Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 52). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) What?   God is sometimes unfair? Craig says, “To be clear, he’s never unfair according to his standards, but he’s certainly unfair according to ours. And that’s good news for us. Because if he were fair (according to our understanding), then none of us would stand a chance. We are all guilty of sin. We’re inherently selfish, both in small, subtle ways and in bold, dramatic ways. When we commit adultery or murder in our hearts, to God we’re just as guilty as those who are exposed and convicted of the same acts. At least, that’s what Jesus said. “If we got what we deserve, then we would be stuck with ourselves, with no hope of change, no hope of forgiveness, no hope of eternal life in heaven. Just the torment of regret, the terrible loneliness of knowing that we got what ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 50). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That for sure is the truth. Craig says, “He was perfect in every way. Jesus loved the unlovable. Healed the hurting. Cared for the outcasts. Touched the untouchables. If we look at his story from God’s vantage point, Jesus could make the same argument we make: life isn’t fair. “It wasn’t fair that Jesus had to be whipped, mocked, and beaten. It wasn’t fair that Roman guards drove stakes through his wrists and heels, hanging him mercilessly on an instrument of torture and shame. It wasn’t fair that they spat on him. Called him names. And laughed when he struggled to breathe. And it wasn’t fair that Jesus—the sinless Lamb of God—became the sacrifice for filthy, vile sinners like me. “So when you hurt, when you question, when you burst out in righteous confusion or anger...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 46). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He’s God and he can do it.   Yes, he can. Craig says, “A quick nod. A spoken word. An answered prayer. In the grand scheme of things, just a small miracle. If only he would allow me to be rewarded for all my hard work! Or just heal my sick child! Or help my loved one overcome depression! Or break my sexual addiction! Or bring my prodigal child back home! Or at least let me win the lottery!” He then says, “As we grow to trust God, we have to recognize what I consider to be some of the fundamentals of growing in the Christian faith: Awe. Respect. Reverence. Appreciation for God being God. Acceptance of our limitations as human beings. We can’t know everything or see into other people’s hearts. We can’t know all that has come before in the history of the world. And we sure...