From Sons of Thunder to Sons of Wonder! [podcast]

The wonder of His love – that He would have mercy on me (Psalms 103:10-12; Titus 3:5-7; 1 John 4:9-10, 19).

Jesus wants us to call down FORGIVENESS on the wicked, not FIRE.

“But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:55-56

DO we not realize that EVERY person alive today is God’s creation, His baby?

HE made them? And even if they are not right with Him, even if they are rebels …. that doesn’t change the fact that they were and are made by Him …. otherwise they’d not exist… And yes, they are going to hell if they don’t repent. God is just. Remember that the father of the prodigal son didn’t hate him when he departed. No, instead he longed for his son to return and prepared to celebrate for such a return, even though there was no guarantee he’d return. Luke 15 contains 3 parables of Jesus, all teaching the restorative love of our God. What about Romans 5;6-8?

IF GOD weren’t so benevolent, so very merciful, I’d long ago have been in the lowest hell! Psalms 86:5, 15 will change your life! (Ephesians 3:8)

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15

Perhaps at times, we see stories, crimes committed, that move us in anger as were the apostles of Christ in the early days when they sought Jesus to rain down fire from heaven to scorch people, souls for whom Jesus came to die and forgive.

On the cross Jesus was forsaken that we might be forgiven (Psalms 22:1; Luke 27:46).

“And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:” Luke 3:17

This brief discourse is very instructive to us as Jesus corrects and teaches His disciples in the early days.

“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. 51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:49-56

May our LORD bless us to always be possessed with the heart posture of “Nobody needs Jesus more than I do!”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing … 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

From sons of thunder to sons of wonder!

Jesus who came to save not destroy is “called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 96-7).

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You now, a pauper. I come to Thee dear LORD with nothing in my hand I bring but simply to Thy cross I cling. Forgive my evil heart, pride, arrogance, and depravity. No one needs You more than me Jesus, and I give You thanks afresh that it’s not by my works of righteousness but rather by Your mercy that you died, were buried, and raised again from the dead to justify sinners like me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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