Matthew 5:45

"That ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven:
for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust."

Have you ever said, it's just not fair? Or maybe read the news and been totally disgusted with what is going on in the world? Perhaps you've thought, if God is so loving why does He let these things happen? The list goes on and on. I know I've said all these things many times. The question is why? Why do wicked and evil people prosper? Why does God allow it? It's proof positive that He is a just God. If He allowed only good things to happen to His people and bad things to unbelievers, what kind of God would He be? He would be unfair. No one would want to serve an unfair God. Yeah but what about baby killers, rapist, people who cheat? Can't God just do away with them or stop them before they do what they do? Sure He could, but that would remove the freewill that He has granted all of us. The problem is how we view things. Yes we should abhor evil. Yes we should speak out against it. No, we shouldn't become jaded because of it. Trust me, it's quite easy to read the news, think about all the bad things and say, Lord, what's the deal? God is fair and just. He sends rain and sun to all people equally. It's what we do with it that matters. Some use it for good, some for bad. The other thing you need to remember is who is actually calling the shots here on earth for the time being. Paul calls Satan the "god of this world" in 2nd Corinthians 4:4. Notice the small g. When man fell in the garden, the title deed of the earth was handed over to him for a time. That is why the frustration level can be so high at times. He empowers people with false hope and false promises so that they prosper here and now. In the end, God will be the judge. Not you or me. Our hope is eternal and lasting in Jesus Christ. As I am writing this, I look on at the world now and see how crazy it is getting. I am not surprised, the bible tells us this will happen just before the end. On one hand it saddens and upsets me, on the other hand, I am encouraged to know that my God is coming back for me one day. So this week remember, God is fair and just. It's His nature. Instead of focusing on the negative in life, remember God is in control and He is where our Joy comes from. Be blessed and have an awesome weekend.
Bob.

James 5:17

"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,
and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained
not on the earth by the space of 3 years and 6 months."

Have you ever read the bible and wondered, how did those great men of God accomplish all those incredible things? I have. How did Samson slay all those men with the jaw bone of an ass? How did David defeat Goliath? How did Paul survive all the beatings, shipwrecks, and torment? Well, I think we have a good answer right here in this verse. Elias, which is another name for Elijah, is the man of the hour here. He was another great man of God who accomplished amazing things. Here's the kicker though. He was just like you and me! It says he was a man of like passions. I like what Albert Barnes notes on the bible had to say about this. He said , "This does not mean that Elijah was passionate in the sense in which that word is now commonly used; that is, that he was excitable or irritable, or that he was the victim of the same corrupt passions and propensities to which other men are subject; but that he was like affected; that he was capable of suffering the same things, or being affected in the same manner." He had the same struggles that you and I have. The difference being, he was tuned into God and knew that his strength came from God. This is also true for us. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We as Christians I think, have missed the boat on this one big time. How many times have things gone wrong and we go to God after the fact, when we should have gone to Him before. I know I am guilty as charged. Just to know that we are in the same company as men like Elijah, should give us a real hope. It should encourage us that " with God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. Just look at what God has accomplished with ordinary men and women over the course of time. The list could go on for ever. The missionaries who brought the gospel to far away people. The pastors who have led countless souls to Christ. On and on and on it goes. What was the main key to Elijah's success? He prayed. That is the link that needs to happen in order for God to be able to do the things He does through us. It's like this. If a football team is playing, they won't be able to execute the game plan if the coach doesn't tell them. The way the coach tells them is they go to the team meetings and practices. That way they can all be on the same page. God wants us to go to Him so He can let us in on the game plan for our lives. We can't expect much if we don't attend. Prayer. Man if that's not the hardest thing to do in our busy lives. Really though, are we saying that we're to busy for God? Basically in a nutshell, yes. That is what we are saying. Life has become so congested with things to occupy our time, we miss out on so much God has for us. Once again, I am guilty as charged. Here's what it comes down to guys. If we want to walk with God, that exactly what we need to do, walk WITH Him. Let Him arrange our footsteps. Let Him be our guide. That's how ordinary people, do extra ordinary things. The bible is filled with them. This week, be encouraged that God has an awesome plan for your life, and He wants you to enjoy your walk, not just endure it. Be blessed.

Bob.

John 6:68

" Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord,
to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words
of eternal life."

In a recent study on a Wednesday night, one of the pastors was teaching in Romans. At some point in the study, he was pointing out how much God loves us and is always thinking about us. He said, " If God had a refrigerator, our picture would be on it." That sparked a thought in my head that ties into this devotional. Are you on God's refrigerator, or the milk carton inside it? What do I mean by that? Well, let's look at the verse. To get a feel for it, let's back track. Jesus had just finished feeding the 5000. He was teaching on Himself being the bread of life. The multitude had followed Him and were desiring more from Him. Once he spoke about eating His flesh, and drinking His blood, (not a literal meaning) the people split. Then He asked the 12, are you going away too? Peter answered perfectly. He knew that Jesus was the Christ. Peter knew that when Jesus spoke, he felt more alive than he ever had. So then, what's with the milk carton, fridge thing? Well, you put pictures on a fridge of people you love. The milk carton is reserved for those who are missing. My question to all of us is this, which one are you/I? You see I thought about it and put myself in the place of a parent who has a child missing. The sorrow, pain, and anguish they must feel must be unbearable. I can't and don't want to imagine it. The scar that it leaves, and the damage in it's wake must be the heaviest of things. So too, this is true in God's economy. When we walk with Him, and spend time with Him, our picture is right there. If not, then we end up on the milk carton. Possibly stolen away by the things of this world. The cares, the deadlines materialism. Funny thing is, God leaves that choice up to us. He doesn't demand it. We don't have to, we get to spend time with Him. Why wouldn't we? With such a loving Father, how could we not want to seek Him out? Another funny thing is, we are never truly missing. Psalm 139 deals with this. Specifically verse 2 " thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandeth my thought afar off." God knows it all already. We are the ones who put ourselves on the milk carton. God though, wants us on His fridge. The word's of and from God are life. They hold the key to eternity. If we accept them, they lead to eternal peace and rest. If we don't, then the opposite is true. An eternity of separation from God. Pain, anguish, sorrow, hell. I know personally, I have been on the milk carton more than enough times to know, that I will see the scars it left one day. They are imprinted on His hands, feet, side, and back. Be blessed this week guys. If you've been running away or have been stolen away by something, return. If you are doing ok, then enjoy the time with Him. God's got a big fridge, and there's always room for more.
Bob.