In my videos I often quote Romans 2:4, "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Yet as I was thinking about that verse today, I realized that when people believe God has not been good to them, is why they refuse to change their ways and repent of their sins. They turn this verse upside-down by justifying their actions believing God is not good, so why repent.
People who believe God will prevent all bad things from happening to them or their loved ones end up hating God. They cannot find joy in the midst of suffering or trust in their hearts God is always good. They have difficulty trusting in the love of God. (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16)
Not only does God grieve with us, He intercedes for us (Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 & Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26). God is fighting for us, but we tend to sabotage our own lives by living in rebellion.
Yes, sometimes God uses negative circumstances to test our love for Him, but in general, God does not intend for bad things to happen to His children. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God wants only the best for us. Does that mean God does not have any control? No, this means we will never fully know why bad things are allowed to happen because there is a war going on we cannot comprehend. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. I Corinthians 13:12 (my favorite verse) reminds us that we cannot understand why things happen as they do because we cannot see the big, eternal picture, but when we get to heaven, it will all be crystal clear. This senseless world will make sense.
If we cry out to God, He will hear our pleas. He wants to protect us and save us. It may seem like evil is winning, and I do not believe that this world will ever improve. In fact, I know it will only get worse. Man’s desire for independence corrupts him more and more. The mentality of not wanting to be told what to do is only getting worse. It is up to you to surrender yourself to God as well as your independence. It is up to you to choose to live right and separate yourself from this world.
People love to quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Yet they fail to pay attention to the part that says "to those who love God." Do you really love God or are you just demanding He fulfill your every prayer request? Jesus said in John 14:15," If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you refuse to turn off your ungodly entertainment, give up drinking, cheating, stealing, backbiting, etc. then why do you say you love Jesus? Just so you can use the title of "Christian" to try to get what you want and then turn you back on God when things do not go your way?
I Peter 1:16 says, "Be holy, for I am holy." Besides this being an excellent verse to remind us to live righteous lives, it also reminds us that a holy God cannot tolerate sin. If you are asking God to bless you in any way, be it a health, spiritual, financial, emotional, or mental issue, you cannot be wallowing in sin and expect Him to answer your prayers. If you feel your prayers are being blocked, it may be that God wants to help you, but your ungodly actions are hindering His blessings.
If we are honest, we can all admit that there have been numerous times in our lives we purposely chose to disobey God’s voice. Myself included. In essence, we are making an active choice to separate ourselves from God and hinder our prayer life. Would you expect a boss to keep you on the job if you kept stealing or refusing to show up? No; nor should you expect a holy God to turn the other way when you willfully choose to do the wrong thing.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
The key words there are “if,” and “humble themselves.”The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18
Humble yourself and admit you have done wrong. The free gift of salvation begins with repentance and admittance of sin. Then you must begin to and continually walk in holiness to please God (I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1). Romans 6:1-2 tells us God's free gift of grace is not to be manipulated and abused for our own selfish will, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Grace is not an excuse to live however you want because you are a “Christian.” The opposite is true. We need to have a holy desire to please our Creator and live a truly Christian lifestyle. We need daily self-evaluation and repentance.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23
I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. I Corinthians 15:31
Daily very simply means we must crucify our flesh every day not just once. Psalm 139: 23-24 should be a daily prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Bottom line here is to quit using the difficult circumstances of life as an excuse to refuse to do what you know goes against the Word of God. First evaluate your heart and actions to see if you are going against His will so He cannot help you. Then learn to focus on the eternal picture and see how much God loves you and allow "The goodness of God" to "leadeth thee to repentance."
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