For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14
Our relationship with God is a two-way possessive one--we are His, and He is ours. We don't hear much about Him being ours. Maybe some would think it's too presumptuous. But it's biblical. God is our God. God--the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of Moses and David and Paul--this God is mine. He is yours. Be possessive with God. Claim Him in your life. I don't just mean claim His name as a matter of public record. I mean claim Him in your heart and life--make Him yours in your own mind. Tell yourself, "God is my God. He's mine." This is a big deal! It means that what is His--His power and resources and love and grace and mercy and holiness--is ours, too. We can claim it. God wants this bi-possessive relationship with us. He died for it.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pity The Fool...But Is It YOU?!
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:20
The reason that God called this man a fool was not because he had done well, was successful and became wealthy. It was not because he decided to store up his wealth for the future. It was not even because he determined to enjoy his success. God called this man a fool for the same reason He calls anyone a fool--he was living as if there were no God. Psalm 14 says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Note that the fool doesn't necessarily declare that there is no God, but tells himself so. He lives like God doesn't exist. That's what this rich man did in this parable. He was blessed, but instead of glorifying God, from whom his success came, he ignored God and focused on himself.
We deny God in the same way. We think we can live to fulfill only our own desires, take credit for "our own" successes, and enjoy the fruits of our blessings without sharing any of it with the Giver...and we are fools. Oh, our mouths may never say there's no God--indeed, we may in many ways be solid, upstanding Christians--but our hearts and lives scream it. We can't continue to live this way! Don't think that you are immune to this most basic of all foolishness because you are a believer. And don't think that God will allow you to continue this way without consequence.
The reason that God called this man a fool was not because he had done well, was successful and became wealthy. It was not because he decided to store up his wealth for the future. It was not even because he determined to enjoy his success. God called this man a fool for the same reason He calls anyone a fool--he was living as if there were no God. Psalm 14 says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Note that the fool doesn't necessarily declare that there is no God, but tells himself so. He lives like God doesn't exist. That's what this rich man did in this parable. He was blessed, but instead of glorifying God, from whom his success came, he ignored God and focused on himself.
We deny God in the same way. We think we can live to fulfill only our own desires, take credit for "our own" successes, and enjoy the fruits of our blessings without sharing any of it with the Giver...and we are fools. Oh, our mouths may never say there's no God--indeed, we may in many ways be solid, upstanding Christians--but our hearts and lives scream it. We can't continue to live this way! Don't think that you are immune to this most basic of all foolishness because you are a believer. And don't think that God will allow you to continue this way without consequence.
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