Jesus our Beautiful Savior ...
The Bible is the most fascinating, amazing book on Earth, and it takes time and effort to get acquainted with its treasures.
Pure gold and precious gems do not lay on the surface of the ground and neither do the riches of God’s grace lie on the surface of the pages in the Bible. Patient and persistent effort must come first, before the precious nuggets of sublime truth are discovered.
The Bible has never been more relevant and timely than right now. Understanding the tests, struggles, mistakes, and victories experienced by the characters in the Bible stories should encourage and prepare us for the days ahead.
Faith in God means to submit to His demands and remain loyal to Him in the face of life threatening adversities. Faith in God is much more than believing there is a God. When people truly love God, their everyday actions will reflect a dedicated commitment to honor His ways, which are distinctly different from the ways this world honors. A faithful Christian often stands in direct opposition to what the world esteems. Therefore, honoring God is not always a pleasant experience.
The pressure to conform to the status quo explains, in part, why ancient Israel frequently apostatized. Tragically, the priests of Israel failed to lead the people to understand that as a nation, they must be vigilant because mankind is inherently rebellious toward God. When the draw of our carnal nature is combined with the pressure to conform to the world’s ways, serving God becomes a frustrating challenge and requires patient faith. God understands our dilemma. This is why He preserved so many stories of faith in the Bible. Unless we examine and understand the failures and the victories of our forefathers, we will repeat their mistakes.
The Bible is clear; salvation comes through faith in God. Faith in God is so much more than intellectual assent to, or agreement with, an idea. Faith in God leads to adventure and fills your heart with peace and joy. True happiness springs from knowing and loving the great “I AM.”
May God bless you and the Holy Spirit teach you as you study and walk daily with our beautiful Savior. (shred of my journal)
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