Late Night Thoughts

[PrincessPlatinum]

God totally put this on my heart today and I wanted to share it with you all!

Most Christian extremists use the bible to justify their actions. They often use it to make God sound hateful and vengeful against people. That being the case, it's no wonder people look away from God or think he doesn't exist. People use God as a tool to spread hate and fear, but what those people who preach about him that way don't understand is the wideness and depth of his love and mercy toward us. He willingly sacrificed his son so that we could spend eternity with him. He knows our sins and is more than willing to forgive them all. He loves us so much that he made us in his own image. Isn't it incredible to think that he formed every part of us exactly, that he knew what we would be like before we even took our first breath? It's astounding to me to think about the time and care he took in shaping every single one of us. He sends us people- some bad, some good- to help us grow as an individual. He watches us struggle and is overjoyed when we overcome the obstacles set before us. He knows about every second of our lives. And when it comes time to go home he'll welcome us home with joy and open arms and say, "You have done well". I don't know about you guys, but that's what I'm hoping for when I die. To know that the one who created the universe loves and cares about what happens to me gives me strength when I have none. To know that he's always watching over me and will catch me when I fall is so comforting to me. Even though I can't see him, he's there, loving me, teaching me, and using me to help others. There's this verse in the song "Soon" by Hillsong (which I don't own the rights to, by the way) that really describes this well, and it goes like this:

"Though I have not seen him
My heart knows him well
Jesus Christ the lamb
The Lord of heaven."

There is so much joy and comfort in knowing God. No matter what else lies before us, he will be there to guide us through it all. His love and mercy are boundless, and that's what the extremists or others who don't really know Christ will never truly understand.

 

[amadeus2]

Yes, Christian extremists, as you call them use the Bible, but it is used for good as well as sometimes, unfortunately, for evil. This is really where the Holy Spirit should come into the picture, but too often does not.

We should be consuming the Word and having it brought to Life in us by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people depend too much on their mental ability to study the scriptures and draw their own conclusions based on their logic alone. Studying the Bible is a good thing when done for the right purpose in the Holy Spirit, rather than in our own spirit. We, all of us, do need to be led, even if we have a natural leadership ability. Our Leader must always be God or we may find ourselves following someone into a ditch.

 

[PrincessPlatinum]

Yes, Christian extremists, as you call them use the Bible, but it is used for good as well as sometimes, unfortunately, for evil. This is really where the Holy Spirit should come into the picture, but too often does not.

We should be consuming the Word and having it brought to Life in us by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people depend too much on their mental ability to study the scriptures and draw their own conclusions based on their logic alone. Studying the Bible is a good thing when done for the right purpose in the Holy Spirit, rather than in our own spirit. We, all of us, do need to be led, even if we have a natural leadership ability. Our Leader must always be God or we may find ourselves following someone into a ditch.

Amen! Well put!