For a few days now I've been thinking about God, differently, I mean. I'm always thinking about God. I've just been spending quite a bit of time trying to figure Him out, you know? Like how does being a believer work? There must be a key or some bottom line principle that makes this faith thing work. As much as I have read and as much as I have prayed ( probably not nearly enough) I am unconvinced that I have discovered the bottom line. I believe that I believe in God, but do I really?
For example, I am so ready to go out and spread The Gospel. Likewise I am ready to be used as an instrument of healing. The list of "ready to" goes on ad infinitum to be in the service for others but what about me? Do I believe in God for myself the same way I believe in Him for others? Do you ever feel like you're telling people "Hey, you! God is going to provide for you; I'm praying on your behalf!" but in the back of your mind you're thinking I've prayed for myself, too, but I need provision today I've got to get a job now"? I have no doubt God will answer their prayer but as for me I've got work to do. Is my God different than theirs? And while I am on a roll with the questions how is it that I can easily tell someone that they are more than a conqueror and see nothing but a wimp when I look at myself? What's really going on? God is omnipotent. God is omniscient, omnipresent, Healer, Provider, etcetera etcetera. That God; their God is my God, too, isn't He? The great I Am is mine right? In Malachi 3:6 God, Himself clearly says " For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore he sons of Jacob are not consumed. How easily we let ourselves be consumed with doubt when God says we are not. The great I Am that I believe in for others I can most assuredly believe in for myself. He is that God. He is my God.
Are you familiar with the saying "Charity begins at home and then spreads abroad"? Charity in Hebrew is the word agape and it means love, affection, benevolence, and curiously love-feast. Can you imagine having a love-feast with God and having so much love left over you were then able to spread The Gospel or spread the love? I think what happens is we have a love- feast with God on the behalf of others and not until they are full do we proceed to the table in a scramble for leftovers. When they have a great need there are not much leftovers left over. It is not because God isn't capable of meeting both theirs and our needs- no indeed! Ephesians 3:20 clearly states "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." We worketh that power for everyone but us I'm afraid!
We have access to petition our Father through prayer to have our needs met but tell the truth; don't you feel a little guilty when you do and think you're being selfish? It's as if the devil interrupts our petition to ask if Johnny needs healing more than you need car repairs or if children starving in Africa need food more than your own. He tries to convince you that there is always a need greater than your own. Thoughts such as those not only undermine the sovereignty of God but they also negate His power working in us. You certainly can petition God! Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. If you're not yet convinced then refer to 2 Peter 1:3 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. By all means make your requests known; partake!
What does all of that have to do with the key? What's the bottom line and how does being a believer work? My friend there is one answer to all of the above questions, love. It is because God so loves us we can petition to Him and make our requests known. Because God so loves us we can partake of His exceeding great and precious promises. God so loves us He sent His son to save us from the eternal damnation we deserve because of sin. His Son sent us the Holy Spirit because He so loves us. I am reminded of the Greek word sozo.
Here it is as defined by: The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon
Strong's Number: 4982
Original Word Word Origin
sozo from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, "safe")
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Sozo 7:965,1132
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
sode'-zo Verb
Definition
to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
one (from injury or peril)
to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
to save in the technical biblical sense
negatively 1b
to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment 1b
to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
I would say love does all of that; God's love. Now, let's all be ready to spread the Gospel and, as Jesus said, "These things I command you, that ye love one another." Let's love one another.
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