LIFE GATE EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES

27/11/2022

GIVING OTHERS CAUSE TO GLORIFY GOD

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

If a child misbehaves, the parents are held accountable. If an employee provides poor service, his company gets a bad name. If Christians treat others unjustly, this strengthens unbelievers in their dislike of the Lord God. But this can also work the other way around! When people know that we are Christians and our way of life strikes them in a positive way, it can cause even skeptics to glorify God. Then our life radiates light, pointing to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Then other people see that our lives are influenced for the better by our faith in a good and gracious God. Then our actions show something of His justice and love. And that may cause unbelievers to reconsider their negative opinions and stop blaspheming God. They may even become curious about our faith and want to know more about the Lord. In this way, we can be a link in the expansion of God’s Kingdom and contribute to His glory.

Can you think of some specific examples of “good works” that other people might see in your life?

19/11/2022

A DISCORDANT TUNE

"Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12)

Yesterday, we read how humans can glorify God by rejoicing in Him. For the first humans, this was self-evident. Their relationship with God was one of complete harmony and everything in their lives was perfect. But it did not take long for the first dissonant tones to disrupt their song of worship. Satan, God’s arch enemy, caused them to doubt God’s goodness and tempted them to disobey their Creator. The pure and beautiful song Adam and Eve had sung, was suddenly paused. They realized that their relationship with God was broken, and they tried to hide from Him in fear and shame.

Not only was Adam and Eve’s song discordant, but also the harmonious tune of the natural world. All creation suffers from the curse of sin and is “groaning in the pains of childbirth” (Romans 8:22). Flowers wither, the twittering bird is suddenly devoured by a predator and people live in rebellion against God. Creation’s song of worship is not entirely silenced, but it has become damaged.

However, there is hope! All creation waits with eager longing till God will redeem both humans and the natural world. Then every discordant sound will be silenced and all creation will burst out in glorious praise for its Creator and Redeemer! And we can start singing now. Will you join the choir?

18/11/2022

HOW CAN WE SING GOD'S PRAISE?

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Creation sings God’s praise by just showing its beauty. Blossoming trees, twittering birds and impressive sunsets are like an ongoing song of worship. But how are we humans to glorify God? Of course, we can do so by singing. We’ll discuss that later. But it’s important to realize there is more.

Psalm 100 gives us some advice here. It talks about coming into God’s presence with singing; about recognizing Him as our Creator and God; about giving thanks; and about remembering and celebrating His ever-enduring love.

And there is even more. The glory of God is the underlying principle for all of our life! Even ordinary things like eating and drinking can be done so as to bring glory to God. Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 10.

Let me quote John Piper, a well-known contemporary American theologian here: ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him’.

Do you enjoy your relationship with Him? Do you delight in the good gifts He gives you? Then you are glorifying your Creator!

16/11/2022

16/11/2022

GOD WAS ALREADY GLORIFIED BEFORE WE EVEN EXISTED

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? … when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)

The book of Job is a tough one to read. It describes how Job wrestles with the sudden calamities he faces. He does not understand why God would allow this to happen, since Job knows Him as a loving and faithful God who punishes evil and rewards good. Job’s friends are convinced that he must have committed some serious sins that he is hiding for them, but no. Job is innocent. He has always lived according to God’s commandments. Frustrated by the ‘cheap’ answers of his friends, Job then addresses the Lord God directly. “Let the Almighty answer me!” he says (Job 31:35).

When God answers, He does not contest Job’s innocence. But He corrects Job’s attitude by showing that He is far greater than Job. There is so much going on of which humans don’t have the slightest idea. God speaks of creation, of singing heavenly beings, of the ocean deeps and of snow, rain and stars. Job is not the center of the universe. He does not understand everything. That should make him humble and respectful towards the Lord God.

You are not the center of the universe either. You are just “a drop in a bucket”. And yet, God wants a personal relationship with you and He rejoices in your song of praise!

How special is that?

14/11/2022

GOD WILL FINALLY MAKE AN END TO EVIL

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4)

The last chapters of the Bible describe the future of all God’s children. They will live forever in God’s presence, in His new world. In this new world, there is no more sin and evil, and no more consequences of sin, such as mourning and pain. Then all cries for justice and deliverance are finally silenced, since there is perfect justice and freedom and joy.

This future perspective is described in the Bible to give you hope. In the midst of all the evil and sinfulness and misery going on in this world, we get the assurance that the Lord God will take care of it. He will execute justice, although we may not see it yet. He will deliver His children, maybe during their earthly life but surely for eternity. He will wipe away the tears from their eyes and fill their hearts with abundant joy.

Remember how Haggai could wait quietly for God’s intervention after he had seen in a vision that God would do justice? In a similar way, we can wait quietly since we know the visions from the book of Revelation. God’s judgment will be horrible for those who don’t love Him. But it will be right. He will put evil to a halt at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

Do you trust God and rest in Him?

07/11/2022

HABAKKUK IS SHOCKED BY GOD'S RESPONSE

"You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?”
(Habakkuk 1:13)

In the first verses of his book, Habakkuk begged God to answer his prayers and to stop the unrighteousness of his people. But when God answers him, His message is very different from what Habakkuk expected. Yes, God will address the injustice and idolatry of the Israelites. He will judge them. But He will do so by means of a foreign people, the Chaldeans, “a bitter and hasty nation… dreaded and fearsome”. These Chaldeans will take the Israelites captive and destroy their country.

That’s not what Habakkuk had in mind! He does not understand how God, who cannot even look at wrong, wants to use such a wicked nation in His plans. Doesn’t this just make everything worse?!? Habakkuk touches hard questions here. We believe that God is completely good, but He sometimes uses evil people and powers for His good goals. In fact, it is a proof of His ultimate power that He makes His enemies do His bidding!

The ultimate example of this is the death of Jesus Christ. God the Father gave up His only Son; He let evil people crucify Him. What could be worse? But this was a necessary part of God’s eternal salvation plan. He used evil to bring about endless good.

What do you think: was Jesus’ death something good?