God's Math

Many, many years ago when I was in elementary school,  I was introduced to the subject of math. I soon discovered that math and I were not to become friends. Teachers first taught us how to add. Later we were taught subtraction. Granted teachers did their best but for some reason I could not grasp the concept. I remember them teaching subtraction. The idea was simple. If I had four apples and someone "took away" (subtracted) two apples, how many did I now have? Simple, right?

People today are still confused about math, God's math to be exact. With God's math, subtraction always comes before addition. People think they can just add Jesus to their lives without subtracting anything. Jesus becomes an "add-on" to their lives. Similar to when you order a new car. The salesman asks what options you want to "add-on" to the basic model.

Jesus did not come to earth to add an option to our lives. Jesus came to take away (subtract) our sins. John 1:29, Romans 11:27 , 1 John 3:5 So, before you accept (add) into your life, you must first ask Him to take away your sins. He takes away our sins when we confess and ask for forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Has Jesus taken away your sins? Have you asked Him to come into your life?

Your Enemy - Part Two

A couple of days ago, I blogged than we have an enemy (Satan) who hates us and wants to destroy us. 1Peter 5:8 We looked briefly that Satan has plans for our destruction. 2 Cor 2:11 Eph. 6:11 And last we saw that to defeat our enemy we must know him. Do not think I am glorifying Satan but he is an powerful adversary. 

Allow me to give you some brief facts about Satan and next blog we will begin to learn some of his tacticts:

• Satan is powerful but not ALL-Powerful. His power is limited. Each time Satan wanted to test Job, He had to go to God and get permission. And God, being the Supreme Power, gave permission but also limited him how far he could go.
• Satan is NOT everywhere. Only God is Omni-present. Satan is a created being and as such he is limited in where he can go. Though he does have demons everywhere.
• Satan is real. He is not an influence or a force. He is evil personified.
• Though Satan is powerful and we cannot face him in our own strength, we do not have to fear him. 1 John 4:4 tells "...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
• Satan cannot read your mind and know your thoughts. However, he does know human nature and has had thousands of year to study us. He knows which "buttons" to push in your life but he doesn't know what you are thinking.