Merry Christmas, everyone. At a time when we are specially recalling the birth of Jesus it may seem odd to continue speaking of his death and resurrection. However, believers easily fall into error, and, for joy, do not proclaim the full Gospel that also includes realizing divine sorrow as well an outpouring of sacred gifts by the Holy Ghost. The topic, today, is thanking GOD when things go well, blaming GOD when things go badly. Also, there is more on how Jesus was recognized and seen by his first witnesses. A Top Contributor at “Yahoo! Answers Singapore” using the ID “vorster” (Level 2 with 322 points, a member since 22 November 2013) posted the following originally asked at Yahoo Answers United States:
Can we thank God for good things and blame him for the bad things?
THE BATTLE AXE: Jesus Arose Bodily (12/24/2013)—(5.) Throughout the time of his living ministry, Jesus remained difficult to recognize. As a carpenter and craftsman whose family was not prominent or wealthy, Jesus appeared as “average” and unexceptional. Many were convinced he could not possibly be the promised Messiah, given that, to all appearance, Jesus was a natural and normal person, not displaying characteristics that could be associated with celestial being and divine power. When surrounded by his apostles, he appeared as ordinary and did not stand out in the way he dressed, or because of his features (hair color, eyes, height, weight, etc.). For this reason, those at the Temple were eager to have one of his number betray him by pointing him out. Judas kissed Jesus to assure the assembled Temple guards and Roman officers that he knew Jesus intimately, and that the identification was sure. (See John 7: 25-28 and 37-52, John 12: 34, Luke 22: 47-48, KJV.) (6.) Now, just as then, the divine process for recognition of Jesus as the Christ, and as the incarnate person of eternal GOD may only occur by the exercise of discernment (i.e., comparing things long endorsed as having spirit content and genuinely spiritual to other spiritual things), and the operations of faith. At one point, the prophet sent to herald the coming of Messiah, John the Baptist, was uncertain that Jesus indeed was the one sent. Consider again how Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, could see that Jesus had come as the Son of David, and heir to a divine throne that would fulfill the promises of GOD to all Israel. (See Luke 7: 19-23, John 4: 25, Mark 10: 46-47 and Matthew 12: 14-23, KJV.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (Psalms 84: 9-12, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: GOD Enjoys Judgment? (12/19/2013); Miracles are Sacred Events (12/20/2013); The Head Not The Tail? (10/21/2013); Stronger Tests for the Strong? (10/22/2013); Sacrificial Relationships? (10/23/2013); Relationship by Unselfish Giving?
(10/24/2013)
“vorster”, here are a few points important to many mature Christian believers:
(1.) Shall we not receive evil? (Job 2: 10, KJV.) In the same way GOD is equally divine when the sun is shining in full strength as well as in the cold and dark of night, created beings and living creatures are to acknowledge the sovereign majesty of GOD both when there are life experiences of blessing and deliverance as well as when there are life experiences of cursing and punishment. GOD is no less GOD.
(2.) I make peace, and create evil. (Isaiah 45: 7, KJV.) GOD has not created sin; and sin is no spirit thing existing independently from GOD through Creation. Sin is an artifact of non-existence and separation from GOD. Even so, sin has direction, effect and presence; and sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. The influence and operations of sin cannot be eliminated, removed or understood without the eternal provisions from divinity that include evil (we say, calamity, catastrophe, disaster, upheaval). (Also, “evil” is arbitrary or undirected change (we say, chaos), and the disruption of divine order; thus, for many, evil has become interchangeable with “wickedness”.)
(3.) The Lord is my strength and my shield. (Psalms 28: 7, KJV.) Believers continue in a carnal, material and social sphere; and will encounter the challenges, disappointments, obstacles and set backs that describe human experience for all. Even so, they receive fresh endowments of divine substance through multiple sacred operations such as baptism, fasting, sacrificial giving, praise, prayer, study, and worship. Born again having divine DNA, all must come to maturity and perfection through their peculiar life experiences that establish fellowship with GOD.
There is far more to be said, properly shared, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) He hath shewed thee what is good. (Micah 6: 8, KJV.) There is no way for any finite being to magically or suddenly know “all about” GOD. A firm and fruitful relationship that others may come to recognize as divine love must begin by a believer planting seeds of humility and trust through confession of sin, and resolution to endure the necessary struggle whereby we embrace permanent change.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Grow in grace.
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Proverbs 30: 5-6, KJV)
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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