The Importance of reading the entire Bible.

Often times as Christians we get confused. We are uncertain on an issue so we go to a Pastor or watch a video or read an article to figure out the answer to questions.

Sometimes though the Pastor’s view differs from the article you just read. Both the Pastor and the author of the article quoted scripture, so who is right? This can led to more confusion, frustration and even anger. Sometimes people even fall away from the Church or God because they don’t know what to believe anymore.

It’s very easy for someone to manipulate scripture to fit their idea. Many times its unintentional, they saw a verse and ran with it. But God doesn’t work that way.

You have to read the full Bible not just one verse. It can seem overwhelming but don’t let that effect you. Call out to the Lord for help with your reading.

When I first set out to read the entire Bible, I was overwhelmed. Then I read about Solomon who when told he could have anything, he asked for wisdom rather than fortune or anything lavish. Because of this, God granted him everything he could have asked for on top of wisdom.

Seeing this I prayed for wisdom also. After that I was calmed down and understood things much better.

Read the Bible, pray to understand it and ask God questions. Trust Him to give you the answers.

If the Bible seems to big, think about series of books you the may have read. Take the seven  Harry Potter books for instance, think about stacking them on top of one another and compare that to one Bible. The Bible means much more to me than Harry Potter’s Wizard Adventures. I read all of those books multiple times, so there was no excuse for me.

You have to remember when it comes to certain things in the Bible it is not always so clear cut. Our society forces us to make decisions and stick to that side.  You’re either a Republican or Democrat, you support immigration or you’re anti-immigration, you support capitalism or your a communist. I can go on and on. There’s no middle ground. You either support one thing  or you don’t.

But God doesn’t work that way all the time. He is much bigger than that.

If you find two verses that seem to contradict each other, they don’t. The answer is more complicated than one or the other. God does not lie. If Jesus said to the man on the cross he will go with him to paradise today he meant it. If Jesus said there is a ressurection of the dead, he meant that too. You don’t have to chose between souls in Heaven or Ressurection. The Bible mentions both.

We aren’t designed to know everything. If you don’t know the answer and God isn’t giving it to you. Thats where faith comes in. You will understand some day but until then trust God over everyone else, whether they be a pastor, an author or a blogger.

Read your Bibles, live in the Word.

God Bless
-Chris.

Scripture to read

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+1&version=NIV

http://biblehub.com/luke/23-43.htm

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Resurrection,-Of-The-Dead

 

Why I believe the Father is just in everything

I saw a post by another blogger, he wrote about how God’s love has conditions and how he feels sending anyone to hell is wrong when God can just forgive the person. I left him a comment but he did not approve that comment. I am posting my reply as my weekly blog post because I feel like I need to defend our Father in Heaven.

“I am 100% convinced God is justified in everything he does and I have no problem with his conditions.

He created a World, a paradise for us to live in and told us not to sin. The first humans chose to sin and listen to Satan rather than God. At that point God, could have said, “Okay, failed experiment, the end”. No instead he said, “I still love you but now you will die rather than live eternally. Life will become hard now”. Then people continued to sin, despite time after time God begging them to repent, patiently waiting for generations for repentance before finally bringing judgment on his people. After bringing judgment on Israel and Judah, He gave them ANOTHER chance. They still rebelled.

The Father then decided to send his son to Earth, who  faced everything we go through, poverty, hunger, not having a place to live, betrayal, torture and death. All so people could be redeemed.The only condition is to accept the sacrifice and believe. Then you have to go out and show God’s love to the World.

The idea that people can go around unbelieving, not asking for forgiveness and still get into Heaven at the end of it all seems preposterous to me.

The truth is God wants to forgive EVERYONE, he just wants to be loved back.

God created a planet, gave us everything we need to live and asked for us to love him. We are in the process of destroying that planet, we rebel against God, people sin without repentance, many curse Him or say he doesn’t exist. Despite all these things he has promised he will make a whole new Earth and people want to get into it who haven’t even acknowledged him?

Looks like our conditions our far tougher than the Lords.”

God’s Plan and Free Will

“Ask and you shall receive”.  That’s a powerful statement from God. You will hear many interpretations on that verse and often times it confuses people.
We have all heard God has a plan for each of us. But what some people don’t realize, is that they have a say in the matter. God gave us free will for a reason, he tells us to ask for things. It’s okay to question, it’s okay to ask God to change his course. Look at how many times in the Bible, God changed his mind when people repented or when someone like Abraham or Moses advocated for their people.

You also have to be active  to put the plan in place. God’s plan for you maybe to get the job of your dreams but if you sit on the couch all day or don’t follow your God given instinct, the plan will change and you will never get what you always wanted.

Dreams  can come true with God.

My goal in life is to support myself and my family with my writing.  I would love to be a children’s author. I have prayed hard about it and feel that God will guide me to live my dream. I am not looking to be rich, I just want to be able to take care of my loved ones. I believe that God can make it happen. If I follow his guidance and listen to him, making every step he wants me to make even if I may not want to take that particular step, it will happen.

Now some may ask what if it doesn’t? Than you have to accept that it is not God’s will. If you follow the Lord every day and the thing  you want doesn’t come to fruition than you have to accept it.

The best example of this is when Jesus asked the Father to remove the cup from him*, but after praying and the angel comforting Jesus, he accepted the Father’s will. He paid the ultimate penalty for our sin. He did what the Father wanted.

The truth is sometimes we accept something as God’s will because it’s easier. We haven’t even tried to change our path. You can receive so much from the Lord, but will you ask?

God Bless

*Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
(Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42)

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,42“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.c

45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”

http://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/22.htm