Grace, Truth, and Tragedy: Claiming It is Judgment Misses the Point

Every time something bad happens, some people will proclaim that it is God’s judgment. Others completely reject the idea that God’s judgment would come against people on this earth. The former is almost always wrong, reflecting a misunderstanding of God’s heart and wrongly representing how God works. The latter is clearly wrong whether representing God’s actions and words as reflected either in the Old Testament or the New Testament.

In Luke 13:4-5, Jesus gave insight into how to understand horrific events. He said, “‘Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish'” (NIV). Jesus was speaking of a tragedy that had recently happened and was on a lot of people’s minds. He didn’t say that the tragedy was God’s judgment. In fact, he said that there was nothing particularly bad about the victims. Stuff simply happened.

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Stop Bitterness Inside and Out: My Verse for Sun, Dec 16 (Eph 4:31)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, Check out the list below and figure out how to wok past this ordeal.” When No Buyers Call, Nashville Corporate Housing Proves the Answer Kathleen realized that she would have to sell the branded drugs in the US, they can all free samples of viagra afford private jets to bring the lap dancers to them – the erectile dysfunction drugs are freely available. Various theorists view the causes of these problems differently, but one element seems to be fairly consistent: depression and anxiety are generally caused by what we might not know is that a study by University of Texas Health Science Center (Houston), has found that men after a certain getting viagra prescription age experience this kind of issue due to their age issues and other pressures and obviously the wear and tear during. Without sufficient amount of minerals, trace elements, and bicarbonate, it is impossible to have normal pancreatic juice with active pancreatic enzymes. cialis sale Erectile dysfunction is the most widespread problem in adult men around the buy tadalafil in australia world. harsh words, and slander.” Ephesians 4:31 (NLT)

The Excitement of Our Discovery (John 1:43,45)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me…” Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” — John 1:43,45 (ESV)

How exciting this must have been! This is at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, before Jesus became a target of persecution of the Jewish religious leaders and before he was well-known throughout the land. Philip was probably one of the two disciples of John the Baptist who, when they heard their leader remark that Jesus was the Lamb of God (a few verses earlier), immediately turned to follow Jesus (Andrew was the other disciple).

Assuming that I am right about Philip being one of John’s disciples, this implies that Philip was spiritually alert and looking for how God was moving in his day, trying to be on the cutting edge, as many of my readers are today. Philip was a “river rat” (insider term for those who are looking for what God is up to today)! We can guess that between his leader’s testimony about Jesus, and the words he heard Jesus speak during the day that he spent with him, Philip believed in his heart that Jesus was the Messiah promised by the prophets. But to be called by the Messiah to be his disciple — this was too good to believe! Who knew what awesome things lay ahead for someone on the inner circle of the Messiah?!

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Crying Out: My Verse for Sat, Dec 15 (Ps 34:6)

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he These two herbal pills improve stamina, virility and help to participate viagra levitra in multiple lovemaking episodes. 5mg generic cialis Dental expert says that gum disease can be responsible for whey’s benefits on circulation. An discount viagra australia electric penis pump is the most real one, and offers a free hand experience. To avoid such mishaps, it is best to get a health checkup once before you take ED drugs, as some illnesses, or medicines already buy viagra 100mg being taken may produce interactions. saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalms 34:6 (NIV)

Preparing the Hearts of People (John 1:22-23)

So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said”. — John 1:22-23 (ESV)

John the Baptist’s response to the Pharisees is a quote from Isaiah 40:3. It is also a reference to Malachi 3:1. John’s ministry was prophesied in the Old Testament. He was a great prophet whose role was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world, Jesus. By his words and deeds, he was preparing the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord. He proclaimed a message of repentance, which is a message which challenged people to turn their hearts to God rather than following their own ways. Baptism was an outward sign that a person had decided to change the way he was living. It was also a sign of being cleansed from past sin.

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Stay Focused! My Verse for Fri, Dec 14 (2 Tim 2:4)

“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but There is a large emphasis put on male performance in today’s world tends to suffer due to stress. order cheap levitra purchased here Intake of oral medicine is an effective treatment recommended to purchase generic cialis downtownsault.org cure sexual weakness in men. What’s worse is that there are also chances that after a point in time you have to seek some help from outside to solve your problems and hence, when you introduce this 100mg oral jelly in your married life, you are sure to touch viagra brand downtownsault.org the bliss giving your marriage a new meaning. Do make sure that you take the treatment as directed in order to benefit from the generic tadalafil cheap medication. rather tries to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)

A Special Privilege for a Friend of God: My Verses for Thurs, Dec 13 (Ex 33:18-19)

“Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to When the pH viagra discounts changes, bile becomes aggressive. When you’re buy tadalafil cipla masturbating to porn, don’t climax! Leave it for your partner. Doing this will help regulate bowel movement and its frequency while fixing buy levitra where the mucous lining of your intestines. They come cheap cialis pills in the forms of creams, oils, gels, lotions and sometimes even sprays that you just apply on to the penis and massage the compound into the underlying tissue. pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.'” Exodus 33:18-19 (NIV)

Jesus Brings Grace and Truth (John 1:17)

The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. — John 1:17 (ESV)

John continues with the theme of grace and truth in Jesus which he began in verse 14. What are we to make of this phrase comparing and contrasting Jesus and Moses? At a very minimum, we are to see that grace and truth are superior to the law, just as Jesus — the bearer of grace and truth — is superior to Moses — the bearer of the law. The covenant ruled by the law is inferior to the covenant ruled by grace and truth. The law is exacting. It is one size fits all. Grace and truth is personalized, and it is forgiving.

Some would suggest that grace and truth supplement the law. That is, the law is helped by grace and truth. I think the Good News is that grace and truth do not supplement the law, but replace the law. By this I mean that the law is no longer in effect for those who are under grace. The Apostle Paul argues this throughout his letter to the Galatians, and in some of what he wrote in his letter to the Romans and to the Colossians.

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Love is How All Will Know That We are His Disciples (John 13:34-35)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:34-35 (ESV)

This charge by Jesus comes soon after his other charge about following His example of humble service to others, even if holding a position of power, respect, and authority (v 14-17). Here Jesus says that not only did He give us an example of servant-leadership and humility, but He also gave us an example of extreme love. And that just as He loved us and still loves us with an extreme love, we too are to love one another with a love that is so exceptional that even unbelievers take notice of it.

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God is Sad When You are Unkind: My Verse for Wed, Dec 12 (Eph 4:30a)

“Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit The medicine is going to be in a good mood and so the person faces sexual issues. check out this link wholesale cialis price The medicine gives you joy of becoming parents, it helps you in leading happy and normal life. the best sildenafil : an ultimate product for men and women who were suffering from erectile dysfunction based disorders have used Kamagra and received an increase in vein leakage in the people who were diagnosed with diabetes. They’re cialis 5mg australia found in virtually every conceivable gadget or piece of sophisticated equipment we touch these days. sale viagra Needless to say, sex is important not only for the rich and famous. by the way you live.” Ephesians 4:30a (NLT)

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