The question of whether people can and should be expected to make sound moral judgments has a dramatic impact on the way we face the challenges of daily living. Man’s love for truth and willingness to take responsibility fo their choices is essential to understanding what it means to be truly human. Bod, by His grace, has given us principles that can help us handle the grinding affliction that sometimes attends our journey in the sin cursed world. The hard reality is that many of us are stuck in the past, at least in part, because when someone mistreated us, we responded in a sinful way. We have sometimes been so focused on the hurt caused by other’s misdeeds that we have never taken the time to address our Biblical responses to those hurts. It is not easy to acknowledge our failures, especially when someone else sinned against us first. But doing so is an important step to God developing us into the new person He desires us to become. The challenge to this part of the process is developing the ability to honestly admit our past failures and dealing with them humbly. We do this by making a humble … READ MORE

As we go through times of trials and testing we need to process any trial properly before it becomes a destructive or debilitating part of our past. As we consider our response to that suffering, it is wise to get in the habit of asking ourselves, “Do I really want to wear that response, in my heart?” One key essential that will help us practice authentic suffering in coming days is learning to benefit from the sustaining Gospel. The power of the sustaining Gospel enables us because of 4 points: 1. We can be encouraged because we have a crucified Savior – This aspect of the sustaining gospel gives depth, perspective, and meaning to our suffering. His death proves His love for me, and enables us to draw near to God so that we do not have to sin as we suffer. 2. We can be comforted because we have a Sympathetic Savior, The Bible reminds us that He was tempted in every way that we were (Hebrews 4:15) 3. We can be amazed because we have a risen Savior. Because He is alive, His presence fills us through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 4. We can be … READ MORE

One of the hardest things we have to work through is that bad things happen to good people. When this happens our view of God is critical to our answer and each of us will have to decide what place the Bible should have in this process of evaluation. Genesis 50:20 is a passage where Joseph (cf. the historical account of his life in Genesis 37-50) shares with his brothers that he knows that they meant evil when they sold him into slavery, but God meant if for good. God has plans for our lives, and while we may not understand His plans, it is our responsibility to trust Him in them. We must recognize that pain and suffering are an inescapable part of this life, and deal with them accordingly. In doing so The Bible identifies some things we can do. 1. remember God’s Word encourages us to be prepared for suffering because trials are inevitable (James 1:1-5) 2. Understand that there is not always a direct link between suffering and individual sin (book of Job) 3. Let suffering deepen our walk with God (Matthew 11:28-30) 4. Remember God promises that He will not give us more than we … READ MORE