“And if we believe that God is everywhere, why should we not think Him present even in the coincidences that sometimes seem so strange? For, if He be in the things that coincide, He must be in the coincidence of those things.” George MacDonald, Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood
This quote reminds me of a dear friend who referred to coincidences as “coinkydinkies.” I miss her very much. It also reminds me of my husband who, when he sees an obvious blessing or answer to prayer, will say, “Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
God still sends messages through living people on this earth, but even prophets must leave the power of “coincidence” in God’s hands. Christ himself did not predict nor presume anything outside of what was revealed to Him.
Luke 4:9-12
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Deuteronomy 18:9-13
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Showing posts with label Romans 8:28. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans 8:28. Show all posts
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Good Morning!
“What’s the matter with him this morning? He’s quite above himself!” C. S. Lewis’s comment upon Tolkien’s high spirits on the morning of January 30, 1945.
J. R. R. Tolkien was cheerfully enduring miserable ice and slush from passing cars, anticipating letters from his son that awaited him at home.
Christians have more than enough awaiting us at home to make this life secondary and joyful.
Romans 8:18-25
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
J. R. R. Tolkien was cheerfully enduring miserable ice and slush from passing cars, anticipating letters from his son that awaited him at home.
Christians have more than enough awaiting us at home to make this life secondary and joyful.
Romans 8:18-25
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Shack
“The Shack” by William P. Young, as over two-million readers now know, is an allegory which portrays the Godhead as three indivisible persons: an African American woman (think Ethel Waters in the movie and Broadway musical, “Cabin in the Sky”), an ethereal dancer (patterned after George MacDonald’s “grandmother” in “The Princess and the Goblin”) and a folksy carpenter. This tale of horror, guilt, pain, forgiveness and redemption is a blending of suspense and fantasy that mirrors C. S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters” from the view of Heaven and the Godhead rather than from the view of Satan and Hell.
The theology is Biblical and spot-on until the nitty meets the gritty and Mackenzie, the main character and father of a brutally slain six-year-old, is told that Christ’s death on the cross means that everyone is forgiven unconditionally and that those who refuse to accept Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness are not sentenced to some final punishment but simply sentence themselves to a life without full relationship with God in the here and now. In other words the only “justice” doled to the man who raped and murdered his daughter will be whatever is administered here on earth—“God loves all of his children too much” to eternally banish any one of them. Justice is neither here (before death) nor there (after). According to Young's carpenter, Christianity is a man-made system irrelevant to relationship with God or man. Young’s gospel of forgiveness and grace does not include nor require the great commission.
The main message of the book, that it is not in man to judge God and that God’s love will explain it all some day, is valid, but “all things work together for good” only for “those who love Him and are called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28
Just as an aside, Christian Publishers rejected this New York Times bestseller as too controversial and secular publishers rejected it as too religious. I find myself in the same predicament with my Grit and Grace book. I also take note that Young’s book went through four major revisions after its initial self-publication and limited sales.
The theology is Biblical and spot-on until the nitty meets the gritty and Mackenzie, the main character and father of a brutally slain six-year-old, is told that Christ’s death on the cross means that everyone is forgiven unconditionally and that those who refuse to accept Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness are not sentenced to some final punishment but simply sentence themselves to a life without full relationship with God in the here and now. In other words the only “justice” doled to the man who raped and murdered his daughter will be whatever is administered here on earth—“God loves all of his children too much” to eternally banish any one of them. Justice is neither here (before death) nor there (after). According to Young's carpenter, Christianity is a man-made system irrelevant to relationship with God or man. Young’s gospel of forgiveness and grace does not include nor require the great commission.
The main message of the book, that it is not in man to judge God and that God’s love will explain it all some day, is valid, but “all things work together for good” only for “those who love Him and are called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28
Just as an aside, Christian Publishers rejected this New York Times bestseller as too controversial and secular publishers rejected it as too religious. I find myself in the same predicament with my Grit and Grace book. I also take note that Young’s book went through four major revisions after its initial self-publication and limited sales.
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