INTRO
We've been blessed to learn so many amazing promises of God's Word, which encourage us and give us hope. We have had many verses planted in our hearts that help us. In addition to verses in the Bible that help me, I wanted to share examples of people in the Bible who had grabbed ahold of these truths and to see how they applied them. These are some of the most important truths for me, and us - and seeing how godly people in the Bible lived them out helps and challenges me to do the same. So I'm sharing 10 truths, illustrated by 10 examples from the Bible, which have been life-changing, encouraging truths for me.
1. God loves me exactly the same as He loves Jesus (John 17:23).
When I see everything through the lense of "God is perfect love and power toward me", it changes how we see EVERYTHING.
Example: Jesus was the most single-minded, and grounded man who's ever lived (grounded in the Father's love, and in being uncompromising to run the race and do God's will alone). And outside of Jesus, when I see the example of Paul, it's hard to think of a more challenging life than his. I believe he wrote the most confident verse/s of God's love in all of the Bible I can think of:
Romans 8:37-39 "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I believe this was the secret to Paul's life and how he endured to the end, fighting the good fight even to the end, boldly facing death as a martyr (2 Tim 4:7), an overwhelming conqueror in Jesus. And for me, this is the same truth that has permanently and in reality been grounding me through all that life brings. I know that I don’t even fully comprehend the depth of His love yet (His love is an ocean and we can understand perhaps a few drops of it), but even the little that I can comprehend is the main thing that helps me have in any situation, everyday - giving purpose, reassurance, and hope in anything, and helps me to be single-minded to press on hard after Jesus.
What does God’s love means to me:
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Guilt over my sin is completely gone, because God in His love has promised to show me mercy and cast away all my sins (Psalm 103:12, Rom 8:1). "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1)
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I should be in Hell right now because of my sin, but fear of eternal Hell and separation from God is gone, I have peace now because God chose to love me (Luke 12:32 "Your Father has GLADLY chosen to give you the kingdom")
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Regret goes away very quickly, because God's love and power is controlling (and has controlled) all circumstances (Rom 8:28)
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God's love removes the question of “not enough” (salvation by performance)
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It means I am accepted by Him not just in a 'neutral' sense (like a neighbor is cordial with another neighbor), but as His child. And not just now - but forever (Eph 1:3, 1 Jn 3:1)
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It means a very deep and immense joy and intimate fellowship, a deep personal relationship with the Lord (John 17:3)
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It means I have hope that transcends this life. This life is passing away, but real life is coming soon! (Col 3:4)
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It means God‘s love has been doing a work since the beginning when I didn’t even see it, God was caring for me Hosea 11:3-4. We were children, and blind - but God has always been there, caring for me, even if/when others didn't
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It means God is not just our Savior, but our Father and Jesus is our bridegroom now
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It means we never have to worry about not having everything we need, both physically and spiritually (Matt 6, Luke 12)
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It means that nothing that happens toward me is a tragedy. There is no such thing as bad luck or tragedy for a true Christian. There is hope, plan and God's purpose in every circumstance (Romans 8:28)
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It means even if everybody else is angry at me or despises me, it's a little thing - because God doesn't! God is always still there (Heb 13:5), and if I don't leave Him He won't leave me
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It means God doesn’t just love me, but he likes me too! It's not just a surface love, but an actual love. Zephaniah 3:17 says he rejoices over us, with SHOUTS of joy
We see God's love most through our Lord Jesus, and His sacrifice - to forgive our sins and also to make us His child. I believe that living in this reality is the secret of every person who has endured to the end and fought the good fight, as Paul did.
When God looks at me, He sees Jesus' righteousness, not my own - perfectly justified. When God sent His only Son Jesus to die for me because He loved me, it was not only to forgive me and make a 'clean slate' with Him (like the angels have), but to make me His child. What a privilege.
1 John 3:1 "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God"
Jn 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name"
2. I don't need to understand everything all at once, only to obey what I do know - one step at a time (Isaiah 30:21). Our mind is not what will keep us close to Christ (do not lean on your own understanding - Prov 3:5), obedience and God's power is.
For example: I don’t need to UNDERSTAND the Holy Spirit, but if I sincerely hunger for it and ask the Lord to be filled, He will fill me with His Holy Spirit. The truth and exhortation to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit - is to seek to have God Himself live inside of me to live the life I can never live in my own power. I see the Bible teaches this - but then questions come. If this is true, why do I still struggle? Why do I still at times feel like I'm not hearing God if He lives in me? I realize 2 things. 1. I have to seek to be filled fresh continually, not one time (Eph 5:18 - be BEING filled is the literal translation there). And, 2. I realize I cannot fully comprehend how, but if I ask to be filled - with faith - that is the main thing.
Example: This Jesus used this example: a son asked a father for a fish. The father didn’t give the child a snake. He gave him fish (Luke 11:11-13). God is a good Father that loves. He will definitely give me the Holy Spirit if I seek and ask sincerely. I remember one day as I desired the filling of the Holy Spirit and was asking for it, and for the assurance (to know I have been filled) - this is the verse that gave me assurance. I just knew. Because I believed it. It was not a magical feeling. It was just faith that this verse was definitely true. How can it not be? God is a good Father. And as I continue to seek to be filled, I always think of this verse, every time, and the example of God as a Father who gives the most good thing to those who ask - the Holy Spirit, to make me holy, and able to have the power to live an overcoming life, not a downcast defeated, discouraged hopeless one which goes up and down with all changing moods and circumstances (though it is a progress which we improve on as we continue to seek and mature). It has given me faith, rest, assurance - and I’ve seen the help from the Holy Spirit as He answers and fills me, it’s changed my life.
Jesus lived this life with the same temptations and problems we have (Heb 4:15), but also with exactly same resource we have: the Holy Spirit living inside of Him. And He overcame.
God can help us overcome any sin which we struggle with. Romans 6:14 says that sin is not a master of us anymore. What does it mean when someone or something is your master? It means you have to obey it. I don't understand how God does this amazing power within us by His Holy Spirit, but in the new covenant, He gives us the ability to obey and live a godly life. I believe most Christians may not realize this, and are simply waiting for heaven to be like Jesus. But we can be pressing onto the image of Jesus in victory now! Praise the Lord! Just like being a healthy person is better than being a very sick doctor - it's not about "understanding" all these things in our mind, it's more important to live it.
OTHER AREAS
This sample principle applies to other areas, that : I don’t need to know or understand everything, only listen, and believe, and obey what He said.
I ask for wisdom, and God will give it not all at once but as I need it (James 1:5), and I just walk one step at a time based on what He's shown me up to this point (Isaiah 30:21). Abraham didn't see all of what God was doing when the Lord called him to sacrifice his son Isaac. But he took one step at a time up the mountain to obey. And the Lord did the perfect work in the end. He will do it for us too as we obey 1 step at a time. Knowing we are in God’s will in any particular situation (at every 'step') is the greatest rest we can have - even more than if this situation worked itself out. And this is possible/available to us any time. This has been one of the most freeing and encouraging truths in my life. We don't need to fully understand, just believe. And obey.
3. If God allowed something, then it was His will in that sense (the sense that He could have stopped it if He wanted to, but He didn't), and I don’t need to dwell in “why” or “what if” (even if it looks like I could have prevented it)
Example: Joseph lost a lifetime with his family because God allowed him to be enslaved, in prison and then in Egypt. I believe Genesis 45 is one of the most saddest chapters in the whole Bible, when Joseph met his lost family after all those decades. But Joseph's heart was “God’s will be done. His ways are perfect.” His attitude was totally pure: “It’s ok, God allowed this.” With that word "ALLOWED," he knew the perfect love and sovereignty of God had a purpose. He didn’t give into the thought, “maybe if I wouldn’t have bragged about my coat, maybe if I didn’t share my dream my brothers they wouldn’t have been jealous and sold me.” As odd as it is to say - even our mistakes are part of God's plan. Joseph was not a slave to regret, and we should not be either. He lost his life with his family - that seems terrible on the outside. But in the end it saved his whole family and enabled God to start the nation He had planned all along, the precursor to sending His Son Jesus into the world to save us all. And it started with this: “Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; ….” Genesis 45:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (they will see God's hand behind all their circumstances - like Joseph did here). If we believe Romans 8:28, that God will cause all things to end up as good if I put Him first then I will see His hand in all circumstances. And instead of complaining, I will say "God is doing something important which I don't understand."
In my early 20s this led me to a very life changing truth, God said to me essentially: "Stop being broken-hearted over your own trials, be broken-hearted over your sins."
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
I learned that focusing on and being broken-hearted and intentionally dwelling in sadness over my trials did not help me grow, it didn't give me the consolation I was looking for, and it did not glorify God. But strength comes as I "get out" of my own self-focus and instead focus on fightin my sin and living a godly life before the Lord. This broken spirit of 'contriteness' and repentance is the 'sacrifice' I can give to the Lord (God-focused). This makes me have the attitude of "your will be done" to any of these circumstances which I cannot understand. It's not about what I'm going through, but about what God is getting from me - and trust that He will take care of the rest.
God's ways are so mysterious. He allows some things and burns up some things in our life that we have no idea what or why He's doing things. But if He allowed it, it was not us or some other man that causes things according to our purpose, we just have to bow in a humble fear of God to God's wisdom, and say "Lord, you do all things well. Your will be done."
4. God has freed us from legalism.
I've struggled with this one a lot in the past. As much as we want to live a godly life - Legalism is not the Lord's will for us, to be a slave of rules and regulations - but of Christ. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" Mk 2:27
Example: Christians in the Rome church argued about what was right and wrong/sinful to eat, what holidays/days to celebrate (Rom 14). Paul said to them, essentially "Each of you keep your own convictions. Let others do what they feel is right in their own conscience and don't judge them." This helps me not to look down on others for outward things. Perhaps I feel convicted not to watch a certain movie, but another person feels fine with it. This helps me not to judge them, or look down on them. Perhaps I spend time doing something like watching some youtube video which is not sinful but another person would feel is a waste of time. We don't need to judge each other. It's been freeing to see that God has richly supplied us with all things to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17), and each one of us can decide what the Lord allows and gives us, which we can freely enjoy without any guilt, as good gifts from His hand, if they are within His will and blessing to us. We should be free from “not enough” syndrome which comes from the devil trying to deceive us that God is a hard task master - (Matt 25:24-26). We should also be free from all comparison, and 'looking at others' who have more or less, or do things differently than we do. And over time as we mature, we can choose more and more spiritually 'profitable' things. Children play many games. That's good. But as they grow up, they mature naturally - and seek to be more disciplined. But it needn't be forced, "stop wasting your time playing." The same is true in the Christian life. Enjoy things God gave, hobbies, etc. And as we draw near to the Lord we will find our greatest joy more and more in spending time with Him and drawing close to him, more than all the enjoyments of the world. And that will be the motivation for all of our spiritual disciplines and seeking of Him. This truth and example has helped me with regard to balancing spiritual discipline, while not being a slave of guilt that I'm "not doing enough."
5. God immediately forgives me when I repent, and can correct all my sins and mistakes I've made in the past
If I sin, He will blot out my sins immediately if I wholeheartedly repent (Acts 3:19). And when I can’t hear God clearly when trying to discern His will regarding some decision, and I end up making a mistake, He can override my mistakes.
Example: Peter denied he knew Jesus (Luke 22:54-62). This was a denial of Jesus Himself. This was such a terrible thing that Jesus once said, "whoever denies me before men, I will deny before the Father" (Matt 10:33). But Peter repented, and God used this: Luke 22:32 "...when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Peter as a failure was much more usable by God to encourage and build His church than "Perfect Peter."
God overrode, forgave, and used Peter's sin and failure. He will do that for us too if we also do not get discouraged but fall simply on God's mercy in all humility and honesty. "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."
The moment I see my sin, and I humble myself and repent - there’s zero dividing wall to separate me from Gods presence. If "Repentance" is written on my heart at all times, I never need to live out of God's presence. This means a life of constantly judging of myself, outwardly and also inwardly: "How is my motive here? did I sin in that there? How did I respond here? Do I need to make this right?"
And there's another category of seeking God's will, not just regarding sin, but regarding God's plan (should I take path A or path B). Regarding things which are not sin, but 'decisions' where we are not hearing God clearly for what His will is:
"A ship sailing in the wrong direction can be turned around faster that one which is sitting stationary."
I've many times feared making wrong decisions. "Lord, am I hearing you right? Is this your will? Am I sinning if I take this path? Am I doing this with a wrong motive which I can't see?"
The amazing encouragement comes when I realize that God is so powerful that He will either correct me, stop me, or override all my mistakes - if I am humble to repent, pray and recognize before Him that I know nothing.
I sometimes think of raising children - how difficult it is to raise godly children in this godless world. I'm not a good father, only God is, I'm a bad father (Luke 11:13). But the peace I have for my children is: "Let my prayers cover my mistakes." If I repent of when God shows me I sinned in raising them, or disciplining them, or instructing them, or neglecting something - and if I pray that God will make up for anything I did wrong which I didn't see - I believe with all my heart that God will do the work that I cannot do for them, and override all my failures. This has given me a peace which I could never have before.