No Less God Today

I love growing older. I really do. Easy to say, perhaps, because I’ve not yet reached the point of deteriorating health, but the perspective that comes with age is wonderful!

Stop and look back on your life. No matter what age you are, stop and look back. Can you now see evidence of the invisible hand of God faithfully guiding you through every step of your journey? It might be fascinating to make a list of His works in your life. Who did God send to you with the truth of salvation in Christ? Who responded to His call to teach and nurture you in understanding and wisdom? When did God protect you from—or lead you through—physical danger? How did He sustain you in—or deliver you from—unhealthy relationships? What strength or character did He build into your spirit amid your toughest trials? When did God bandage your wounded soul and carry you through internal struggles? How many times has He surprised you with blessings for which you never even thought to ask?

Maybe He led you around a problem, avoiding certain calamity. More often, likely, He ushered you right through opposition or trouble. Like Daniel’s friends in the furnace or Daniel himself in the lions’ den, you weren’t spared the difficult experience, but you endured it and emerged from it even stronger through the power of Him who is sovereign over all things and in all circumstances. Who knows the number of times God has protected us without our even knowing we were in danger? And through it all, He’s loosened our white-knuckled grip on self-reliance and firmed up our faith in Him.

We naturally fear what we cannot control and, truth be told, we can’t control much. We can be confident, though, for the God whose presence we see through the clarity of hindsight is no less with us today. The God who has guided and supported us every step along the way is no less faithful today. The God who delivered us in the past is no less powerful today. His love truly does endure forever, so in a day yet to come, we will look back on this one and proclaim He was no less God today.

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:10–12)

Christ in me is confidence.

Today’s post is an excerpt from Christ in Me. Copyright © 2016 Paul Nordman. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Click here to purchase a copy of Christ in Me by Paul Nordman.

Faith Beyond Belief!

A man once said to me, “I have a hard time accepting the idea that God will only let me into heaven if I believe a certain thing or a certain way. So I live my entire life and, at the end, it all comes down to whether or not I believe something to be true? I’ve seen big changes in my friends and family members who believe, so I want to believe, but I have a hard time accepting this.” The man’s openness was refreshing, and I completely understood his skepticism. For if belief is nothing more than admitting the truth of a matter, I think he has a point. Mere acknowledgment of fact, however sincere, is something less than transformational. The apostle James gave voice to the sentiment this way: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”¹

Biblical belief is so much richer, so much warmer, and so much more substantial than an academic nod of agreement from afar. For the foundation of our faith is so much more than a mere notion or idea; He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in whom life exists. Jesus assures us, “as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”² So also the apostle Paul attests of Christ, “All things were created through him and for him,” he writes, “. . . he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”³ The belief to which God calls us, then, far surpasses mental assent; He invites us to a place called faith, where we entrust our very lives to Him in whom eternity exists. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”⁴

Taking this cross-over step of faith, we emerge from the shadows of our hiding and enter into restored relationship with God. We experience Him as He transforms us, and we enjoy Him, for He is not a belief system of our making, but the abundant life of our longing.

If the Spirit is stirring in you to be reconciled to God through His Son, you can respond by praying:

Jesus, I know I cannot gain eternal life on my own or by my own merit. I do not live as you would have me live. For this I am very sorry. I believe you are the Son of God and that you paid the penalty for my sins because you love me. I believe you rose again to never-ending life and that you offer that life to me as a gift. I entrust myself to you, receive your gift now, and by your promise, cross over from death to life. Fill me with your Spirit and use me for your honor and glory. Thank you for your precious gift of life in me.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

[Click here to read more about salvation through faith in Christ in Romans 10:6-13.]¹ James 2:19
² John 5:26
³ Colossians 1:16, 17 (ESV)
⁴ John 5:24

Today’s post is an excerpt from Christ in Me. Copyright © 2016 Paul Nordman. Used by permission. All rights reserved.