Listen...to Understand

Listen...to Understand
Bayless Conley

In Proverbs 18:2, we are  given an important word of warning, A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.

It is so easy to play the role of such a fool when we are dealing with a strained or broken relationship.  Rather than seeking to understand the other person, we will often feel the need to make the other person understand our hurt.

Like me, you have probably said, "You need to hear me.  You need to understand why I'm hurt.  You need to understand why I reacted the way I reacted.  You need to see that I'm right.  I need to convince you that I'm justified in the things I've said and the things I've done."

When we say those things, we are not interested in understanding the other person's point of view to reach a mutual peace.  We just want to express our opinions, our hurt, and our reasons.

The Bible says that is the way a fool behaves.  I am going to stand at the front of the line and say, "I've been that fool more than once."  But we must learn to listen and understand.

Once you have listened and understood, here is an important phrase to learn, "I see what you're saying, and I'm sorry."  That does not mean, "I see what you're saying, and I'm sorry you're such an idiot."  That means, "I've listened to you, I've heard you, and I'm sorry."  Period.  "Forgive me."

It is amazing how some people choke on those words.  In fact, it is shocking to realize how few people know how to give a proper apology.  They offer the rose of an apology by handing it thorn-end first.

Don't play the fool.  Listen…to understand. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God 




If My Husband Had An Affair 
Beth Moore

Glimpses into Glory: HeavenVision

Prophecy In The News --
HeavenVision

 

Gary is joined by Terry James as they discuss a near death experience that 

Terry had that led to the book HeavenVision.

http://www.prophecyinthenews.com

Take Time To Pray

Is God Listening?

From the Heart of Dr. Rexella Van Impe

Several years ago I contracted a dangerous viral infection which threatened the sight of my left eye and produced severe discomfort and pain. Just as I was getting a little better, I came down with pneumonia in my right lung.

During this time of unusual stress and trauma, Jack and I spent even more time than normal praying and seeking God. Thank the Lord, He heard and answered our prayers!

Experiencing those wearisome days when I might have been tempted to ask, "Does God care? Is He listening?"-I found new assurance that the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary (Isaiah 40:28). And I can truthfully say with the psalmist that I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1).

While prayer has always been an important part of our lives and ministry, now it has become even more vital-an integral part of the very fabric of Jack's life and mine. Prayer has become as natural as breathing to me, and has carried me into the Father's presence where I draw directly from His unlimited strength.

In the times of testing I often felt as if the Lord comforted me by saying, "Pray." And in saying "Come to me," He also said, "Wait patiently." It has been my experience that life's difficulties may sometimes be meant for the strengthening of one's heart and soul.

The power of prayer

When we enter into prayer, we enter into the realm of divine omnipotence and tap into the unlimited power of God. Prayer leaps over boundaries, stops at no distances, and balks at no obstacles. No wonder Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

The late Dr. M. R. DeHaan recognized the tremendous force God placed in the hands of His people through prayer. DeHaan said, "I would far rather have the power of prayer to move the powers of heaven, than to have the power of preaching to move the masses on earth."

While some of us may not have the gift of preaching or the anointed eloquence to proclaim the gospel to all who will hear-all of us do have the power of prayer at our disposal. We can commune directly with our Creator, and cry out to the God of the universe with the steadfast assurance that HE IS LISTENING... and He will answer.

Why, then, do we go about laden with burdens too heavy to bear? Why do we endure overwhelming sorrows and pain? Why do we attempt to make the best of living with want and lack? The Lord gently scolds us for failing to seek His help by saying, Ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2).

I love the grand old gospel song that asks, "Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted?" then responds, "Tell it to Jesus, Tell it to Jesus!" On and on the song goes, listing man's most common troubles and fears, and always reminding, urging, commanding-"Tell it to Jesus alone!"

God has invited us to come to Him with our needs and burdens. Jesus said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7).

Are the answers you need being given? Have you asked?

Are you finding the solutions to life's problems? Are you seeking?

Are the doors of opportunity being opened to you? Are you knocking?

God is ready and willing to meet your every need. He is more than enough for all your problems. But to receive what He wants you to have, you have to take the first step. Have you ever taught your children to come to you for assistance with their needs? Even though you sometimes knew what they needed before they asked, have you ever waited until they made their petition to you?

Jesus said, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11).

So we need to learn to ask-we need to be sure to make our petitions known to God through prayer.

Pray in faith

Then, too, we must pray with faith. Some people feel their faith is too weak, but I believe, with the Apostle Paul, that God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). If our faith comes from God-if He has provided it for us, then we have enough...and it is sufficient!

When in the midst of suffering and in need of healing, many of us may find it difficult to receive healing directly from the hand of God. But the Lord often uses other hands, other instruments to meet our need. Often healing comes through the channel of doctors and medicine. Depending on such healing aids is not necessarily a lack of faith.

An old motto I've heard suggests that we should work as though everything depended on us, but pray as if everything depended on God. Perhaps this is the perfect blending of faith and works endorsed by the Apostle James (see 2:20-26).

I thank God for the fine doctors and "miracle" drugs employed in my treatment during my illness. But I am absolutely convinced that prayer helped speed my healing by making my body more receptive to the treatment than it ordinarily would have been.

I recovered with no lasting ill effects, no scars, no permanent damage. Yet, another lady with almost the same condition, being treated by the same doctor, with the same medication, did experience facial scarring and ongoing trauma.

Is God really interested in our individual needs and problems? Aren't our personal difficulties too small to bring to the attention of the Almighty? Isn't He preoccupied with wars and cataclysmic events, interested only in global and universal affairs?

Not at all! Nothing is too great or too small to bring to the Lord. He knows! He sees! He cares! Oh, yes, my friend. He is listening...and He will answer.

I know this-when our own strength and provision fail, prayer helps us tap into an inexhaustible divine supply. And it is undeniably true that more miracles are wrought by prayer than this world could ever imagine.

The Holy Spirit intercedes

Dr. Van Impe and I are finding that when we pray, the Holy Spirit directs us and helps us to pray. We do not have to depend on long prayer lists and "vain repetitions" that become meaningless rituals (see Matthew 6:7).

There are times when I feel so overwhelmed by needs or challenges before me that I don't even know how to pray. But the Holy Spirit does-and He ministers through me to touch the heart of God. Paul wrote, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit [himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

There have been times when I knelt to pray and could only weep-I couldn't find the words to express what was inside. I would cry out, "Oh God, I don't know how to put this because I'm so burdened. " What a comfort to know that the Holy Spirit went right on interceding for me with groanings and expressions too deep to be uttered.

And sooner or later, as I waited before God on my knees, that deep peace that passes all understanding would sweep over me, and my troubled spirit would be at rest. Once again I would have the blessed assurance of knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

My friend, what God has done for me, He will do for you. The Lord is ready to minister to you in every part of your life. He is listening.

TAKE TIME TO PRAY

I got up quite early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
I took no time out to pray.

The problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came every task;
"Why doesn't God help me," I wondered,
He said, "Why, you didn't ask!"

I saw naught of joy or of beauty-
The day sped on, gray and bleak;
I asked, "Why won't the Lord show me?"
He said, "But you didn't seek!"

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock,
God gently, lovingly chided,
"My child, why didn't you knock?"

I woke up quite early this morning
And paused ere entering the day;
There was so much to accomplish

I HAD TO TAKE TIME TO PRAY!

Jack Van Impe Ministries

Box 7004

Troy MI 48007

U.S.A.

Email @ 

 jvimi@jvim.com

Boston: A Picture of the Church

Trinity Church

Boston: A Picture of the Church

by Randy Robison

Words of LIFE Weekly Devotional

Believe it or not, the Boston Marathon bombing revealed a picture of what the church should be. Seconds after the explosions, emergency workers, medical personnel, and ordinary people rushed in to help those maimed by the blasts. Nobody asked the victims, “Are you Republican or Democrat? Are you straight or gay? Are you rich or poor? Do you have any unconfessed sin in your life?” No workers asked those around them, “Which medical school are you from? Are you really qualified to help?” (We saw the same thing again on Wednesday night, as volunteers and neighbors pulled together to help each other in the small Texas town of West.)

This should be the attitude of Christ’s church. We must help those in need. There are devastating “bombs” going off every day – divorce, illness, tragedy, and other damaging attacks. As God’s “triage” on earth, the church must rush to meet the needs of those emotionally and spiritually maimed by the enemy’s insidious devices. Those rendering aid on the streets of Boston did so immediately, unquestioningly, and purposely. They got people through the trauma of the attack so that they could get to the hospital. The same is true spiritually. Healing takes time, but the need to rescue is urgent. We must rush to those whose lives are in danger, then tend to them until they are healed.

The scene in Boston split into three basic groups: those who needed help, those who could help, and those who ran from the confusion. The death toll would have been far worse were it not for the preparation of the medical and emergency personnel on the ground. Granted, they expected more dehydrated runners than shrapnel victims, but they were ready and willing to help in any way needed.

As we air “The Blessed Life” series on television this week, keep in mind that it’s more about giving than receiving. As the church of Jesus Christ, we must be anxious to give the Gospel to those in need. Amidst the confusion of this world, we must not be caught up in the chaos. We must “be prepared in season and out of season,” as 2 Timothy 4:2 put it, with the urgent compassion of Christ. We know who the enemy is. We know his tactics and objectives. But we also know the Healer. We must rescue as many people as possible and carry them into His presence.

Randy Robison writes and produces for LIFE TODAY. He is the host of the LIFE TODAY PLUS channel on YouTube and Lightsource.

Dr. David Jeremiah: Prodigal Love 

(Life Today /James Robison)

Confounding the Wise

Confounding the Wise

Bayless Conley

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, 27-29, the apostle Paul provides a very powerful word,

Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

We are often enamored with what the world considers wise and mighty, but God isn't.  In fact, He chooses things that are foolish and weak, things the world considers insignificant, and things the world even despises, to put to shame the things that people consider wise.

I really like the King James Version when it states that God does these things to confound the wise.
We need to understand that sometimes God turns human conventional wisdom on its head.  And I believe Scripture shows us three ways in which He does that. 

First, there are times that God turns conventional wisdom on its head with the people He chooses for His purposes.  Second, He will confound human wisdom with the plans He unfolds.  Whether they are for your deliverance, or plans to further His kingdom and expand His work.

And then, third, God will truly confound the wise of this world with the pardon that He provides.

Through people, plans, and pardon, God does confound the wise!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God 


Whom Shall I Fear --  Chris Tomlin

Beanscot writes: This song by Chris Tomlin, found on his "Burning Lights" album, was a help to me after the terror attacks in Boston this week. I pray that it is a help to others as well.

Surprising Qualities of a Peacemaker + Two Minutes

Surprising Qualities of a Peacemaker

Pastor Adrian Rogers

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” - Matthew 5:9

I remember reading about a preacher boy who was in a class in a liberal college and the professor said, “Christians ought never to have any enemies. We ought never to be controversial.” Then he said, “What we need to do is to follow the example of Jesus.”

The boy lifted his hand and asked, “If Jesus Christ was so beautifully tactful and diplomatic, how did He manage to get Himself crucified?”

Peace is not appeasement. It is a right relationship with God that leads to a right relationship with self and guides us into right relationships with others. Literally, peace is a fruit of righteousness. It is the righteousness of God ruling and reigning in your heart.

Read Hebrews 12:14. Are there conflicts which you can resolve by becoming a peacemaker? If so, confidently place your hand in His and bring peace.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. 

Two Minutes

by Naomi Ragen

The festivities for Israel's 65th Independence Day are in full swing.  But for us in Israel, before the hora dancing, the plastic hammers, and the fireworks, there are the sirens.  Two minutes of time to stand and think. 

First, the siren goes off for Holocaust Memorial Day. It stops traffic. We get out on the highway, eyes closed, hearts heavy. The scenes rip through our souls: emaciated bodies in piles, starving children in rags, family members ripped apart and sent to their death in factory-like settings conceived by meticulous...

Continue reading please go here.

The Integrity Test + Six Blind Men and a Elephant

The Integrity Test

TGIF Today God  is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place" (Ps 51:6).

Integrity is often defined by what we do in secret. Are our actions the same in public as what we do behind closed doors? Kenneth Lay was the chairman and CEO of Enron, a multi-billion dollar energy corporation that went bankrupt at the hands of its executives because of mismanagement and misrepresentation of its financial practices. Many people lost their retirement life savings as a result.

In 1996, Kenneth Lay made a comment in a book entitled, Business as Mission.

"In my own case I grew up the son of a Baptist minister. From this background, I was fully exposed to not only legal behavior but moral and ethical behavior and what that means from the standpoint of leading organizations and people. I was, and am, a strong believer that one of the most satisfying things in life is to create a highly moral and ethical environment in which every individual is allowed and encouraged to realize their God-given potential. There are few things more satisfying than to see individuals reach levels of performance that they would have thought was virtually impossible for themselves."

Something went very wrong from the time Kenneth Lay wrote those words and the time he was convicted June 6, 2006. Strangely, Lay never went to prison because he died suddenly of a heart attack a few months after being convicted.

No one is immune from starting well and ending badly. The scriptures are full of men and women who did great things for God but did not finish well toward the latter part of their lives. Success can often be the breeding ground for ethical failure. Oswald Chambers said, "Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity."

Ask God today to protect you from pride that can lead to ethical failure.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Six Blind Men and a Elephant

JR Church 2009

Poor In Spirit --What Does It Mean? + Law of Love (Beth Moore)

Poor in Spirit --What Does It Mean?

Pastor Adrian Rogers

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:3

What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Jesus is talking about being a beggar. He is saying, “Blessed are the beggars.” He’s not talking about finances here. He’s talking about a person being poor spiritually.

Before a person can enter into the kingdom of heaven, he must first admit that no matter how much he may have in the material realm or psychological realm, he is absolutely and totally spiritually bankrupt and a beggar before God.  If he doesn’t see that, he will never, ever get into the kingdom of heaven.

I’ve often said that I am just one beggar showing another beggar where to find food. Do you see yourself as a beggar in need of the Bread of Heaven? 

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. 

Power in Numbers

Bayless Conley

I believe the Bible teaches us that when we join together the impact is multiplied far beyond just the addition of those who join together.  One plus one equals far more than two.  Let me show you what I mean. 
     
In Deuteronomy 32:30, it says,

How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had surrendered them?

While this verse deals with Israel's disobedience to God and subsequent retreat from their enemies, think of what might be possible when God's people obey Him!  It says that one could chase a thousand, but two could put ten thousand to flight.

While one person can impact a thousand, two people can impact ten thousand.  That is a ten-fold multiplied effect! 

Leviticus 26:7-8, when God was giving promises to His people if they would walk in His ways, states this,

You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.  Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight;  your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

Notice God says five will chase a hundred, and a hundred will chase ten thousand.  By increasing the number of people times 20, their effectiveness would increase times 100.  Again, that is a multiplied effect.

You have probably heard of the Clydesdale horses, those big, strong workhorses that can pull a lot of weight.  One horse by itself can pull two tons, but if you yoke two together they can pull 23 tons!  That is incredible!

And that is how it works when we pray together with one another. When we join our forces in prayer and connect with heaven, that is what happens. There is a multiplied effect. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God 

LAW OF LOVE (PART 1) -- BETH MOORE

The First Empty Tomb

THE FIRST EMPTY TOMB
PASTOR CHARLES STANLEY

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Jesus is the only  person who has an empty tomb. Everyone else who's died has returned to the dust, but Christ is alive and seated at the Father's right hand. Because He overcame death, His followers are also guaranteed empty tombs someday. When Jesus returns for His church, those who have died in Him will be resurrected into glorious bodies. And believers who are alive at that time will instantaneously be changed.
Knowing this, we naturally wonder, What kind of body will I have? The best way to answer that is to see what Scripture reveals about Christ's body after He rose from the dead. He didn't come invisibly in the form of a ghost but rather had a literal, physical body. He talked, walked, and ate with His disciples. Yet although He was recognizable, He was somehow different, and at times it took His words or actions to jog their recognition.

Here's one thing I can tell you about the resurrection: you will look better than you do today! God is going to give you a strong, glorious, eternal body which is perfectly fitted for your life in heaven. Believe me, you will not be disappointed, because God has far more in store for us on the other side than we can ever imagine. You will be more alive there than you could ever be here.

A more important issue we must face is how to get ready for that day. This life is just a puff of wind compared to our eternity. It's my personal opinion that the way we live here on earth will determine our capacity to enjoy heaven. The time to begin living for God is now.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.


PITN: Nuclear Korea

Be Full of Joy

Sour, Angry, and Negative

Bayless Conley

We are looking at how we make the gospel unattractive.  I believe one of the main ways this occurs is when Christians are sour, angry and negative.

Some people live right but they always look like they have spent the night in a bottle of lemon juice.
If you struggle in this area, you need to listen carefully.  Your salvation should be the source of great joy, and that joy and happiness should be expressed in your life in a dynamic way.

For example, Jesus said this in John 15:11,

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

And in John 16:22, He said,
"Your joy no one will take from you."

In Romans 14:17, Paul said,
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Finally, James 1:2 says,
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

Joy is one of the hallmarks of the Kingdom of God.  Even when we are going through a rough patch, the Bible says we are to be full of joy.

Joy makes the gospel attractive.  If you put on a sour face all the time and you have a negative disposition, you will scare people away from church. You make the gospel seem like something people would never want.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

In Christ Alone - Eden's Edge

 

Living by the Power of the Holy Spirit

4 Types of Christians

TGIF Today God is First, volume 2, by Os Hillman

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).


In his book Anointed for Business, Ed Silvoso provides a thoughtful look at the four types of Christians in the workplace. The following four categories provide an excellent tool for self-assessment:

1. The Christian who is simply trying to survive.
2. The Christian who is living by Christian principles.
3. The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Christian who is transforming his or her workplaces for Christ.*

Category #1: Christians who are simply trying to survive have no purpose or zeal for integrating their faith at work. They have not seen the power or presence of God in their work lives. Such Christians segment their faith life from their work life. They lack purpose and meaning and they have little direction.

Category #2: The second type of Christian in the workplace includes those who are living by Christian principles. We participate in 12-step programs and read books with guaranteed formulas to help us lose weight or improve our marriages. This programmed teaching can be beneficial to change negative patterns in our lives. However, it is important to recognize that the root of this type of teaching comes largely from a Greek-based system for attaining knowledge, as compared to the early church Hebraic model of experiential learning.

Category #3: Christians who are living by the power of the Holy Spirit understand the importance of developing a heart toward God through prayer, study of the Word of God and obedience. They realize that these are the three core ingredients to experiencing the power of God in their lives.

Category #4: A wonderful byproduct of living by the power of the Holy Spirit is that you can transform your workplace for God. Christians who passionately seek the manifestation of God's kingdom here on earth will be able to realize this transformation in their workplaces. When the kingdom of God is demonstrated on Earth, it can transform the workplace and society.

Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace today.


* Ed Silvoso, Anointed for Business (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2002), p.123.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Perry Stone

The Greatest Lessons The Holy Spirit Ever Taught Me

What is Earnest Prayer to God?

Praying in Secret

Pastor Adrian Rogers

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” - Matthew 6:6

What did our Lord mean when He said, “Enter into your closet to pray”? The word “closet” simply means somewhere you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven.

As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go on a mountain, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place.

The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public, but in private. When you enter your closet to pray, spend some time in silence. Clear your mind. Then listen for His Words of edification, encouragement, and exhortation.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. 

What is Earnest Prayer to God? 
Pastor Joseph Prince 

Ever wondered if you are praying "hard" enough for God to hear and answer you?

Does God want you to pray long, pleading prayers with your head between 

your aching knees? 

Join Joseph Prince in this most enlightening message on what God considers as earnest prayer. Get a fresh revelation of the love and goodness of the One you are praying to, and be encouraged to know that "big" problems are no problem for God to solve. This message will surely change the way you pray, and position you to receive your answer every time you pray!

The Coming Four Blood Moons

 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.

Genesis 1: 14-15

THE COMING FOUR BLOOD MOONS 

PASTOR John Hagee

 

Let All That You Do Be Done In Love

Words of LIFE Weekly Devotional

Laws of Love

by Dr. David  Jeremiah

Mystery writer Dorothy Sayers was a follower of Christ. She observed that there are two kinds of laws: the law of the stop sign and the law of the fire.

The law of the stop sign is upheld by the community and enforced with fines. The fine can be increased if too many people continue not to stop. The stop sign could also be taken down. It's simply up to the city council. You might run that stop sign with no worries, as long as no one is watching.

The law of the fire is a different matter. It says, "Touch me and you'll be burned." All the city councils, all the state legislatures and national congresses and the United Nations itself could respond to the dangers of fire by gathering to pass a new law that fire will no longer burn. Every person in the world could vote on this law. And the first man or woman to put a hand in the fire afterward will still get burned.

God's moral laws are like the law of the fire. It doesn't matter whether you voted for it or not. It doesn't matter who's watching. You won't break God's laws; you'll break yourself upon them. Nor is the penalty negotiable, because it's bound up in the law itself.

As a bumper sticker put it more concisely, "Gravity is not just a good idea; it's the law."

God's commandments are not arbitrary or flexible. They are woven within the very fabric of creation so that they will endure forever. God is not saying, "Here is a list of rules. If I catch you violating any of them, I'll have to punish you." Instead, He is saying, "Let me tell you how my world works, because I designed it myself. I made it to be beautiful, and to give you joy, to give you fellowship with people. But there are hazards you must avoid. If you ignore my design for your life, you will have brought punishment upon yourself."

Our Lord is not like an arbitrary, capricious God who delights in catching us doing something wrong. Instead, He has given us instructions on how life in His creation works. In fact, He wants us to know how life works so we can be eminently successful at it. It's as if He has given us the answers to the test to ensure that we pass with flying colors. That's how the law of God reveals the love of God. It shows to all who will trust in him that He wants only what is best for us.

Watch Dr. David Jeremiah this Thursday on LIFE TODAY. This is an excerpt from God Loves You: He Always Has – He Always Will by Dr. David Jeremiah. Copyright @2012 by Dr. David Jeremiah. Reprinted by permission of FaithWords/Hachette Book Group. All rights reserved.

YOUR LOVE - BRANDON HEATH