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What Does “Trusting” God Mean?

August 6, 2011 by Fritz

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them – Psalm 5:11a

It it difficult to express in one language what another language is trying to convey — so it is with the little word, trust.

We think of trust as a feeling of confidence, but the Hebrews thought of it a slightly different way. This word literally means to flee for protection.

This is not presuming God will somehow step in if we need him to as we live our lives but us taking the initiative to figuratively run to Him for the right way to proceed, stepping cautiously as he directs.

Better to get his guidance and protection on the front end then asking him to clean up the mess and damage later.

— fritz@langgang.com

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Heaven’s People Are Like … A Home Owner.

August 5, 2011 by Fritz

Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. — Matthew 13:52

One thing about living in one place a long time — stuff accumulates! I have some precious things kept for years but I am always adding something new to the mix. Jesus relates this to the Kingdom of God.

God never stopped creating. He still moves in new ways — new songs, new ideas, new people — yet he cherishes the old, too.

I have heard new people say, “Burn the old hymnals, we have something better!” No. The new is not all good and the old is not all bad. A wise householder keeps the best of both.

This is, I think, the essence of Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian believers when he wrote:

“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. — 1st Corinthians 3:22-23

–fritz@langgang.com

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Heaven is Like … a Net (Part 2)

August 4, 2011 by Fritz

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. — Matthew 13:47-50

Parables each have only a single lesson — and this one’s about a coming judgment.

Some think a God of love couldn’t possibly send poor defenceless creatures to a place of wailing and teeth gnashing. It’s clear Jesus did not think that way, he constantly warned judgment was coming. He often used examples of “good fish” and “bad fish”, “sheep” and “goats”, “wheat” and “weeds”.

His purpose was to encourage us to prepare while there is still time. We can be changed from bad fish to good, from goats to sheep, from weeds to wheat — he is in the life changing business!

The Bible gives a long list of the kinds of people that won’t make it to heaven,1 then adds

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” — 1st Corinthians 6:11

— fritz@langgang.com
1. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11

Posted in God's Kingdom, Heaven, Hell, Judgment, Parables | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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