Binary, 8

 ~ Binary Road Choice: Narrow or Broad ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.}

 

Scripture  ~  Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 niv).

 

Comment  ~  There is no middle path, no third option, and no halfway option.    

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW  

 

*****

God Attribute, 4

 ~ A God of Anger ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  The common perception of God is that He is a God of love – and that is true.  However, the Bible also portrays Him as a God who is capable of great anger. 

 

Scripture  ~  “So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’  So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone.  And look!  You have risen in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel.  For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people” (Numbers 32:10-15).

 

Warning  ~  “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.  He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8-10).

 

Consider This  ~  “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the Cross], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:14-19).

 

There is only one way to escape the coming anger of God.  The only solution is to God, the Father, see you as righteous because of your accepting the blood of Jesus Christ as the payment for your sins.  Have you secured your future in heaven?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *

Why Trust God? 2

 ~ God Will Go With You and Protect You ~

 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2)

 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

 

Closing Thought  ~  Can you not trust the details of your life to the Creator and Sustainer of all (including your life)?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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