WHAT GOD HATES Jesus Christ hates sin in people and His death on the Cross is the measure of His hatred. Sin separates us from Holy God, twisting and perverting the crown of His creation. He hates what destroys us. That is why Jesus Christ died on the cross, receiving the just wrath of God against the sinful rebellion of humanity. The eternal debt that we owed God but could never settle, Jesus alone being fully God and fully man could pay the price for the sin of the whole world. Sin has no ability to create. It can only distort and pervert the good gifts of God making them life-deleting rather than life-enhancing. Human sexuality, strength, wisdom, labor and its reward, friendship, and even the created order and beauty of nature round us become idols as people try and draw ultimate meaning from them. They reflect the goodness of God but can never replace the necessity of God being the sole ground of life if one ever hopes to be fully human. Things that do not contain the wh...
LIVING IN HOPE When life seems hopeless (and it can certainly feel that way at times), it is only because I cannot see as God sees in my present circumstance. God, Himself, is our hope and He does not change, is not altered by time or public opinion. I need to bring all I see and all I think I know and lay them all down at His feet, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal in me the Word of God, the will of God, and the power of God. The Holy Spirit is at work in the follower of Jesus Christ to do far above and beyond what we could ever think or imagine. He is truly Resurrection Life within us. Seeing eyes and hearing ears are from the Lord. He will never leave or forsake anyone who has put their trust in Him. He is THE Good Shepherd who trains our hearing to recognize His voice. He is in control, not us. He leads, not us. He provides, He protects, He anoints, and our "cup" overflows because He is the One filling it. He is eternally trustworthy. Believer you live in hope because He ...