16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
- What are the good things in your life? [Be complete but brief :-) ]
- What are the bad things in your life? [Be complete but brief :-) ]
- How do you make the distinction between good and bad events?
- If trials are to be met with joy, are trials good or bad events?
- What are the things you desire?
- If you received each thing you desire, where would it come from?
- Which of your desires would not come from God?
- How difficult is it for you to determine whether a desire is good or bad?
Intriguing why this passage about good things from God would lead off with "Do not be deceived." Or why this passage follows the passage about sin coming from our desires. And why it ends with our being created by the "word of truth". I find it difficult to distinguish between truly good things and what I consider good. The same goes for bad things as well. There are a number of things that happened in my life that at the moment I thought were good or bad and only later could appreciate what the results really were. I can say that my 20/20 hindsight sees God's hand in things. Some of the undesirable things of life continue, but I can see how they have been good for me or for others. Satan is the lier and father of lies. God created us, loves us, and wants what is best for us. Do we want what is best for us?
2 comments:
this post makes me really think...i'm not sure what has happened to me but I think I began not to believe anymore some time ago, and I think it was because I just couldn't equate god with all the events that have taken place both personally and on a universal level, and now I have these questions in my head....
sometimes I want to believe that this all really counts, that what i have been doing (i.e. to rise above my feckless desires, my rages and deressions when they hit me, and be gracious through good and bad) is really the call i am to respond to, but it is hard to always make the right choice, the loftier choice seems always to have no glory, no fun. by comparison what i would rather do sometimes i imagine god would just never approve, i know it isn't right to pick and choose the aspects of a relationship (and I guess this is what I've been doing with my relationship with god) since we are supposed to be either in or out. but i can't seem to go all the way in, and I can't also seem to completely cut him out--i just hope i'm good enough i guess
@anonymous: I think I understand how you feel. While I intellectually know that we live in a fallen world, my emotions far too often demand that God make it better. When I step back I find that I want God to be a puppet master for everyone else for my benefit. That sounds so ugly to read. Ugh! I can say that God has not failed me in giving me what is really best for me. He has not given me what I want as often as my self-oriented nature would like.
One thing that came with Adam and Eve's fall was they got what they asked for. They received the knowledge of good and evil and since then we have all had to make choices. We have all failed in making the right choice at one time or another. If it were not for Christ, none of us would ever be good enough.
I ask you too consider what you have put your hope in. I have too often put my hope in temporary things, things of earth, only to watch them fade, break, etc. I am working on fixing my hope on the eternal life waiting on me in Christ. My eyes drift off of that hope way too often, but I know that is my only hope.
I'll pray that God will strengthen your faith and will open your eyes to the hope that is before you. Eph 1:16-23
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