God Said, "It Is Written..."
I received an email the other day entitled "God said No" whereby the author attempts to "comfort" the reader with what he or she believes God's responses would be to questions from His children. What I read certainly wasn't comforting to me—that God says "No" when His children ask or seek something good. Here is the email (in black) and afterward I have written what the word of God says. I pray you see the difference and believe the good news.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, "No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary."
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me."
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, "No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned."
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, "No. You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful."
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, "No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things."
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said... "Ahhhh, finally you have the idea."
I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, "No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up."
As Jesus answered the devil in the wilderness, and as He responded to a doubtful John the Baptist, God always answers with His written word. Therefore, I have taken the same email, with the same questions, and responded from the word of God. I believe the answers from the Bible are much better news. Remember always that it is written…
Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning. [James 1:17]
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and Amen to glory of God by us. [2 Corinthians 1:20]
Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [John 14:13]
Or what man is there of you whom if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good gifts to them who ask Him? [Matthew 7:9-11]
God said, "It is written…"
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God answered, "It is written, Himself took our infirmities, and bear our sicknesses, and by His stripes you were healed. [Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4-5] It is also written, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea'; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he said shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he said. And these signs shall follow them that believe, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. " [Mark 11:23; Mark 16:18]
I asked God to spare me pain.
God answered, "It is written, In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." [John 16:33; 1 John 4:4]
I asked God to grant me patience.
God answered, "It is written, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." [Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:3]
I asked God to make my faith grow.
God answered, "It is written, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to there, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes." [Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23]
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God answered, "It is written, Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." [3 John 2; Matthew 6:33]
I asked God to take away my habit.
God answered, "It is written, If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Likewise consider yourself also to be dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." [2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:11; Ephesians 6:10; James 4:7]
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God answered, "It is written, In this was the love of God manifested toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and send His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." [1 John 4:9-10; 1 John 3:18]
Brothers and sisters, we need to begin using the Bible to dictate our theology and philosophy instead of allowing our own human understanding to 'interpret' what the Scripture is teaching, as it is written, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.. [Colossians 2:8]
