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Julie
Ackerman Link
Some say that theology is only for “professionals.” But the situation in the days of the prophet Jeremiah illustrates why it’s important for everyone to know what God says about Himself. The religious experts in Jeremiah’s day were misrepresenting God by prophesying “the delusions of their own minds” (Jer. 23:26 NIV) and leading people astray with their lies (v.32). Due to their dishonesty, the people did not know the true nature of God. Today
there are people who
portray God as angry, vengeful, and eager to
punish people for every minor offense.
God, however, describes Himself as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). Others
show the world a picture of a loving God who
is too kind to punish wrongdoing. But God describes Himself as one who
exercises judgment and righteousness (Jer. 9:24). He is both a just
Judge and a loving Father.
If
we emphasize one over the other, we paint
a false picture of GodThe most important thing we can know about God and proclaim to the world is that God does not want to punish people; He wants them to repent so that He can forgive (2 Peter 3:9). But to be truly loving, He must also be absolutely just. |
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| Read: Jeremiah 23:25-32 |
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Jeremiah 23 -Audio-)
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I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. —Jeremiah 9:24 |
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| Bible
in a Year: Judges 1-3; Luke 4:1-30 |
"Reflexions from Our Daily Bread"
Posted by: Ben Ayala : benayalal@gmail.com
Thanks to the Sources at: rbc[dot]org -and- odb[dot]org |
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En el amor no hay temor, sino que el amor perfecto echa fuera el temor. El que teme espera el castigo, así que no ha sido perfeccionado en el amor. (1 Juan 4:17b-18) Amor, una palabra que está en la boca de muchos y en el corazón de pocos. Vivimos en un mundo frío y violento, tanto en los hechos como en las palabras, donde el amor parece haberse enfriado. Este ambiente sombrío genera miedo, depresión y desencanto con la vida. Pero cuando alzamos nuestros ojos para ver el verdadero amor, no ese amor que muestran las películas, sino el amor que vence al miedo y supera a la muerte, toda la opresión de este mundo no es suficiente para abatirnos. El amor derramado por Dios a través de su hijo Jesús es capaz de vencer el miedo y el castigo. Debemos alimentarnos de este amor y esparcirlo. Este amor no puede ser prohibido por la ley y nadie es capaz de arrebatarlo. ¡Debemos perfeccionarnos en este amor! Sí, es necesario, pues este es un amor práctico. De la misma forma en que somos alimentados...

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