Deep Stuff

After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers. [Judges 9.22-24]

So, its just not really possible to get by with anything under God's watch.

I know a lot of people think that because Jesus died on the cross there is no longer any wrath to be experienced from God. While that is true, it is only true under one condition: faith.

Jesus didn't continually teach His disciples about faith just because He had nothing better to do! Jesus taught continually about faith because it is only by faith that anyone can please God. In fact, the Bible is clear that whatsoever is not of faith, is sin!

The reward for sin is, and always will be, everything the devil exists to dole out: death, loss, and destruction - ie. "trouble." While stripped of his power by the work of Jesus, the devil's New Testament 'sentence' is only effectively executed by people of faith - those whose lives look and act like Jesus - those "in Christ." Otherwise, the devil, defeated as he is, still deceives those unfaithful, unknowing ones who render themselves helpless by their persistent ignorance of Who God is and who they are in Christ Jesus.

God's covenant promise of redemption is indeed conditional. Without faith, there is simply no way to please God and enjoy the blessings of relationship with Him.

While God sent a spirit to stir up trouble between Abimelech and Shechem in the past, representative of the curse upon all sin, God sent Jesus to stir up all the authority of heaven to resist and overcome the 'trouble' previously commissioned against sin. That overcoming resistance is the power of faith in Christ.

God will never not be Just. He sent Justice to serve sentence (to stir up trouble) upon man's sin. God's Love does not negate Justice, but it does provide a way to avoid it - even transcend it - that Way is faith in Jesus.

Deep stuff.

Father, I am grateful again for Jesus. Thank You that Your Word builds faith in me and that that faith in me overcomes the world an all its 'default' trouble that has been stirred up since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.