(This blog post is in response to the July 20 Robert Morris Cheyne Bible in one year Reading Plan. Check out the blog for more information about this reading plan.)
In the Judges, it states plainly that God left certain nations (5 to be precise), in the land to test His chosen people (Judges 3:1-2):
Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.
Friends, in a world where we work very hard to protect ourselves, spouse, and children from experiencing struggle, God the best lover of my soul desires me to experience struggle and suffering. Why would a loving God do such a thing? Because it is that very struggle and suffering that will force us to turn back to Jesus. We see that in the account of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). As soon as Peter understands the peril of the situation, he turns to Jesus. Often the most receptive hears of the Gospel are those most desperate enough to trust and turn to Him. The first part of T.U.L.I.P. is about how God opened our eyes to just how totally depraved we are in life. We have no choice but to turn to Him.
What struggle do you believe God has placed in your life as part of your personal sanctification plan? What about your family? What about your church? What about your community?
In Acts, Stephen tells the story of Israel and their rejection of Christ. Again, God tells us the story of Israel. There is something important about remembering all Christ has done for each of us. Here is a challenge. Every time you pass a McDonald's or hear a commercial about McDonald's tell some part of your story to yourself or the person next to you. Let me know what happens.
Seeking to know Jesus better,
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