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Have you heard?

Have you heard?

Romans 9:15-21    For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? (ESV)

I timidly tread on this scripture that is steep in theology; I am not qualified to take on the arguments that can be presented here on Election and Sovereignty. I fully accept and rest in the grace of Sovereignty; if it is by Election I rest in that also. What grabs me here is the question found in it; “Why have you made me like this?”. That question is one that we have all most likely gone before God asking. I still in my struggles with sin seemingly go before God with it; I must understand that the sanctification process is a life-long road I must travel. The more time I spend with God in his Word and prayer, the more sin is revealed to me. Even Paul continued to struggle in that realization of sin, of how he wanted to be a better man, but still failed continually. Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Let me present a simplified question on the topic of Election found in these scriptures. If you are even realizing, and questioning God on life here and thereafter, is that not evidence that He is already in pursuit of your heart, and you are a chosen child? Those blinded to Him never see or question any evidences of Him. That tug on your heart you feel, should make you feel special; you are a chosen child of God. The evidences of the evil in this world today are proofs of Satan’s power that surrounds us. God’s leash on him is stretching out just before time for Christ’s return to pull him back and put him up forever. These days that lie before us are not days guaranteed, but evidences of the need for you to repent of your sins and draw near to Christ for eternal rewards. The gospel is going out into all the world at an incredible rate with the evolution of the internet; missionaries are presenting the Good News to places that have never heard. All of this must happen before His return, and it is happening NOW! God has made you “like this” for a purpose; that purpose is to draw you to Him, and that his glory can be revealed in you. We are forgiven by the blood of the Lamb, and able to share by the word of our testimonies.

I love how a good friend of mine always closes his letters,

Until all have heard

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Daily Failures

Daily Failures

Romans 7:15-17   For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

I seem to be spending a lot of time in Romans lately. God is just speaking to me there. I came upon Romans 7 today where the great Apostle Paul speaks of his continued struggles with sin. He spends much time explaining how the Law (God’s commandments), reveals sin to us. Paul was a great sinner before he came to know Christ. He persecuted Christian’s as a zealous Pharisee, even to the point of death. Christ appeared to him in a blinding light and changed his heart forever. He also told Paul of how he must suffer as a disciple for Christ. Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Christ used Paul’s zeal to reach generations, change the world, and write much of the New Testament.

Paul was far from perfect. He still battled with sin; he still failed every day in some way. In his zeal he most likely agonized in that failure, for he desired with every fiber within himself to honor Christ and not fail in sin. But he also came to realize that he could not even live a day without the failure; for he will never achieve perfection as Christ. That conviction of your daily sin; conviction of the sin just committed; is an evidence of the Spirit living inside of you. Paul continues to agonize with this struggle. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

We have the need to live every single day in God’s mercy and grace. We live in His mercy to not give us what we deserve. We live in His grace to give us what we do not deserve. These mercies and graces should be approached and spoken to before God in prayer. Especially when we feel those convictions of sin. We should desire to keep a humble, clear conscious in our relationship with God. This is key to hearing from God. Those unconfessed sins lie in the way of our relationship. Paul knows there is no hope for him but in Christ, and says so in his closing statement. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! When you fail today, and you will fail today, approach God in prayer. Plea for His forgiveness, and thanksgiving for His daily mercy and grace.

 
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Posted by on December 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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