thoughtiful.

Those whom he called he also predestined

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:28:00 -0400

This is just some of my thoughts after listening to John Piper’s sermon on predestination, available here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/those-whom-he-predestined-he-also-called-part-1 (part of a series, maybe listen to the whole series)

Apologies that this doesn’t make much sense and is quite long.

“God works all things for the good of those who love him”

God chose beforehand those who would know and love him, based on no merit of our own.

We all deserve hell -> Jesus is so good.

But if God picks his children, why not pick more to join his people or even all? He could hav covered everyone’s wrath at the cross, and does cover everyone who comes to him, and we don’t know who these people will be.

I just find it hard knowing that Christ died for our sins, yet the majority of people have little to know interest in this, and will die in their sins to spend eternity in hell seperated from God in hell. And that’s always been the way - God’s always kept a remnant for himself. So many of my friends don’t know God (lots do, which is great). That’s why I pray for them all, and people that I know but not as well, on and off, and really do hope that I’ll see the majority if not all come to know Jesus for themselves.

But is there point in praying for them if God’s already decided before they were even born? ”Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” was said even before they were both born. I can’t change God’s mind through my prayers. Yet maybe that is part of the good works that were prepared in advance for me to do. And God does say that persistently asking for things will result in him paying attention - the story of the judge and the person knocking at their door.

It’s a bit of a paradox because I really do believe that prayer changes things. And prayer is such an important part of relationship with God.

How does this fit with free will? We do make choices, but God always knew what those would be and works things in such a way as to be without excuse in rejecting Him. “The heavens declare the works of your hands.” “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’. “

Yet he also decides who will and won’t be there, and has complete control over that as he chooses who to give his Spirit to and who not to.

I wouldn’t wish God’s just wrath on anybody; and yet doesn’t David in some of the Psalms, fully aware of how his own sins seperate himself from God. This is when they’ve shown no signs of repentance and continue to treat David badly for acting righteously.

Maybe this is all coming from a very comfortable western perspective that views all people as good, not bad, and struggling to understand the level of wrath due us prefering to view God as a bit of a softie who would rather pretend we’re all rather perfect and everything’s ok, turning a blind eye to all the evil in the world. Because everything’s not ok. Thank God for Jesus and for the time we’re given to repent and follow him. But also thank God he won’t leave the wicked unpunished forever.

Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

becasue the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor,

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion -

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendour.

keepcalmgodloves: (via imgTumble)

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:48:27 -0400

keepcalmgodloves:

(via imgTumble)

iwilltrustinyou: 203/365 Guide me (by God’s fingerprints)

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:54:17 -0400

iwilltrustinyou:

203/365 Guide me (by God’s fingerprints)

weandthecolor: Good Deeds Typographic poster design by Help...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:53:11 -0400

weandthecolor:

Good Deeds

Typographic poster design by Help Ink. The art print is available here. 40% of all profits from this poster will go to Smile Train.

via: WE AND THE COLOR
Facebook // Twitter // Google+ // Pinterest

Prayers

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:48:43 -0400

The other day, I was thinking how when we meet together and pray, it’s like a beautiful fragrance going up to God that he delights in.

A few days later, I read this in Revelation 5:8 :

And when he went and took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twent-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Thought that was cool and that I’d share it with you.

Also, having just googled that, the story continues in 8:3-5 :

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Photo

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:01:43 -0400

Photo

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:42:07 -0400

Reblog if you're a Christian blog. My dash is full of the same pictures over and over again. Looking for new Christian blogs to follow.

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:41:43 -0400

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in..."

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:41:17 -0400

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

- Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

godsradicaldaughter: Must always remember this whatever...

Sat, 05 May 2012 04:03:50 -0400

godsradicaldaughter:

Must always remember this whatever happens.

tamberly: God’s promises are TRUE. My Typography

Fri, 04 May 2012 18:09:31 -0400

tamberly:

God’s promises are TRUE.

My Typography

Glory to God

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:16:36 -0400

Just been to a meeting - 12 people were healed! It was awesome. God is amazing. I just pray that we’d see more of God’s kingdom breaking out in our world, and we would believe that the things we see in the New Testament can and do happen today (even if it’s not every time.) Let’s change our world for the better in Jesus’ name!

The Complex Life of a Church Janitor.: The Everyday Things.

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:03:54 -0400

The Complex Life of a Church Janitor.: The Everyday Things.:

churchjanitor:

If I were to look at my life from God’s perspective, what would I see? It’s kind of a scary question when one thinks about it. With all my faults exposed and my frailties laid bare, I think I would ask how God could possibly love me. On the other hand, I feel that I would see my actions from a…

Photo

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:02:39 -0400

"We are bound by the words of the Creator, the One who will do what is right. The One who invented..."

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:04:30 -0400

“

We are bound by the words of the Creator, the One who will do what is right. The One who invented justice and knows perfectly what the unbeliever deserves. God has never asked us to figure out His justice or to see if His way of doing things is morally right. He only asked us to embrace His Word and bow the knee, to tremble at His word, as Isaiah says (66:2).

Don’t get so lost in deciphering that you forget to tremble.

”

- Francis Chan, “Erasing Hell” (via oakenquill)

Photo

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:03:43 -0400

a day in my life: Dave Phillips

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:04:28 -0400

a day in my life: Dave Phillips:

Years ago, Dave Phillips and his wife, Lynn, had a talk about the callings they felt God was stirring in them. As they discussed what they were most passionate about, they agreed that bringing relief to suffering children and reaching the next generation with the gospel were at the top of the…

This is awesome.

Photo

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:02:22 -0400

Too young to notice and too dumb to care: What I want my life to be - told through a 12 year old

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:02:32 -0400

Too young to notice and too dumb to care: What I want my life to be - told through a 12 year old:

adinosaurchickennugget:

I’m reading a book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love.” If you haven’t heard of it, its an awesome book and I highly suggest you read it. In it he tells the story of a girl named Brooke Bronkowski. When she was just a 14 year old in Junior High school she started a Bible study on her campus. She…

jesusiswhatthisworldneeds: Pretty much! :D

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:00:55 -0400

jesusiswhatthisworldneeds:

Pretty much! :D