September 30, 2014
Too often, God gets a bad rap for being harsh and vindictive. A common stereotype is that of an angry God, ready to strike and punish His puny and imperfect creatures at any moment. That image, however, pales in light of this revealed truth:
"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)
"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." (Ezekiel 18:32)
Judgment and punishment will ultimately be necessities for a holy God, but they are anything but the pleasure of our Creator. His greatest desire is that we change our minds and lives, and pursue the better path He has set before us.
To “repent and live” is ultimately to respond to the call of God’s Son. There is an urgent call to change our minds, and reorient our lives around His Father’s great purpose, the kingdom of God:
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.' " (Mark 1:14-15)
The gracious offer of immortality and abundant life in the age to come upon a renewed earth is inconsistent with a God bent on unmerciful judgment. His perfect character does demand judgment, but His abundant grace and love offers a solution. Thus, anyone who will face His fearful wrath in judgment can only blame themselves; His gracious offer needed only to be received in faith, and in a life of obedience.
It is our great privilege to choose - and choose again today - to live within the realm of God’s great plan. Changing our thinking and reorienting our lives around God's great purpose, realized in Christ, is the pathway to incredible joy and blessings.
May His Kingdom realm be yours in abundance today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)
"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." (Ezekiel 18:32)
Judgment and punishment will ultimately be necessities for a holy God, but they are anything but the pleasure of our Creator. His greatest desire is that we change our minds and lives, and pursue the better path He has set before us.
To “repent and live” is ultimately to respond to the call of God’s Son. There is an urgent call to change our minds, and reorient our lives around His Father’s great purpose, the kingdom of God:
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.' " (Mark 1:14-15)
The gracious offer of immortality and abundant life in the age to come upon a renewed earth is inconsistent with a God bent on unmerciful judgment. His perfect character does demand judgment, but His abundant grace and love offers a solution. Thus, anyone who will face His fearful wrath in judgment can only blame themselves; His gracious offer needed only to be received in faith, and in a life of obedience.
It is our great privilege to choose - and choose again today - to live within the realm of God’s great plan. Changing our thinking and reorienting our lives around God's great purpose, realized in Christ, is the pathway to incredible joy and blessings.
May His Kingdom realm be yours in abundance today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 9:03 AM
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