Good vs. Evil

This past Sunday we finished our the God Questions series by looking at the question, God is So Good, Why Is There So Much Bad in the World?

God Questions can only be answered with God Answers found in the Word of God. Let me assure you that Jesus is not surprised by evil and suffering, but He does have some good news.

 

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”    -    John 16:33

Over the next few days we will attempt to answer this question using the Bible. There will be Hard Answers -might not be too popular, Head Answers -those that make logical sense, and  Heart Answers to this question that might make you feel better about the pain you’ve experienced.

Be wise today and always - seek your answers from the One who knows and is truth.

Onions

I was watching this show about a woman who was going through many trials. She started dealing with her problems one at a time. After a while though she just had a breakdown. The therapist said she was like an onion. After peeling away the layers of her hurt she got down to the part that makes you cry.

Have you ever felt like that?

You just can't take any more hurt, pain, or change in your life. I think we all have. Maybe you feel like that now. David in the Bible did, but he came to this freeing truth.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. - Psalms 68:19

 

Be wise today and always - give your burdens God.

Remembering

 I have gone to a lot of conferences and heard many different speakers. I will take a lot of notes, but have you noticed it usually can be summed up with one well formed phrase. Today I'm sharing some from three of my favorite speakers.

Andy Stanley:

 

“Past boldness is no assurance of future boldness. Boldness demands continual reliance on God's spirit.”

What you fear most will determine whether you merely save for the future or give for the future.”

Chris Brown:

 

Seek to fulfill your calling, not your potential.

Let me ask you a simple question: If the Holy Spirit left your ministry today, how long would it take for you to find out?

Bill Hybels:

God's presence is with you, but you have to make a choice to believe - and I mean, really believe - that this is true. This conscious decision is yours alone.

 

Be wise today and always - be moved from your potential in to your calling.

 

Quotes

Everyone loves a good quote. These are from some of this year's Summit speakers;

Colin Powell:

·          “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

Patrick Lencioni:

·         “If everything is important, then nothing is.”

·          “Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they're doing it because they care about the team.”

Dr. Henry Cloud:

·         “Address the issues of today rather than obsessing about yesterday or hoping for rescue tomorrow.”

Bob Goff:

·         “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.”

Be wise today and always - allow someone's words stir your heart for God.

Leaders

Leadership is such a key component in our lives, but we often don't treat it that way. We expect someone else to plan, act, do, or lead.

The truth is:
Everyone is a leader.
You need to lead where you are.
Everyone wins when a leader gets better.

These quotes are from Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit. This year the conference will be August 8 and 9. I encourage you to try to attend one of the 120 different venues around the country. The closest on to me is Ocean Grove, NJ.

Be proactive in growing as a leader. Read, sit under good leaders, be active, and remember that God has a plan to use you. If you let Him.

Be wise today and always - grow as a leader in Christ.

They Know

Years ago I went on a mission trip to a very remote part of Thailand. It was up in the northern mountains where the tribal people had never seen anyone outside their village. No TV, radio, or outside influence had reached them before our trip.

Based only on their observation of nature, each other, and the knowledge God puts in all people, they came to several conclusions.

1. There were good and evil spirits at work in this world.
2. There is a God who created everything.
3. God was still involved in their lives.

Amazing! Once we got past the differences in language it was easy to witness to them. They wanted to know about God's plan for them, and how to fight evil. Before we left over 90% had accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

Be wise today and always - people know there is evil, share the goodness of God with them today.

Except Through Christ

Jesus explained why He had to be sacrificed on the cross during Last Supper. He had to pay the price for our sins in order for humanity to be reconciled back to God. He was asked how was one able to get to heaven. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6  

Quite the claim in a world that 70% of the population does not believe in Christ. It's not the only time this claim was made. Jesus shared how difficult it was, and there is only one way.        

 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14

 

A bold and potentially offensive assertion. But a question that everyone human being asks in their minds and heart. The Bible makes the answer clear - Jesus does provide a way to heaven.

¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." – Acts 4:12 

Be wise today and always - praise God for His love and sacrifice.