Random Thoughts

1. Is the cross without the resurrection sufficient to save us? In other words, is the resurrection part of the gospel?

2. What is the ultimate punishment - God's wrath or death? (Are they the same thing?)

Perfect Peace

At this hour we rest in the promises of our faithful God, knowing that His words are full of truth and power; we rest in the doctrines of His Word, which are consolation itself; we rest in the covenant of His grace, which is a haven of delight.

The person of Jesus is the quiet resting place of His people; and when we draw near to Him in the breaking of bread, in the hearing of the Word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise, we find any form of approach to Him to be the return of peace to our Spirits.

The God of Peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed upon Him.

- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Waiting in Habakkuk

1. Waiting in Haughtiness

"How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" - Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV)

Who are we to question God? Remember Job.

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."" - Job 38:1-3 (NIV)

"The LORD said to Job: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"" - Job 40:1-2 (NIV)

2. Waiting in Humility

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint what to answer when I am rebuked." - Habakkuk 2:1 (NIV)

"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)

Haughtiness vs Humility

"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." - Psalm 18:27 (NIV)

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

"My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." - Psalm 131:1-3 (NIV)

3. Waiting in Hope

"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." - Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

Tiote Left-Footed Volley

God will provide

A story is told of a deacon who came up to his pastor one day and told him, "Considering what I earn and the needs of my family, it is impossible for me to tithe*."

A businessman who happened to be nearby overheard the conversation and approached the deacon. He told him, "Why don't you give ten percent of your income to the Lord every month? I will make up for whatever shortfall you have for the month."

The deacon was delighted and immediately said, "In that case I will tithe immediately."

The businessman replied, "You trust me to provide for you because I told you so. God tells you the same thing in His Word. Do you trust Him?"

*notwithstanding the question of whether tithing is applicable under the New Covenant