Weekly thought...

"For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone."  What a powerful statement coming from Paul's writings (Romans 11 v 32).

Through trusting in God you can achieve salvation through the mercy he provides.  God's mercy however is not freely given for the scriptures say that "God is both kind and severe."  He is severe to those who stop trusting Him but kind to those who continue to trust in Him (Romans 11: v 22).  The Old Testament is full of examples of His kindness to God's chosen people when they trusted him...and of the despair He wrought upon them when they did not. 

So where do we stand today?  Do we trust God to fully meet our needs or do we, as the "tribes" of old, lose sight of his presence in our lives?  Do we trust God enough to accept and embrace the changes He provides in our lives and our church? As it says in Romans 11 v 33, "How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways" and Romans 11 v 36, "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory." There is no second guessing God's plan!  We just need to trust him!

John VW