God Nuggets Blog

Jesus absorbed evil on the cross. Look at Isaiah 53:

• Jesus was despised and rejected (Isa 53:3)
  
• He took up our infirmities (Isa 53:4)
  
• He carried our sorrows (Isa 53:4)
  
• Jesus was pierced for our transgressions (Isa 53:5)
  
• He took the punishment that brought us peace (Isa 53:5)
  
• He was crushed and suffered (Isa 53:10)

Jesus took on evil, but he scorned the shame (Hebrews 12:2).

He scorned the shame.

Jesus embraced evil, yet singled out shame and scorned it.

What does that mean? To be honest, I don't know exactly. To scorn means to "to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain" (Dictionary.com). At the least, this Scripture tells us that we have no business wallowing around in shame! As imitators of Christ and people forgiven by God, we must reject shame! Don't allow it to take root in your emotions or thoughts!

I would really appreciate your comments and insight regarding this post.

Blessings,

Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com

I used to be afraid to ask God for something that might not be His will. After all, I thought, isn't Jesus our example when He prayed, "Not my will but Thine be done"? (Luke 22:42)

But the truth is that when Jesus prayed that way, He knew God's will clearly. He realized it conflicted with his own desires at that time, and His prayer was one of surrender to His beloved heavenly Father. In contrast, I have prayed "Thy will not mine" out of unbelief, thinking that if I asked and God said "no" my faith might be shipwrecked.

Petitioning God for His will is not the only way to pray. Jesus also told us we could ask God for anything (John 14:14). We can enter His throne room with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and pray for whatever we want, anything at all.

If we ask Him for bread, He won't give us a stone, or a scorpion (Luke 11:11-13). If you think of one of your children requesting something that isn't best for her, you wouldn't give it just because she asked for the wrong thing! You would simply tell your child, no. God won't give us a bad outcome because we pray for something that's not His will, for He is the supremely loving Parent.

Perhaps you are afraid of disappointment if you don't get what you ask for. But isn't it just as disappointing to not ask and not get (James 4:2)?

Although I try to be led by the Spirit when I pray, I usually just ask God for what I want in faith, knowing He is conforming my desires in large part to His own (Psalm 37:4-6), and I let God decide what His will is!
Blessings,

Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Image: The Passion of the Christ

I used to be terrified of losing my salvation. Years ago, God brought me to a total peace about it, for which I am quite grateful. I was reminded of this fear as I read Hebrews 6:4-9 this morning. I've always found it scary, but today, some things became apparent to me that I had never seen before. In a casual reading of the text it seems as if the author is talking about someone who is saved, who has committed her life to Christ, and then is lost. But I believe it is a warning, not to believers, but to unbelievers disguised in the Church. I have inserted a few notes of my own in [brackets] below:




It became abundantly clear to me that Hebrews 6:4-9 is a warning to the lost, not the saved. Being enlightened is not being saved. Tasting is not eating. If a starving man only tastes food he will die. These are people who know the Truth, but never received it and never bore fruit.

If you are wavering or exploring the faith, this is not about you either. This text refers to someone who fully understands all the wonders of salvation and then lives their entire life in unbelief.

I realize this text is controversial, however, a well-accepted rule of hermeneutics is to interpret the unclear in light of the clear. What could be more clear than the following verse:

John 10:27-28

²⁷My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

In the original Greek, "no one" is emphatic. It means "no one, in no way, never!" "No one" includes ourselves. Be at peace for you are safe.


Blessings,

Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Image: Neo-Gen Mixed Martial Arts

When you pray do you ever feel like you are putting a coin in a slot machine? Maybe God will answer, and maybe He won’t. Nevertheless, “Thy will, not mine be done,” we pray, more as a cop-out for our lack of faith than a statement of submission. It’s not that we believe that He can’t answer, we believe He won’t. But the Bible sends a strong and clear message about this in all four gospels and throughout Scripture. Take a look at these passages:

• Matt. 21:22 "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
• Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
• Luke 17:6 "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."
• John 14:13 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."
  
• 1 John 3:22 "[We] receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him."

God is telling us that we can ask Him for anything and He will say “Yes!” whenever He possibly can. Taken out of the context of other things the Bible says about prayer, Scriptures like these have been misused as an excuse for greedy materialism and the “name-it-claim-it” doctrine. Of course God won’t answer a prayer that is contrary to His will or prayed from evil motives (James 4:3). Also, there are a few things that hinder prayer. For example, unbelief, unforgiveness, rebellion against God, and treating others harshly all put static on the line.

But don’t let caution water down the power of these Scriptures! Nothing is impossible for God. He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). We’re not gambling with an unfeeling slot machine. God has a father’s heart, and He’s waiting for you to pour out your heart to Him.

Don’t be overly cautious about praying for what you want; God has placed many of His own desires in your heart. Pray to the Father freely and boldly; believe and wait for Him to answer. Don’t give up. You just might change the world.

Blessings,

Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
PHOTO: ARGENT / MONEY

Have you lost something recently? A number of gifted Christian writers have shared their insights and experience in dealing with this subject, in their personal journeys of living with chronic illness. No matter what your particular situation, I know you will be encouraged if you visit another great blog carnival from Rest Ministries, on the topic of loss. God Nuggets is honored to have been featured in the carnival with the article, "Long Ago and Far Away." I hope you will take a minute to check them out!

Blessings,

Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com

What?! No way! Not me. I like to figure things out--know the "answer" before proceeding.

I'm reminded of a furry little pet I had once. If I told you what it was, you'd probably stop reading right here, but I loved it. Anyway, let's pretend it was a hamster. She was very affectionate and when she saw me she would often reach up and strain out over her little third-tier precipice trying to get out of her cage and reach me. When I reached in and clasped my fingers around her middle, even before I had my grip she let go with all four feet, completely relaxed, abandoning herself and her safety into my hand.

It touched me to be trusted like that and as I mulled it over I knew that God wanted the same kind of "reckless abandon" from me: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

I recently challenged a friend, "Do you have the faith to live with the question?" But it is my own challenge as well. Do I have the faith to let go with "all four feet" and relax into God's hand--not knowing where he will carry me or what the outcome will be. Isn't it the better part of wisdom to hold on to my own safety zone with at least a couple of toes? I mean, really ... completely let go? Come on! I don't like questions; I like answers!
I'd rather spend my time on the hamster wheel of life in an analytic frenzy, working to figure it out; striving for the answer. But God longs for our trust! Although He doesn't need anything, He still deeply desires that we would abandon the hamster wheel and leave the questions with Him. It is enough to know the One who IS the Answer. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John).

Papa God, help me to live with the Question because You are the Answer. I choose to believe that I am safe in your hand.

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28 Amp.).

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