Tell the Truth

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)
It never ceases to amaze me that the One who spoke all that exists into existence, chose to unite Himself with a body like ours so that He could serve us--ultimately by giving His life on a cruel cross so that we could live with Him forever!
The Lord Jesus Christ could have come to earth with splendor and grandeur and with demonstrations of the wisdom and strength that He has. But He was born in stable to poor people who did not have much more than the clothes on there backs. Then, later when Jesus was about 2 years old, they left Bethlehem to escape the attack of King Herod's soldiers. Assumedly, that trip was financed by the gifts the magi-astronomers provided. A few years later they moved back to Nazareth, the previous home of Mary and Joseph and their families, which also was a comparably insignificant, out of the way, place. What an ignoble beginning on earth for the Creator of the universe!
Yes! He truly did "become poor"! The way of poverty that Jesus chose for Himself was especially demonstrated by not calling thousands of angels to escape death on a cross, upon which He experienced separation from the Father and the Spirit when our sins were poured out upon Him.
The spiritual riches that are ours and the wealth that we will have in the new heaven and earth are because of the love and grace of the One who "became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

God the Holy Spirit Groans for Us (Romans 8:24-28)

Romans 8: (NIV)
22. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:24-25 The Confident Expectation of our Future with God
The Analytical-Literal Translation renders these verses this way:
"For in hope [or, confident expectation] we were saved, but hope being looked at is not hope; for what anyone looks at, why also does he hope for [or, confidently expect] [it]?
But if what we do not look at we hope for [or, confidently expect], with patient endurance we eagerly wait for [it]."

We should wait with a confident expectation of the full experience of our adoption as sons of God when we will be fully delivered from the groanings of this life. Obviously we have not received what we confidently expect to receive one glad day.

If we have a confident expectation of our adoption and the redemption of our bodies, then we are waiting for it with endurance (hupomene).

Romans 8:26 Groanings: The Nature of the Intercessory Ministry of the Spirit in Our Behalf
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness."

The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness in the same way as what? Just as the Spirit of God gives us a confident expectation of our future in the forever family of God, He helps us face life as it is. He helps us with our weakness by praying for us.

Our “weakness” draws attention to our dependence upon God. The English Standard Bible translates the verse this way:
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

The Spirit of God “intercedes” (huperentugchano). He is in conversation with the Father in our behalf.

The translation “groans” or “groanings” is from stenagmos. This noun form is used in Acts 7:34 with reference to the groanings of the children of Isreal while in slavery in Egypt. The verb form is found in Romans 8:22 (sustenazo). The root verb, stenazo is found in Romans 8:23, 2 Cor 5:2,4 and Mark 7:34.

In the NIV the phrase “that words cannot express” is from one word, alaletos (not to be uttered, not expressed in words).
This is the only place this Greek word is used in the New Testament. It is derived from the verb laleo which is frequently used by Paul and is translated “speak” in Romans 13:15. With the Greek letter alpha as the prefix alaletos means not expressed or not able to be spoken. Words cannot express the deep groanings that the Holy Spirit presents to the Father for us.

Romans 8:27 The Deep Concern of the Spirit and the Father for Us

The One, the Father, who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit who is expressing such deep concern for us.

The word “intercedes” (entugchano), is also found in Romans 8:34, 11:2 and in Hebrews 7:25.

“Mind” is from phronema, meaning what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes and is sometimes translated mindset.
The related verb form of this word, phroneo, is rendered “concern” in Philippians 4:10 (NASB) (cp. Colossians 3:2).

How encouraging it is to know that the Holy Spirit keeps on groaning for us, presenting our needs and concerns to our heavenly Father.

The Amazing Truth: “The Word Became Flesh!”

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 )

This amazing truth that “the Word became flesh,” or “became incarnate” should cause us to respond in love, adoration and worship of the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. (The word incarnate is derived from the Latin word incarnatus meaning "to embody in flesh").

God loves us so much that He chose to unite Himself with human body like ours so that, ultimately, He would serve us by offering up Himself on a cross. (See the previous Tell the Truth post.) Remember what Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came to take Him before the authorities and one of His disciples pulled out a sword?

“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:52-53 NLT)

Later, Jesus responded to Pilate's question about releasing Him:

“Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.” (John 19:1-11)

Regarding the time when God the Son united Himself with true humanity, the Apostle Paul stated,

“When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

With these words additional significance of the amazing truth that “the Word became flesh” is presented. And the Word became incarnate to redeem us, to purchase us from bo***ge to sin and so “that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Oh what love the Word, the Savior, has for us!

With the incarnation of the Lord in the Person of Jesus a union of the divine nature of God with a true human nature came into being. This union of the divine and human natures in the one Person of Christ Jesus has been called the hypostatic union. The word hypostatic is from the Greek hupostasis which essentially means substance or essence. The New Testament teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is undiminished deity and true humanity united without mixture in one Person forever. This brief statement of the hypostatic union summarizes what the Church Council of Chalcedon set forth in 451 A.D. The full essence of the Lord’s deity has been united forever with the full essence of true humanity in one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

On that grand and glorious day, when we see the One who became flesh for us, we will experience the fullness of His love and the riches of His grace like never before! I can hardly wait!

What an Attitude!

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."

Here's the context of this verse:

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

"Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he [set aside the exercise of his attributes as God, while still possessing them] --his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God [the Father] and died a criminal’s death on a cross." (Philippians 2:3-8 NLT, brackets added)

John F. Walvoord comments on this passage in his book "JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD," from the chapter “THE LIFE OF CHRIST ON EARTH.”

"The Philippians passage concerning the self-emptying or kenosis of the Son of God was introduced in connection with a practical exhortation to have the mind or attitude of Christ. The action of Christ in proceeding from glory to become Man and suffer on the cross was cited as an illustration of the mind of Christ. In the accompanying explanation, the apostle gave one of the most concise theological statements of the incarnation to be found anywhere in the Scriptures. Christ is described first of all as "existing in the form of God" (v. 6, ASV). The word for "existing" is not the usual Greek verb on (to be), but hyparchon which is found in a form used for both the present and the imperfect participle and carries the meaning of continued existence. The thought is that Christ always has been in the form of God with the implication that He still is. If the Greek form is taken as the present tense instead of the imperfect, the word would mean that Christ existed as God in the past, that is, before the incarnation, and is still existing in the form of God. This would be asserting that the deity of Christ continues unchanged by the act of the incarnation. If taken as a simple imperfect, it would refer to His state before the incarnation, without explicitly affirming continuity of the form of God though the implication of continuity would remain.

"As stated by the apostle, Christ "existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (vv. 6-8, ASV). The attitude of Christ which believers are exhorted to emulate is that He did not grasp at being on an equality with God as if it had to be retained by effort. Though having existed in the form of God from all eternity, He was willing to empty Himself, taking the form of a Servant, and ultimately He became obedient unto death.

"The act of the incarnation is described by the strong word ekenôsen (English, kenosis), from kenoo, meaning "to empty" (cf. four other instances where used in the New Testament: Rom. 4:14; 1 Cor. 1:17; 9:15; II Cor. 9:3). Warfield considers the translation "emptied himself" (v. 7, ASV) as an error, apparently referring the Authorized Version rendering `made himself of no reputation," that is, emptied Himself of the manifestations of Deity.[7]

"The crux of the exposition of this important passage hangs on the definition of the act of kenosis. Orthodox theologians have pointed out that the meaning of this word must be interpreted by the context itself. The passage does not state that Christ ceased to exist in the form of God, but rather that He added the form of a Servant. The word morphei, translated "form," speaks of the outer appearance or manifestation. As it relates to the eternal deity of Christ, it refers to the fact that Christ in eternity past in outer appearance manifested His divine attributes. It was not mere form or appearance, but that which corresponded to what He was eternally. In becoming Man He took upon Himself the form of a Servant, that is, the outward appearance of a Servant and the human nature which corresponds to it. This is further defined as manifesting the likeness (Greek, homoiomati) of man..." (138-139).

Again I say, "What an attitude!"

Jesus Prays for Us

Yes, Jesus continues to pray for us!

We were included in His prayer back on that night before He was betrayed and He prays for us now (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus, the Savior, prays that we would be set apart in truth and know and possess His love.

"Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end, [and showed us the full extent of his love]" (John 13:1
NLT, brackets added).

One of the ways that Jesus continues to express His love for us is through His prayers in our behalf.

Jesus prayed [and continues to pray], "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

"O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (John 17:17-26 NLT)

Jesus clarifies that the word from the Father is the truth.

Therefore truth revealed to us from the Father defines true love (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

Love based upon truth communicates, powerfully!

Love based upon the truth of Christ and His word results in unity with God and one another.

As we learn and apply the love Christ has for us, His love is communicated to others around us (cp. John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 2:1-11).

The emphasis in the last part of Christ’s prayer in John 17 is clear: He wants us to know how much He loves us.

Christ Jesus gives us the capacity to love by His Spirit.

Christ gives us the same glory that the Father had given to Him.
This means that we have the God-given capacity to love as He has loved us. This includes being filled with the Spirit of God that empowered Christ in His humanity (Luke 4: 1-13; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16).

Capacity to love results in communicating the truth that God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ.

Because Christ loves us He wants us to see His glory in eternity (Revelation 5).

In the context of His prayer, this especially includes seeing His awesome love.

Christ and His Spirit will continue to help us know the Father so that we will have His love in us. How is this accomplished? As we keep on fixing our eyes on Jesus at the foot of His cross we come to know the love of the Father and the Son more and more (cf. Ephesians 3:16-19).

God Wants Us to Know the Truth!

There are many reasons why it is reasonable to hold to the understanding that God wants us to know the truth. Here are just a few: Jesus of Nazareth was born to reveal the truth of God and His plan to us. You are made in God's image; you are designed to know the truth (Genesis 1:26-27; John 1:1-18 14:6). The Spirit of God is available to reveal the truth to you (1 Corinthians 2:6-13). God moved people to write what He wanted written in the book we call the Bible so that we could know the truth, especially the truth revealed by Him (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

After the Apostle Paul reminded the church at Corinth that his first priority in coming to them was to proclaim “Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” he went on to explain that he and other apostles and propphets of Jesus do communicate the wisdom of God to those who are mature (telios) in their understanding because of their faith in Christ Jesus. He went on to explain that the Spirit of God wants us to know God's thoughts:

“Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

'No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.'

“But it was to us [prophets, apostles and eye-witnesses of Jesus Christ] that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths” (1 Corinthians 2:6-13, New Living Translation, brackets added).

Yet the question may be asked, “Why has God not revealed himself more clearly or obviously?” Bertrand Russell (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) is often cited as having given an answer to a similar question regarding why he did not believe in God and what he would tell God if and when he sees him. His response supposedly was, “Not enough evidence, God, not enough evidence!” Mr. Russell knows better now. For it seems reasonable to me that God has communicated to him in the next life something like this: “Bertrand, you suppressed the truth so readily available to you which I would have revealed to you had you sought it with all your heart” (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 1:18).

Professor and author Douglas Groothuis, in his book "Truth Decay," shared these thoughts about the truth: "Truth, Christianly understood, is systematic and unified. Truth is one, as God is one. All truths cohere with one another as expressions of God's harmonious objective reality—of his being, his knowledge and his creation..."

"Christian truth is an end, not a means to any other end. It should be desired and obtained for its own value. This flies in the face of postmodern pragmatism, which reduces truth to social function or personal preference” (Groothuis, "Truth Decay" (IVP, 2000), pp. 65-80).

"[God] wants everyone to be saved [delivered from sin and its consequences] and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time" (1 Timothy 2:4-6 CSB, brackets added)

Yes, God wants us to know the truth! So may we be diligent to know, understand and apply the truth!

A Christmas Verse on Christmas Day:

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

It never ceases to amaze me that the One who spoke all that exists into existence, chose to unite Himself with a body like ours so that He could serve us--ultimately by giving His life on a cruel cross so that we could live with Him forever!

The Lord Jesus Christ could have come to earth with splendor and grandeur and with demonstrations of the wisdom and strength that He has. But He was born in stable to poor people who did not have much more than the clothes on there backs. Then, later when Jesus was about 2 years old, they left Bethlehem to escape the attack of King Herod's soldiers. Assumedly, that trip was financed by the gifts the magi-astronomers provided. A few years later they moved back to Nazareth, the previous home of Mary and Joseph and their families, which also was a comparably insignificant, out of the way, place. What an ignoble beginning on earth for the Creator of the universe!

Yes! He truly did "become poor"! The way of poverty that Jesus chose for Himself was especially demonstrated by not calling thousands of angels to escape death on a cross, upon which He experienced separation from the Father and the Spirit when our sins were poured out upon Him.

The spiritual riches that are ours and the wealth that we will have in the new heaven and earth are because of the love and grace of the One who "became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

The Main Event and the Greatest Event in all of History!

What is the greatest event and the main of event of all of history? It was the day that Jesus the Christ of Nazareth died in our place on a cross. Time after time Jesus prophesied that He would be crucified and that He would rise again (Luke 18:31-33). And He did just that! When that day came, while physically on a Roman cross, He offered His life and paid for our so great salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4).

The author of Hebrews provided these insights about the Christ and what Jesus' death accomplished: “Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free...” (Hebrews 9:11-15 NET Bible)

The Lord Jesus Christ came to serve us as our great high priest by offering His life to God in the heavens and “entered once for all” so that we might receive the “eternal inheritance he has promised”! And that eternal inheritance may be received as a gift by believing in Jesus Christ to give you everlasting life (John 3:16 6:47).

The day of the death of Christ Jesus—the main event of all history—is referred to as the “consummation of the ages” in the passage that follows, which also provides more details about what took place on that momentous day: "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.” (Hebrews 9:24-28 NET Bible)

This is it! The main event in all history! The day that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life in our place so that we could be redeemed from the slave market of sin and death! He delivered us and all of creation from evil! (cp. Colossians 1:16-20).

Christ “put away sin by his sacrifice” on that great day! What an awesome thought! What an awesome truth and awesome main event of all history!

Facing a Test and God's Promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13

"Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (Good News Translation & New American Standard Bible).

This verse points out that we all face tests on this fallen sinful planet to one degree or another by way of a
trial,
trouble,
tribulation or
terribly horrific ordeal.

Whatever the intensity of the test, the promise is given that our faithful God will provide the spiritual strength to endure it and thereby pass the test, when we keep trusting Him. The "way of escape" is not realized out from under the test. It always includes renewing our faith and confidence in God who will provide endurance when we are trusting in Him to do so.

Sometimes we might think that the test is too much. It just seems that there is no hope and we cannot see how God will see us through it. When this is where we are, a prominent key to renewing faith in God is to bring ourselves to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ and remember what our God did for us there. Bring to mind that He chose to come to this wretched sinful world as a man to serve us. Keep in mind what we are told in Philippians 2:

" . . . Although Christ Jesus existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God something to which He would completely hold on to, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

When we keep in mind the depth of God's love for us that He so clearly demonstrated for us by being united with true humanity so that He could serve us and deliver us from sin and its effects by His suffering and death, it should renew our trust and confidence in Him to see us through the test we are facing.

Questioning God!

Have you ever found yourself questioning God? I have! And we should know that we are in good company. Job did it. Yes, the greatest believer on the face of the earth at the time questioned God. And this is the Lord's assessment of this exceptional believer (Job 1:8; 2:3). (I posted this previously back in January, 2019, but felt led to post it again.)

A number of inspired song-writers also found themselves questioning God when life was so, so difficult to understand (Psalm 13, 37, 77, 88). Even Jesus, when facing the cross, his death and all that he knew about the horrors it would bring upon himself, questioned the Father (Luke 22:39-44). And he cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" while hanging on his cross.

Briefly stated, we may find ourselves questioning God because of our limited understanding, which is a part of our human condition as we live this life on a cursed planet. Questioning God is a normal part of this life as it is.

One of my favorite songs that question God is Psalm 77. Here's an expanded translation and interpretation (mostly from the NET Bible, brackets added):

1 I cried out to God and called for help!
I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.
2 In my time of trouble I sought the Lord.
In the night my hand kept reaching out in prayer;
But my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I said, “I will remember God and I groan [as I think of what he can do]
I will think about him while my strength leaves me.”

4 You, Lord God, held my eyelids open and I cannot sleep;
I was so overcome with emotion that I could not speak.
5 I thought about the days of long-ago,
about ancient times [and all that the Lord God has done].
6 I said, “During the night I will remember the song [of thankfulness] I once sang;
I will think very carefully.”
I will try to make sense of what is happening.

7 I asked, “Will the Lord reject me forever?
Will he never again show me his favor?
8 Has his loyal love disappeared forever?
Has his promise failed forever?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has his anger stifled his compassion?”

10 Then I said, “I am so overcome with emotion as I think
that the sovereign One chose to stand back and let what happened, happen.”
11 I will remember the works of the Lord.
Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago!
12 I will think about all you have done;
I will reflect upon your deeds!”

13 O God, your deeds are extraordinary!
What god can compare to our great God?
14 You are the God who does amazing things;
you have revealed your strength among the nations.
15 You delivered your people by your strength –
the children of Jacob and Joseph [and all of us privileged to live after the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ].

Read again the barrage of questions that flow from this song writer in verses 7-9. This song-writer recovers and finds solace as he reflects on what the Lord God has done, is able to do and will do. However, the inspired song-writer of Psalm 88 does not write of such a recovery. He does acknowledge that salvation or deliverance is from the Lord but he closes out his song with expressions of depression and desperation.

When we face times of desperation and grief, we should reflect on the experiences of our Lord Jesus, Job and these song-writers and be reminded that what we are going through is a horrible part of living in a cursed environment. Relief may seem very far off in the distant future but it will come.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.” (Romans 8:22-25 NET Bible)

May we endure in our confidence in the Lord as we eagerly wait for the day when questioning God will not be a part of our experience. Jesus has won the victory over death and all evil as proven by his resurrection after he paid the price by the horrible death he died in our place.

But if you find yourself questioning God again, don't beat yourself up about it. You are in good company with others who have questioned the Father. It may sound trite and overly simplistic at first glance, but the main thing is to keep fixing your eyes on Jesus, the truth of who He is and what He has done for you. Ponder these verses and the context in which these verses are found: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)