Provoking thoughts for June 2012

Note the title, just in case I blogged under 'Provoking Thoughts' before. I have been reading the 5th chapter of James over and over and have begun to ponder and re-think some of my previous conclusions. 1. When the sick call for the elders of the church to come and pray, it is the elders faith that is needed, not the sick persons faith. (whew, that takes some of the pressure off the guy who is already suffering). 2. WE always think that the sick person should confess their sins and be healed, how about if those praying confess their sins and therefore their faith is no longer hindered and healing takes place for those they are praying for.....just a thought! 3. the patience of Job is often thought of as being in a place of peace waiting for God to show up......what if having peace is not the key, but the strength to endure and keep believing God loves you. Endurance does not always include peace. I know Job was discouraged, for goodness sake, he sat in sackcloth and ashes....that does not create a picture of peace in my mind. 4. We always think that verse 9 means Christ is about to appear in the clouds of glory, I'm talking imminently here, but the verse says he's standing at the door.....who knows when he will open it....all we know is that HE WILL!!!! 5. It is our responsibility as the redeemed, who have experienced the love of God, to be busy trying to convert others from the error of believing that sin is not going to be punished. We are to snatch them from the very fire of hell.

New thoughts regarding how much I love God vs how much HE loves me. I can never love him enough to be found righteous....HIS love for me, however, allows HIM to see me as righteous and I am compelled to live righteously because I have experienced the magnitude of HIS great love for me. I don't serve because I love HIM, I serve because HIS love compels me to serve; HIS love becomes the enablement to live upright among fallen humanity.

If these thought provoke you to know God more, great! If they do not, just put them in your mental junk mail and carry on being loved by the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.