"Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43.
This scripture shows us one of the greatest miracles described in the Bible. Jesus hung on the cross with two criminals beside Him, one on the right, and one on the left. All three men had a few hours left to live. There are some people standing close to the site and they are mocking Jesus. One criminal that is beside Jesus is doing the same. It looks like nobody sees who Jesus really is. Nobody is feeling guilty. Everybody feels self-righteous, even the blaspheming criminal who is about to die.
But wait. What about the other criminal that hangs on the other side? He feels the burden of his crime. He understands what he has done and knows that he is worthy to be punished this way. Yet, eh also sees that Jesus is not a criminal, but a righteous person, unjustly punished. He calls Jesus "Lord". And asks for forgiveness. What happens? In a split of a second he is forgiven. When he dies, he will be accepted in Heaven. Can you believe that? One moment, a person is a murderer, another moment he becomes a child of God. And the doors of Heaven are open for him. This shows how powerful God's forgiveness is. Furthermore, when God forgives, not only sins are forgiven, a personality is transformed. If that were not the case, nobody could enter Heaven, as Heaven is a holy place and no murderer (or any other kind of sinner) can enter it. Let's embrace Jesus forgiveness. Let it change us inside out. The transforming power of His forgiveness is the greatest miracle of all!
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Friday, April 17, 2020
God resists the proud
"But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6.
When we talk about things that God dislikes we often fail to mention pride. The fact is that it probably is the main quality that closes the door of Heaven, and Father's heart. God does not answer the prayers of the proud. The proud fail to see they need God. The believe they are good enough without God. They think they can handle everything on their own. They also look down upon others who are inferior to them. They judge others, and fail to see that others might have something that they lack. Thus, God resists them.
On the other hand, God gives grace to those who humble themselves. Those who acknowledge their lack, their weaknesses, sins, and ask for God's help are never left empty-handed. The world despises humility. It considers the quality as a weakness. The world exalts pride as it can be one of the biggest drives to achieve something. It maybe, but the kingdom of God is different, and the King of the kingdom Jesus Christ showed that He is the supreme example of humility.
He was God Almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He had glory in Heaven. With the Father, and the Holy Spirit, He created the Universe. However, He willingly left all the glory, decided to become human in order to redeem the lost world. He was born in a poor family, in a manger among dirty animals as there was no room for them in the inn. For 30 years he worked as a carpenter humbly waiting to start the mission he came to accomplish. He experienced ridicule, verbal abuse, and persecution during His ministry. He chose to be beaten, humiliated, spat on, and eventually crucified so that you and me be forgiven of everything bad we have done in our lives. He also forgave those who crucified Him. Jesus showed what humble attitude we should have towards God. Let's learn from Jesus how to be humble. If we do, God will show us His grace in many unspeakable ways.
When we talk about things that God dislikes we often fail to mention pride. The fact is that it probably is the main quality that closes the door of Heaven, and Father's heart. God does not answer the prayers of the proud. The proud fail to see they need God. The believe they are good enough without God. They think they can handle everything on their own. They also look down upon others who are inferior to them. They judge others, and fail to see that others might have something that they lack. Thus, God resists them.
On the other hand, God gives grace to those who humble themselves. Those who acknowledge their lack, their weaknesses, sins, and ask for God's help are never left empty-handed. The world despises humility. It considers the quality as a weakness. The world exalts pride as it can be one of the biggest drives to achieve something. It maybe, but the kingdom of God is different, and the King of the kingdom Jesus Christ showed that He is the supreme example of humility.
He was God Almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He had glory in Heaven. With the Father, and the Holy Spirit, He created the Universe. However, He willingly left all the glory, decided to become human in order to redeem the lost world. He was born in a poor family, in a manger among dirty animals as there was no room for them in the inn. For 30 years he worked as a carpenter humbly waiting to start the mission he came to accomplish. He experienced ridicule, verbal abuse, and persecution during His ministry. He chose to be beaten, humiliated, spat on, and eventually crucified so that you and me be forgiven of everything bad we have done in our lives. He also forgave those who crucified Him. Jesus showed what humble attitude we should have towards God. Let's learn from Jesus how to be humble. If we do, God will show us His grace in many unspeakable ways.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
God's peace
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33.
The world has never really been a very peaceful place. Lots of troubling stuff happened in any century. The same can be said about our times. You can decide for yourself by simply reflecting on this:
There are about 40 regional military conflicts going on in the world today.
There are about 10,000 diseases and only 500 known medicines for them (coronavirus is the 10,001 with no cure yet).
150,000 people die every day from various causes. Around 50-60 million people die every year.
Next financial crisis maybe around the corner.
Prices and taxes will probably rise.
Salaries probably won't.
Nothing is for sure in this world, except death and taxes.
If you think about the stuff that is happening in the world you will definitely get worried.
But wait? Jesus promised us peace. Despite everything that surrounds you today, you can have peace. Jesus is not trying to frighten you, He is trying to calm you down. He can quiet every storm in your life. Learn to trust Him. He was sleeping on a pillow during the storm, while the disciples were panicking and working hard to get saved from drowning. He was with them, and He is with us. He left His peace for them, and for us. His love is like the Ocean where you can drown all of your worries and gain tremendous peace. Reflect on His goodness, love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness and your mind will be filled with peace. 103 and 91 Psalms do the magic for worried minds. Read them when you feel that you have lost your peace. Focus on Him more than on the troubling things that surround you.
The world has never really been a very peaceful place. Lots of troubling stuff happened in any century. The same can be said about our times. You can decide for yourself by simply reflecting on this:
There are about 40 regional military conflicts going on in the world today.
There are about 10,000 diseases and only 500 known medicines for them (coronavirus is the 10,001 with no cure yet).
150,000 people die every day from various causes. Around 50-60 million people die every year.
Next financial crisis maybe around the corner.
Prices and taxes will probably rise.
Salaries probably won't.
Nothing is for sure in this world, except death and taxes.
If you think about the stuff that is happening in the world you will definitely get worried.
But wait? Jesus promised us peace. Despite everything that surrounds you today, you can have peace. Jesus is not trying to frighten you, He is trying to calm you down. He can quiet every storm in your life. Learn to trust Him. He was sleeping on a pillow during the storm, while the disciples were panicking and working hard to get saved from drowning. He was with them, and He is with us. He left His peace for them, and for us. His love is like the Ocean where you can drown all of your worries and gain tremendous peace. Reflect on His goodness, love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness and your mind will be filled with peace. 103 and 91 Psalms do the magic for worried minds. Read them when you feel that you have lost your peace. Focus on Him more than on the troubling things that surround you.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
God will never forget you
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" Isaiah 49:15.
In my last post I discussed the idea, that God forgets something, and that something is our sins. Today, I want to remind us what God Himself told us through the prophet Isaiah. What is it? He will never forget us. Parents do not forget their children. Well, bad parents sometimes do. But God swore that He will never forget you. Despite the fact you might find yourself in a situation where you feel completely alone and forgotten, it is only a feeling. God is always there right beside you. If you are a Christian, He is actually living inside of you. He loves you. He cares about you. If you are walking through a dark tunnel in your life He is walking with you. Do not give up on Him. He will never give up on you. He is a loving Father. You are His beloved son/daughter. Trust His goodness.
In my last post I discussed the idea, that God forgets something, and that something is our sins. Today, I want to remind us what God Himself told us through the prophet Isaiah. What is it? He will never forget us. Parents do not forget their children. Well, bad parents sometimes do. But God swore that He will never forget you. Despite the fact you might find yourself in a situation where you feel completely alone and forgotten, it is only a feeling. God is always there right beside you. If you are a Christian, He is actually living inside of you. He loves you. He cares about you. If you are walking through a dark tunnel in your life He is walking with you. Do not give up on Him. He will never give up on you. He is a loving Father. You are His beloved son/daughter. Trust His goodness.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Divine Amnesia
"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” Hebrews 8:12.
Most know that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Amazing qualities, huh? However, and this is good for us, He tends to forget some things. And He forgets them forever. How is this possible? Well, He is omnipotent. What are those things that He forgets? Our sins. Really? Yes. Contrary to us, who tend to remember bad stuff people did to us, or bad stuff we have done in our lives, when God forgives us, He completely deletes those out of His memory.
I don't know about you, but that is the best thing about God. He does not hold a grudge against you. If you ask for forgiveness, He forgives. In a split of a second. And He will never ever remind you of those things again. Maybe you don't understand how much it is. If not, you probably have not understood how bad is evil that every one of us do in our lives. It is big. But yet, again, God's love is even greater. To such an extent that He can forgive 7 billion people and never remember anything evil they have done in their lives. This is the gift of all ages from an eternal Holy God to us humans. If you feel guilty about anything you have done in your life - Jesus is the answer. Ask Him to forgive you and He will. And He won't remember. It's great that God has this kind of Amnesia.
Most know that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Amazing qualities, huh? However, and this is good for us, He tends to forget some things. And He forgets them forever. How is this possible? Well, He is omnipotent. What are those things that He forgets? Our sins. Really? Yes. Contrary to us, who tend to remember bad stuff people did to us, or bad stuff we have done in our lives, when God forgives us, He completely deletes those out of His memory.
I don't know about you, but that is the best thing about God. He does not hold a grudge against you. If you ask for forgiveness, He forgives. In a split of a second. And He will never ever remind you of those things again. Maybe you don't understand how much it is. If not, you probably have not understood how bad is evil that every one of us do in our lives. It is big. But yet, again, God's love is even greater. To such an extent that He can forgive 7 billion people and never remember anything evil they have done in their lives. This is the gift of all ages from an eternal Holy God to us humans. If you feel guilty about anything you have done in your life - Jesus is the answer. Ask Him to forgive you and He will. And He won't remember. It's great that God has this kind of Amnesia.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Our righteous acts
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6.
I assume every person has his/her own scales or right and wrong. We tend to measure bad deeds in relation to good ones. I have met a lot of people who told me that if you do more good than bad you are a good person and God will have to take it into account when you stand in His presence on Judgment Day. That's how a lot of people think.
What is the problem with this type of thinking? The problem is that one day we will stand in front of a perfect God, who has no sin and who is perfect. You cannot be justified by your own works as you cannot justify yourself by doing good, because a perfect God has perfect standards. He does not tolerate anything bad. One single sin by Adam and Eve was enough for them to lose their right standing with God. The same with us. Even if you do more good than bad, it is not enough to be justified by God. You need to get God's forgiveness. Your sins are either all forgiven, or none. Jesus died for all of your sins. So, ask God to forgive all of your sins and all of them will be forgiven.
One good deed by Jesus can make you right with God. What we couldn't do, He did it for us. We can't justify ourselves before Him. He found a perfect way to do it for us. Believe Jesus and you become just in God's eyes. So, which way you choose to justify yourself before God on Judgment Day, your own good works, or the work that Jesus did for you?
I assume every person has his/her own scales or right and wrong. We tend to measure bad deeds in relation to good ones. I have met a lot of people who told me that if you do more good than bad you are a good person and God will have to take it into account when you stand in His presence on Judgment Day. That's how a lot of people think.
What is the problem with this type of thinking? The problem is that one day we will stand in front of a perfect God, who has no sin and who is perfect. You cannot be justified by your own works as you cannot justify yourself by doing good, because a perfect God has perfect standards. He does not tolerate anything bad. One single sin by Adam and Eve was enough for them to lose their right standing with God. The same with us. Even if you do more good than bad, it is not enough to be justified by God. You need to get God's forgiveness. Your sins are either all forgiven, or none. Jesus died for all of your sins. So, ask God to forgive all of your sins and all of them will be forgiven.
One good deed by Jesus can make you right with God. What we couldn't do, He did it for us. We can't justify ourselves before Him. He found a perfect way to do it for us. Believe Jesus and you become just in God's eyes. So, which way you choose to justify yourself before God on Judgment Day, your own good works, or the work that Jesus did for you?
Sunday, April 12, 2020
My way or God's way
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11.
Prophet Jeremiah gave the message for the Jews who were sent to captivity in the land of Babylon. They rebelled against God, rejected His commandments, lived their own selfish lifestyles, and as a result received God's punishment. However, God has never forsaken His people. His plans have always remained good for them. He wanted them to know that. He gave them a promise to bring them out of the captivity after 70 years and He fulfilled the promise. God remained faithful and good, even if Israel was not. His plans were good for them, and they are good for us too.
We often disobey God, and walk our own selfish ways. And we bring on ourselves negative consequences. Can we turn around and come back to God? The good news is that we can come back, ask for forgiveness and receive it. God does not change. His plans for us remain good to prosper us, not to harm us. He has great hope for you, and good plans for your future. Do not doubt it. Choose His plan for your life. Let's study the word of God and find out what He likes and what those plans are, instead of going our own ways. We are free to choose one of the two, but our own ways and plans will bring us to a dead end, hopelessness, emptiness, vanity, depression and a lot of other similar things. God's plans will lead us to peace, joy, gladness and inner satisfaction. Which plans do you choose?
Prophet Jeremiah gave the message for the Jews who were sent to captivity in the land of Babylon. They rebelled against God, rejected His commandments, lived their own selfish lifestyles, and as a result received God's punishment. However, God has never forsaken His people. His plans have always remained good for them. He wanted them to know that. He gave them a promise to bring them out of the captivity after 70 years and He fulfilled the promise. God remained faithful and good, even if Israel was not. His plans were good for them, and they are good for us too.
We often disobey God, and walk our own selfish ways. And we bring on ourselves negative consequences. Can we turn around and come back to God? The good news is that we can come back, ask for forgiveness and receive it. God does not change. His plans for us remain good to prosper us, not to harm us. He has great hope for you, and good plans for your future. Do not doubt it. Choose His plan for your life. Let's study the word of God and find out what He likes and what those plans are, instead of going our own ways. We are free to choose one of the two, but our own ways and plans will bring us to a dead end, hopelessness, emptiness, vanity, depression and a lot of other similar things. God's plans will lead us to peace, joy, gladness and inner satisfaction. Which plans do you choose?
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