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The title, wow! What do you think of that question?
I saw it the other day on a blog I was reading.
I heard about every answer imaginable and now I want to take a crack at it. Wish me luck!
Here is how it usually begins:
Someone gets into an car accident or the like, I mean a really bad one and they walk away from it without a scratch. Then they say that during the accident they just called on the name of Jesus.
Then they tell you and others that, "if you are ever in trouble just call on the name of Jesus and He will protect you. That's how simple it is and it really works. I'm giving proof."
So, what would you say if someone heard that and then asks you, “Do you think that if people just call on Jesus when they are in trouble they will be protected?"
How would you answer that question?
What does the Bible teach?
Well…here goes….
The first part of my answer: No.
God’s saving grace does not mean nothing bad will ever happen to you.
I’ve seen so many Christians believe this lie, and have their faith smashed. God’s grace means He will redeem every hurt. Like the song says, He leads through the dangers, toils and snares, not around them.
After all, you follow a Savior who Himself was not protected from all injury. The very symbol of your faith, the cross, reminds you that Jesus — and many of His followers for the past twenty centuries — experienced painful death. But it also reminds you that God transformed the cross into a symbol of hope and triumph.
We are sometimes granted healing grace that takes away our pain, true; but we are always granted sustaining grace that strengthens us in our pain, super true! (Can something be super true? I don't know it sounded cool anyway)
So, no, faith is not a guarantee you won’t be harmed. As you may remember, Paul said he begged God to take away his suffering, but God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
Grace guarantees God will work for good in every one of your sorrows. It doesn’t guarantee there will be no sorrow.
However the second part of my answer is: Yes
I just love doing that. First giving you a “no” then turning right around and giving you a “yes”.
How can it be both “no” and “yes”?
Maybe I should have said, “ultimately, yes”, God’s grace does protect from lasting harm.
Grace guarantees that He will work all things out to His glory, and “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4) The pain now is a burst of static compared to the infinite celebration-song that awaits you.
And God’s grace is a promise you’ll be there for the celebration!
RESURRECTION!!!
Grace, in other words, will lead you home. As Peter promises:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while (Burst of static), will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (Infinite celebration)
1 Peter 5:10
Here are a few questions to ponder.
In what area of your life do you sense that, for right now anyway, God is saying “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”? (Take your time and give this some thought)
How in the world would it bring God more glory to work through some of your pain instead of simply eliminating all your pain? (Answering this one will give you an entirely new perspective)
How has God worked through weakness and pain in your life before, both for your good and for others? (Always good to remember)
Here are a few ways to talk to God about this.
Thank God that He redeems the pain to bring good out of it. Thank Him for at least one specific way He has done that in your life. Then bring to Him any situation causing you pain now, and ask Him to either remove it or work through it to bring Him glory. Then rest in His grace, knowing He will answer in the best way.
img-9.jpg
The title, wow! What do you think of that question?
I saw it the other day on a blog I was reading.
I heard about every answer imaginable and now I want to take a crack at it. Wish me luck!
Here is how it usually begins:
Someone gets into an car accident or the like, I mean a really bad one and they walk away from it without a scratch. Then they say that during the accident they just called on the name of Jesus.
Then they tell you and others that, "if you are ever in trouble just call on the name of Jesus and He will protect you. That's how simple it is and it really works. I'm giving proof."
So, what would you say if someone heard that and then asks you, “Do you think that if people just call on Jesus when they are in trouble they will be protected?"
How would you answer that question?
What does the Bible teach?
Well…here goes….
The first part of my answer: No.
God’s saving grace does not mean nothing bad will ever happen to you.
I’ve seen so many Christians believe this lie, and have their faith smashed. God’s grace means He will redeem every hurt. Like the song says, He leads through the dangers, toils and snares, not around them.
After all, you follow a Savior who Himself was not protected from all injury. The very symbol of your faith, the cross, reminds you that Jesus — and many of His followers for the past twenty centuries — experienced painful death. But it also reminds you that God transformed the cross into a symbol of hope and triumph.
We are sometimes granted healing grace that takes away our pain, true; but we are always granted sustaining grace that strengthens us in our pain, super true! (Can something be super true? I don't know it sounded cool anyway)
So, no, faith is not a guarantee you won’t be harmed. As you may remember, Paul said he begged God to take away his suffering, but God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
Grace guarantees God will work for good in every one of your sorrows. It doesn’t guarantee there will be no sorrow.
However the second part of my answer is: Yes
I just love doing that. First giving you a “no” then turning right around and giving you a “yes”.
How can it be both “no” and “yes”?
Maybe I should have said, “ultimately, yes”, God’s grace does protect from lasting harm.
Grace guarantees that He will work all things out to His glory, and “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4) The pain now is a burst of static compared to the infinite celebration-song that awaits you.
And God’s grace is a promise you’ll be there for the celebration!
RESURRECTION!!!
Grace, in other words, will lead you home. As Peter promises:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while (Burst of static), will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (Infinite celebration)
1 Peter 5:10
Here are a few questions to ponder.
In what area of your life do you sense that, for right now anyway, God is saying “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”? (Take your time and give this some thought)
How in the world would it bring God more glory to work through some of your pain instead of simply eliminating all your pain? (Answering this one will give you an entirely new perspective)
How has God worked through weakness and pain in your life before, both for your good and for others? (Always good to remember)
Here are a few ways to talk to God about this.
Thank God that He redeems the pain to bring good out of it. Thank Him for at least one specific way He has done that in your life. Then bring to Him any situation causing you pain now, and ask Him to either remove it or work through it to bring Him glory. Then rest in His grace, knowing He will answer in the best way.
Grace ~ Peace,
Pastor Jeff