Snark & Sensibility

PLEASE WELCOME

TRINA BRESSER MATOUS

TO

DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY

“Come now, let us reason together”

Isaiah 1:18

This is the only place God invites us to reason with Him. God told the Israelites to reason with their neighbors to avoid sin (Lev. 19.17). Paul spent countless hours reasoning with the Jews and Gentiles about the kingdom of God (Acts 17-19). But this is the only place we see an invitation from God to mankind to reason together.

Surprising Truth

What follows is not a well-reasoned dialogue between God and man. Rather, the reasoning God invites us to do is to hear, understand, and accept his truth.

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

Look at any other system of religious belief in the world and the deity requires something in order to negate the sin and evil in our lives. Muslims believe their good works must outweigh their evil works. Hindi go through an almost endless cycle of reincarnation in an attempt to remove all the bad karma from their lives. Buddhists strive to live in the right way for the right reasons. It is only the God of the Bible who takes the imitative to negate sin and its effects.

In God’s eyes, our sins and shortcomings do not hang over us in condemnation but have been removed in love. He does not see us through a filter of sin that demands judgment but through a filter of love that extends grace and mercy.

Unexpected Grace

God invites to reason with him, then tells us a truth He doesn’t want to debate with us. Rather he wants us to use our reasoning to understand his truth. He does not require us to perform endless good works in order to get something from him. He doesn’t ask us to constantly relive our lives in the hopes we will meet some undefined standard. Rather, he seeks us out and makes provisions to remove the stain of sin from our lives. That is the unmerited favor called grace. And it comes out of an abundant, everlasting and never-ending love he has for each of us.

ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIVING BIBLE STUDY SERIES

The Christian Living Bible Study Series is designed to assist readers in their relationship with God, help them understand difficult passages, shed new light on familiar verses, and gain an appreciation for statements made within the confines of ancient cultural practices. Through these books, readers not only learn about the life and work of Jesus Christ but also personally experience the love, grace, mercy, and redemption offered by the Father through the sacrifice of his son. Learning more about the history and purpose of each verse will enable readers to grow in wisdom and knowledge.

ABOUT TRINA BRESSER MATOUS

Trina has a Masters of Arts in Christian Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary and is a passionate Bible teacher and writer. For over 20 years, she has shared Biblical truths in compelling and memorable ways as a Bible study leader and a member of the Restorative Prayer Team at her church. Her trip through Turkey visiting historic sites including Istanbul, Ephesus, Cappadocia, Haran, and Antioch as well as two trips to Israel’s holy sites bring reality to Trina’s teaching and writing. Additionally, Trina is an avid birder, loves to cook, travel, work in her garden, and knit.

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