Is It Wrong to Have Doubts?

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine brought up this question, “Why do people have doubts about God?”  So I wanted to say a few words this week about doubt.

For those who have experienced the love and grace of God, it's difficult to understand how anyone would have doubts about the Messiah.  Yet, they do every day.  Some simply believe that the things the world has to offer are more appealing than eternal things. (Matt 19:16-23)

For others it's a matter of pride.  They will never bow and relinquish lordship of their lives to anyone else, least of all Jesus Christ. (See Acts 7:51)  And then there are those who truly do not think they need a savior.  These people consider themselves to be “basically good” and don't realize that they, like all people, are sinners who cannot come to God on their own terms. (See Romans 3:23)  But Jesus stated quite clearly that, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  

Everyone at some time in their lives has doubts.  But, praise God, He understands our doubts, and the most important thing I can tell you is that He wants to take them away and increase our faith.  When doubts come, don’t let them take root in your heart.  Instead, turn them over to Christ.  

Most of all, saturate your heart and mind every day with the truths of God’s Word.  Thank God, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." (Hebrews 6:19a)

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

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

Today when we hear that someone is blessed, we often think of a comfortable lifestyle, good health, and a successful job.  But Jesus said that those who are "poor in spirit" are blessed.  The New Testament word for poor means a beggar, one who is totally dependent upon another for survival. 

Here, Jesus is speaking of being “poor in spirit”; in other words, being “spiritually poor.”  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is concerned with spiritual realities, not material possessions. What, then, does it mean to be spiritually poor?  

To be poor in spirit is to recognize your complete spiritual bankruptcy before God.  It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God.  Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually, and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation.  Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

If we turn this around, we realize that the cursed are those who are rich in self-sufficiency.  When we can take care of ourselves and control our situations, we're living in a different kingdom.

Those who are prideful and self-sufficient could never hope to enjoy the blessings of Heaven. They would never accept that they were sinners in need of a savior, never accept the need to obey God in God's way, and never accept the fact that without God they could do nothing. Thus, they will never enjoy a Heaven filled with sinners cleansed by the blood of Jesus. 

God does not force His kingdom upon anyone, but gladly gives it to all who know and admit that they are empty and lost without Him, and humbly seek His help.  It is really only the poor in spirit who can have access to the things of God, because they are the ones who know how to receive gifts. For them, everything is a gift.

The kingdom of God can only be received by empty hands. Jesus warns against worldly self-sufficiency: you trust yourself and your own resources, and don't need God, and religious self-sufficiency: where you trust your religious attitude and moral life, and don't need Jesus.

We cannot be filled until we are empty, because God cannot fill what is already full.  And we cannot be filled and helped by God until we recognize our need for God’s help.  God loves us and accepts us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way.

God wants us to have real righteousness and be just like Jesus.  

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2Corthians 8:9)  

Can God change your life?  

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience 

an amazing change in your own life. 

Discover how you can find peace with God.