Psalm 99:8–9 (NKJV): You answered them, O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy. **** Here is the steadfast love of the Lord in spectacularly glorious, technicolor display. It is a full-orbed love that always does what is best despite the difficulties of the moment or the exigencies of the circumstances. God loves in a manner that is always best for us; He always provides for the real need instead of our perceived desires; so when we are in need of correction and rebuke, He can always be trusted to satisfy that need in the most direct and effective means possible. This might be painful for us, it might make God seem mean or petulant in our minds; it might even make us think that God doesn’t really love us… after all, if He loved me, wouldn’t He give me what I want? Isn't this the working definition of love in this culture? "Love is you doing what I want and giving me everything I demand…" isn't it? Although we think this is true, it is most definitely NOT what love is. Love is ALWAYS more concerned with the loved than self, and ALWAYS concerned for what is actually BEST, not just what is peevishly wanted in the moment. So as the Psalmist attests, God loves us and is to us God-Who-Forgives… But He is STILL the God who takes vengeance upon our deeds! The God who corrects us; the God who loves us enough to NOT let us have our way… and there is no disparity in this! There is only hard truth and startling beauty. The difficulty lies in our understanding, in our foolish demand that love satisfies our selfishness. God calls us to grow past this childish fancy and trust that He is always doing what is best; that He is always working to produce our good and display His glory; and that He is always to be trusted because of His own perfect nature. Worship Him in the beauty of holiness, and trust that His corrective measures are actually our greatest need. When God seems to show you anger, realize that this is your interpretation, NOT the fact. Understand that it is love in purity which is unwilling to compromise for the short-term comfort of his children. And above all this trust that whatever He is doing is for your blessing and best possible good!
Isaiah 26:3–4 (NKJV) 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. ****It is so hard for us to grasp the simple fact...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Psalm 94:20–22 (NKJV): Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,Have fellowship with You?21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,And condemn innocent blood.22 But the Lord has been my defense,And my God the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Here is the simple and plain truth of all Christ centered living: We are both steadfastly opposed TO, and hated BY the worldlings around us....[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Psalm 78:29–31 (NKJV): So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire.30 They were not deprived of their craving;But while their food was still in their mouths,31 The wrath of God came against them,And slew the stoutest...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NKJV) 23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
John 3:19–21 (NKJV): And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Psalm 31:23–24 (NKJV): Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful,And fully repays the proud person.24 Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart,All you who hope in the Lord. The chaos of the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
2 Corinthians 6:16–18 (NKJV): And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in themAnd walk among them.I will be their God,And they shall be My...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Psalm 91:7–8 (NKJV): A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand;But it shall not come near you.8 Only with your eyes shall you look,And see the reward of the wicked. It is so easy for us to see our circumstances...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
