciously gave her a wonderful chance of being the first witness of the risen Christ.
Martha was restless, yet God also allowed her to be among the first witnesses of the resurrection of Christ (and of Lazarus, her brother).
Barabbas was a criminal, yet God allowed him to be set free in exchange for Jesus.
The penitent thief was forgiven on the cross and promised to be in Paradise with Jesus.
Clearly, the Bible is the record of a God who repeatedly forgives sinful humans – and even more, a perfect God who works in and through them, the broken vessels, for their own good and ultimately for His glory. The mercy and grace of God alone can save and sustain mankind (Titus 2:11, 3:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, Psalm 103:1-5, 8).
If God has shown His love to those people in the past, He must be able to do so in our lives today. So now, how do we respond to God’s love?
Responding to God’s Grace and Mercy
Acknowledge our needs for grace and mercy.
To embrace the mercy and grace of God, we need humility (James 4:6, Micah 6:8). We must first confess that all humans are sinners, nobody is able to meet God’s standard of perfection (Romans 3:23, 5:20), and the world we live in is broken, so we do not become obsessed with ourselves and things in this world. In doing so, we shift our focus from human centeredness to God and acknowledge His sovereignty over all things.
Mercy and grace liberate us from perfectionism, a prideful and rebellious heart. It is only by the Lord’s mercy and grace that we could live today.
Accept God’s grace and mercy.
There is a deep desire of humanity for freedom. Naturally, people are happy when receiving something good for free (for example, who does not like free food?) and otherwise are reluctant to pay or sacrifice. The good news is that God has offered His mercy and grace for free. The Son of God has done for our behalf all that we need for our salvation (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 1:7). We are saved not because we are good, but all because God is good. He has paid all the necessary payment for our salvation for us.
Moreover, God knows that not only we love something free, but we also love something new. Thanks be to God, through the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are given a new, holy life (1 Peter 1:3, 2 Timothy 1:8-9) and a great privilege to live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15). As we walk in His ways, we will continue to experience His grace and glory (Psalm 84:11) and find our help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Know our identity in Christ and share His love with others.
We were once children of wrath because of our sins, but in Christ, we have now become the children of God (John 1:12). And as His children, we should be grateful that our Father is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). But we must not take His love for granted. We must grow in our relationship with Him, to know and love Him more.
His desire is for us to have mercy on others (Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, 5:7, Luke 6:36). As the Lord has planted the seed of love in our hearts with His sufficient grace, we are to bear more fruit in our work (2 Corinthians 9:8, 12:9).
Paul realized the importance of working hard for the Lord as the appropriate response to His grace, not as an effort to earn His favor (1 Corinthians 15:10). Let us, therefore, as God’s chosen and beloved people, continue to do the good work He has given us (Colossians 3:12), be gracious and merciful in our judgment of others (James 2:13), and do all these things in truth and love (2 John 1:3).
Peace with God is, at its core, a spiritual reconciliation between family members. It’s a restored relationship between Heavenly Father and earthly child, made possible simply because Jesus wanted it so—enough that He was willing to suffer, die, and rise from death for it.
Peace with God in Scripture
God is not at war with you.
If you were raised in one of the “fire-and-brimstone” denominations (or just spend a lot of time listening to street preachers and reading Old Testament histories), that statement probably made you feel simultaneously irritated and worried.
Or maybe you felt a sense of relief?
Don’t worry, whatever you felt is OK, because the honest truth really is what the Apostle Paul declared millennia ago (emphasis mine):
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
Yep, despite the happily-hellish preaching of some of our favorite Bible teachers, God’s not in a prolonged battle with you or me. So what does that mean?
Let’s find out.
Jesus Isn’t Punishing You When my good friend Kent tells stories of growing up, I sometimes want to cringe. If the boy stubbed his toe or scraped his knee, a well-meaning grandmother was quick to pounce—and pronounce, “Jesus is punishing you!”
To her, it was simple: You sin. God smites you. For Kent, then, God was always antagonistic, always watching and frowning, constantly ready to unleash war against His misbehaving kids. It took decades—and seminary and a lifetime in church leadership—before Kent was finally able to believe for himself the truth he’d read, and preached:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …” (Romans 5:1)
“No circumstance is the result of [God’s] punishment,” pastor Chuck Swindoll comments on this passage. “Bad things do not happen because we have been bad. No event is an expression of God’s ill will against us. On the contrary, He has promised to use every circumstance … to guide His own to maturity.”
So if Jesus isn’t punishing you, then what’s really going on?
Meaning of Peace with God It’s interesting to notice here that Paul didn’t say we have “peace of God” nor even “God’s peace in us”—though both those things are also true (see John 14:27, Philippians 4:7, and Colossians 3:15).
Instead Paul said we have peace with God.
That tiny word makes a big difference! Remember Paul originally wrote Romans 5:1-2 in Greek, using a word for “with” (prόs) that carries shades of meaning we’re not used to today. Prόs isn’t just “You-and-me-and-God standing near each other.”
Rather, in its ancient cultural context, this “with” was an active word “implying motion or direction.” That’s why a few trusted 19th-century Bible texts translated prόs differently, closer to its original meaning:
“We have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Young’s Literal Translation, 1898).
“We have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Darby Translation, 1890).
The ancient idea here is one of deliberate movement toward something. Place that within Paul’s context of Romans 5:1 and you see a picture of a man or woman moving forward, unhindered, toward a welcoming God. Peace with God.
How is this possible? Well, because (ahem), God’s not at war with you.
You see, when there’s hostility between you and God, it’s a one-way battle. We sin and make ourselves enemies of God, but because of Christ, God refuses to make himself our enemy in return (see Romans 5:8 and 8:1-2). You and I lash out in defiance and disobedience and selfishness and pride and hurtfulness. We miss the mark—and we misunderstand how our own sin blows up in our faces (see John 8:34, Romans 3:23, 6:23, and Ephesians 4:17-24).
Instinctively we feel the separation we’ve created between God and us, along with sin’s harmful fallout, so we blame God for our pain. Yet the reality is that the scars and heartaches we’re suffering are consequences of our own sinful outbursts, not God’s punishment (1).
Theologian William Newell reframes it this way, “Our peace with God is not as between two nations before at war; but as between a king and rebellious and guilty subjects.”
That image helps, I think, but maybe the better picture is this: You and I? We’re that obstinate child shouting “I hate you!” as we stomp off and slam the bedroom door. Meanwhile, our Heavenly Father refuses to retaliate, waiting instead for us to return again to His presence in peace. Why? Because:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
Peace with God through Jesus The way Paul describes it in Romans 5:1-2 (and 3-11), this kind of peace is, at its core, a spiritual reconciliation between family members. It’s a restored relationship between Heavenly Father and earthly child, made possible simply because Jesus wanted it so—enough that He was willing to suffer, die, and rise from death for it. And because Christ Himself has guaranteed our peace with God, we live with unfettered “access” (prosagōgē) to our Father—a word “used in the ancient world to refer to a person’s being conducted into the presence of royalty” (verse 2).
How cool is that?
Still, the absolute best description of peace with God is found in one insightful story told by Jesus long ago, captured for generations in Luke 15:11-32. It goes like this:
A brash, ungrateful young man hatefully insults his father, takes his dad’s money and sinfully squanders it in a foreign country. This situation ends badly for him, until one day he finally realizes his devastating circumstances are caused by his own sin. Then this thought enters his head,
“I will go home to my father” (Luke 15:18, NLT).
The son arrives home fearfully, expecting well-deserved hostility. Instead the father greets his bad boy with open arms and great joy. Why? Because it was the son who warred against the father, and never the father at war with his son.
This lesson of the Prodigal reveals the meaning and implications of Romans 5:1-2 most clearly to our myopic eyes. In a very real, spiritual and practical sense, having peace with God means simply this:
You can always go home.
Note:
Please be aware, I’m not talking about the discipline of God in this context. We know that God corrects his children (Hebrews 12:6), but here we’re speaking of the judgments and subsequent punishments for sin.
Christians have debated the idea of whether or not they can read books outside of Christian novels for some time. Some legalistic Christians believe Christians should only read the Bible; whereas other Christians may believe it is within their Christian freedom to read whatever they want to read. The Bible gives guidance into all of these matters and the Holy Spirit will help direct you as an individual.
A Novel Idea Christian novels have grown in popularity over the years with series such as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of The Rings, and The Wingfeather Saga. All of these Christian novels are good to read, and most believers would agree that these novels are great for any person to read.
In fact, many Christians may encourage other believers and nonbelievers to read Christian novels in order to introduce the idea of Christ to them. Christian novels are great to read, but what about other novels? Many best-selling novels cause a raise of concern for believers.
When a Christian chooses to read a piece of literature outside of the Bible or Christian novels, they need to exercise caution, wisdom, and discernment. It is within each believer’s freedom in Christ to read the novels and books they desire; however, simply because a person can do something does not mean it is beneficial.
I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Before reading a novel, Christians should run the content of the novel through Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
We should only read things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. There are many secular books that do not contain anything sinful in them. Believers should never read novels that contain graphic materials, sexual concepts, or novels that promote an anti-biblical agenda.
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Would Jesus read this book? Will God be glorified through me reading this book?” Reading is a great gift that believers have received from our Heavenly Father.
Not everyone in the world has the privilege of being able to read, which is why we use our privilege with wisdom. God does not want His children reading novels about sins or novels promoting unethical behaviors.
Reading can help people relax, learn, as well as grow into better readers and writers. There are advantages of being familiar with secular novels as Paul gives us this example by being knowledgeable about the popular secular writers during his ministry.
Paul was able to quote the philosophers, which actually helped the lost become interested in his message (Acts 17:22-28).
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So, you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands (Acts 17:22-24).
It is good to be familiar with secular novels, but believers should never read a novel that they believe will cause them to sin. We all have our own temptations, and it is wise for you to be aware of your own triggers.
If a book causes you to feel bad feelings or encourages you to sin, it is best to close the book, put it down, and return the book to the bookstore. Christians can read novels outside of strictly Christian novels; however, they need to be cautious and really know their own limitations.
Reading for Education There are going to be times when a believer will have to read secular books, such as in the event of high school, college, or work training. There is nothing wrong with reading a math textbook, an English workbook, or an employee handbook for training.
Within secular high schools and colleges, it is highly plausible Christians will encounter many evolutionary ideas and professors will teach evolution as the truth. Secular universities downplay creationism as an old wives’ tale.
In the event of a Christian having to read these textbooks, it can cause the believer to doubt their belief in creationism and even cause them to express doubt in God. Rather than allowing these books to cause the believer to doubt, the believer should view it as an opportunity to grow, strengthen, and increase their faith.
There are many creationists scientists who have written science textbooks to prove creationism, such as Ken Ham. If you are not enrolled in a Christian school or university, you most likely will not see Ken Ham’s books; however, his books would be worthwhile to read in the argument for creationism. Thus, there are books outside of Christian novels that are beneficial to believers.
Reading for Fun Despite popular belief, God does want His children to have fun. God does not want His children to have fun in the way the world views fun, such as drunkenness, sexual immorality, and drugs. These things are not true fun. In the same way, God wants His children to have fun with reading, but it has to be good, wholesome fun.
It is not fun to read about temptations that will cause you to sin against God nor is it fun to read novels in which the main character participates in unethical behaviors. As believers, we can read for fun, but we have to run the book through Philippians 4:8 as mentioned above.
God has given us each a brain and He wants us to use it. If we know the novel is not good for our spiritual growth, do not read it. If we know the novel will lead us into sin, we should not read it. We can read any book, whether Christian-focused or not, as long as the content glorifies the Lord.
Why Does Reading Matter? As believers, we should want to do the right thing and only engage in activities that will honor God. If the novel does not glorify God and has questionable content, it is best to abstain from reading that specific book.
There are many great secular books out there that do have good morals to them — the Christian just has to discover them. We are all given freedom in Christ, but we must not misuse our freedom as Peter tells us “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16).
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