A Traveler's Guidebook 2

Israel-Israel's leader Joshua- had done the unthinkable. Giddy from the splash of victory they'd experienced  ambushing Ai; Joshua fell for the Gibeonites' disguise and went into league with them. Israel would now serve the needs of the Gibeonites. Joshua's failure to tap God's guidance before making a monumental decision brought both baggage and setbacks in Israel's Canaanite conquest. You'd think this was the end of the story; but our failings are new beginnings in God's mind. For this horrible day of neglect was the backdrop for a day like no other in Israel. Disobedient Joshua would say, "Sun, stand still!"; Israel would wreak havoc on the enemies before them and in the countryside of Canaan. God, Himself would give a glimpse of future Revelation judgment, raining down big hailstones on Israel's foes as they fled by Beth-Horon. God prides Himself in His speciality. He sees us not for our failings but for who we are-family. As a good Father, He delights in giving us good for our evil. It brings Him no greater joy than to enlarge our lives with blessing, when we least deserve them. Know this, that though your choices matter to God; ultimately, you matter more to Him. You are His delight, for you've entered His family by trust in His Son. We're never truly worthy of the favor He shows.  Every good thing given from above is given in spite of us and not because of our good performance. Mercy is yours today as well. Don't focus on your personal unworthiness but rather His worth and His way with His children. Hallelujah! 

What will your life look like after death?

Bell's book "Love Wins" has stolen the attention of many around the world. The reason many are either enamored with His benign, ever-pardoning God or disturbed by His disregard for the eternal prison, the home of the devil and those who aren't God's friends, is because the supernatural tends to control in much of what we think. I think if we're not careful, we'll allow our thoughts of life after death to enamor us and not change us from the inside out. Life is a matter of preparation for eternity as we all will stand and give report to Christ for how prepared we are meet Him (Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10). So the question is what will your life look like after death? Scripture is clear regarding the things we can do to ensure confidence and not shame when we die. The first is to allow our bad blood (bent to do wrong) to open our eyes to our need to begin a transforming, personal relationship with Christ. He died so that we'd hold onto His death alone for safe passage into an eternity of rest, reward, and rule with Christ; His resurrection was the Father's receipt proving that trust in His Son's selfless death alone gives us the gift of heaven. Second, having begun a relationship with Christ, we must live as the people salvation has made us, ones showing our faith by our works (James 2). If we'd allow these thoughts to control in how we live; we'll be prayerfully and confidently readying ourselves and others for life beyond death's door, too busy to be aimlessly debating whether eternal pardon is available here only or in the hereafter also, knowing the right time to prepare for life after death is now (2 Cor. 6:2).

God is love not shove

I grew up under the impression that the primary gene of God is His holiness. On studying Scripture and our place in God's program as the church; I'm not convinced. Yes, the angels in Isaiah 6 proclaim God a thrice holy God, yes, John shuttered at the brass feet of Christ, God of glory; but how do you want your children to remember you? As a distant dictator, one unapproachable, who always had it together or as one, who nurtured them well with empathy and compassionate care. The Bible is very clear in 1 John 1 that God is light, undimmed by darkness; but its portrait of God in 1 John 4 is love, not distance or shove. He desires to be near, not distant, for "He's not far from anyone of us," Acts 17. He is not cold and uninterested but near, mighty to save. Peter portrays Him as the Christ, who keeps us way beyond salvation with His delivering Hand. John 13 is crystal clear regarding how others are to know God, by our love for one another just as Christ showed us God by His demonstrating His love on Calvary's cross. He shared with us the Father's love dying for us enemies, without strength, and cursed by sin. Christ in a word is love. Your past need not keep you from His Hand of mercy; in Christ, you can be made new or restored today, for God is love.