Were It So

So It Is

Monday, April 7, 2025

Sin Casts A Wide Net

The Well Trod Path of Sin.

Easier than bushwhacking our way?

Psalm 103:6

The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.

.

James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

Words of Grace for Today –

Scriptures contain so many promises and promises and promises of how God comes to the aid of those who suffer, especially those who suffer at the hands of other humans.

But

we honestly can say

We truly wish it were so!

The deep rooted, widespread, ongoing problem is simply that we humans are creative, most creative, when it comes to doing what we know is not right,

telling ourselves

so rationally

so heartfelt

so comprehensively

that though we know we are doing wrong,

we really are doing the best

for us

and that makes it right.

And since God created us to love, which requires freewill, including the choice to not love,

therefore

we will always be very creative at sinning,

and causing harm and suffering to others (and ourselves – for doing others harm, causing suffering, always comes back on the perpetrators more powerfully than on their original victims.)

So we could go out and wipe out all those sinful people. Ending humanity no less.

But the most profound word is

that vengeance is God’s,

not ours.

So we will continue to sin, causing harm and suffering,

and we will continue to hope that God will set things right.

Maybe in the afterlife?

Maybe in our hearts?

Maybe not turning everyone from vengeance, destruction, and manipulation (deadly as any other attack on another person),

but bringing a few in every generation to know

love

as the purpose of life,

and joy a free gift from God.

No Fool

No Fooling

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Only God Gives Happiness.

The Path Following Jesus

is Soooo Steep,

We Cannot On Our Own Make It,

Not At All.

Psalm 146:5-7

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free ….

.

2 Corinthians 9:10

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Words of Grace for Today –

When we think we can …

we can make things better for ourselves, and our loved ones, and those like us …

we can do God’s Will …

we can do God’s Will, not like yester-years, but now more completely, better, more blessedly …

we can make the world right with our judgments and efforts …

When we think we can

we take the first step into foolishness

and disaster

for ourselves and everyone effected by us.

Only when we turn,

helpless

hopeless

exhausted

hungry for life

thirsting for truth

starving for love …

Only when we turn, saying I can NOT,

Only when we turn to God, and cry for help,

do we start the day well,

reading ourselves to shared the gifts of God,

being Jesus’ hands and feet executing justice for the oppressed; giving food to the hungry,

making, by Grace alone, things better

for all creation.