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| That's what I call perfect timing! |
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While listening to the Resurrection message this past Sunday, the following scripture triggered an intriguing thought. We are told in Romans:
5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
This could refer to the literal time in history when Jesus lived and died. This could also simply be an affirmation that God’s timing was entirely according to plan. But then my mind went to the following verse: 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Notice the emphasis on the timing! True, Christ had to die before we could believe in him, so that we could be justified by our belief in his atoning death, and thus receive God's righteousness. Or did he? We’re told that the OT believers were justified by faith also (Rom 4:3), not by works (Isa 64:6, Ps 14:3), nor by animal sacrifices (Heb 10:4, Matt 9:13). So would it be incorrect to conclude that folks in OT times were justified and saved the same way we are today, by faith in what God told them about himself and what he would do?
Jesus’ death was carefully timed to occur precisely while we were still sinners, prancing about in all that ugly pride and belligerence that becomes us so well. What better way to prove to us thick-headed creatures that we aren’t saved by anything we do? What better way to emphasize to each and every one of us, throughout history, that none of us deserves the salvation God has given us?
The realization that the ultimate expression of love for me occurred precisely when I least deserved it, and least cared to receive it, amazes me!! That's God's timing, even better than I had previously imagined! |
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| To add a comment to "That's what I call perfect timing!" |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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It is an amazing thought!! It is an amazing fact!!
Thank you, Mike!! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| So very true!!!!!!!! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Brings to mind that song "Amazing love, how can it be? that you, my God would die for me?" great word Mike! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Thanks Gary! It is, isn't it Cathy!! God is awesome like that! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Thanks Maureen....I love that song. I'm no baby Christian, but I continually find myself marvelling over that "basic" fact, lol. |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Mike, you always amaze me, like how you know EVERYONES first name, even though they post it as something else!!! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| i can't even remember my own name sometimes...lol... much less the thousands here on mychurch..... arggg |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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Praise God for His perfect timing. God Bless you and thank you for sharing
this we have had some tough trials and one crisis in the last month or so
and God answered and has given us strength to stay strong. |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| I think of the verse in Galatians where it said "in the fullness of time" Christ came into this world. Everything is done in His time. |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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I'm looking at a photograph on my desk. The photograph's background has stormy clouds and three crosses. I treasure this... so very much.
It was taken on a spiritual retreat that I took part in several years ago. It was so amazing to part of that nurturing goup. I can hardly describe it.
Prior to that, I went to the retreat, but as a pilgrim. I will never forget those three days... lost in the encouragement of so many people and in the love of Jesus Christ, who died for me. It was one of those "moments" in life, when I realized that that Jesus had shed the blood for me; for all of us... and that I couldn't ever repay Him, except by loving Him.
That year... I fell in love with Jesus Christ, and I do believe that is how I began to fall in love with people. To see them through the eye's of Jesus Christ. |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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Joey...that is a deeply moving comment. Sounds like an incredible experience, and something you probably share with a lot of people. Thanks for sharing it here! Todd...thanks for reminding us. I'd read but forgotten that one."Fullness" seems to imply even more than just mere timing. Great verse! Cathy... I'm sorry to hear about your difficult circumstances. Praise God for his timing and faithfulness! |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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Perfect timimg, I thank God for His perfect timing.
Yesterday, while I was praying actually crying out to Him, LITERALLY, He was making a way for me.
Yet again!
I praise His mighty name, Oh How I love Jesus because He first loved me! |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| yes, mike perfect timing........I PRAISE GOD.... |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| His timing is always the right time. Praise the Lord. |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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Amazing Grace, HOW SWEET THE SOUND,that SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME.....
His time is always perfect, His timing is always true even though we don't know it... Praise Him... |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| Very nice blog Mike. I don't know how you do it, but you continually come up with new things for us to think about. Thank you for your dedication to writing blogs and sharing your wisdom with us! |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| Awesome! It's Love beyond imagination,... Amen? I wrote a blog months ago, Mike, called, "Why Will Every Knee Bow",... This is probably going to be another one of those things thats gonna do it. Amen? I love you. Thanks. |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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Thank you Lynn! I agree - God's timing is beautiful!
Preston....read your blog, thank you for that post! And yes, God's love is far beyond our greatest imagination... his timing is further proof!
Deb, thanks for your encouragement, sister. I've only just begun to scratch the surface of God's word!
Mary....Panda....Denise....THANK YOU!!
Yvelisse - wow, that's what I call...perfect timing! :) |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| Amazing how God has such great timing like He does. |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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6:9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
This verse has always encouraged me about just waiting on God's timing just by
staying strong no matter what it looks like Thank you for the encouragement as always
I wrote about the crisis of what happened in my blog "Difficult Decisions" God Bless You :) |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| 5802 :) |
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| April 16, 2009 |
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| Wow. so true I love the way you emphasise this I couldnt have put in a better way. What a mighty God we serve Thankyou so much Mike. This is awesome. |
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| April 16, 2009 |
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| God's timing is always perfect, ii's ours that goes wrong! |
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| April 16, 2009 |
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Thank you Megan, Hine, and Ase, your comments are appreciated and right on the money! Hine...only a mighty God could get THAT timing right! Ase, if only we could mimick God's timing. But then, that is precisely why his is so worthy of exaltation, b/c it is exactly that timing that we struggle with. (The LAST thing we want to do is love on our enemies!!!!) Sue.....lol Cathy...great verse! Well doing wearies us so easily...we need the Spirit of God in order to persevere in that! (Right?) |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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That's why I praise God for what He has done both before my time (since it was still for me), and in my life here as well. He is totally awesome!!! One can't begin to understand that type of love. My God! How He loved us, and still love us today despite how we (meaning mankind) continually crucify Him. It's something to be grateful for. |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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| "What better way to emphasize to each and every one of us, throughout history, that none of us deserves the salvation God has given us?" AMEN!!! I don't have to work for God's love. That helps someone like me, who is performance driven sometimes. |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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Thanks Steve! (or..you're welcome) The reason for the re-post is b/c I realized there were "placeholders" where bible verses were intended to go, plus it was still sort of in edit mode. Why did I rush to post it in the first place? My timing, instead of Gods! (oops, lol) Silena, my new friend, I'm so grateful too, right along w/you! Destiny, don't we all tend to be performance driven? Constant reminders are necessary, at least I know that I need them! (And God supplies them, too! lol) |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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| Amen Mike I agree we do need God to help us to perserve :) |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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| A BIG FAT AMEN!!!!!! |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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| Yep, a gift, indeed! One we don't deserve. |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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| Thanks Mike, love Stu |
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| April 17, 2009 |
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When I was working in the Response Center for Billy Graham a coworker/friend of mine reminded me and others on the other end of phone that it was always about God's perfect timing..He see's the big picture...not us. God Bless, |
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| April 18, 2009 |
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| I love you blogs so heartfelt and so inspiring! |
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| April 18, 2009 |
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So would it be incorrect to conclude that folks in OT times were justified and saved the same way we are today, by faith in what God told them about himself and what he would do?
Absolutely, Mike!! This is fundamental theology so serious misunderstood or overlooked by Christians. It's powerful significance is that it draws a direct line between our justification in Christ, with those who lived under the law, and before the law with Abraham. The righteous shall live by faith.
This connection of salvation by faith is what Paul strives to get across to us in Romans 4. I commend you, Mike, because this is a point which merits closer scrutiny by Christians. Why? Because, if ever we had an example of a non-christian (pre Christ) being justified by faith it is Abraham.
This ought not to be misconstrued as a broad, wide opened mantra: everybody is saved. Perhaps scrutiny is not the best choice of words because in the minds of some it connotes linguistic scholarliness. However, no more than a re-reading and pondering of the scripture on Abraham's justification by faith is required to appreciate and rejoice with what God has been doing for ages in love for all those who seek longingly, like Abraham, for him. |
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| April 19, 2009 |
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| this is so true |
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| April 20, 2009 |
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| Halleluyerrrrr!!!! |
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| April 23, 2009 |
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amazing how God send me to your blogs and how amazed I am at what i read!
I too thought of the song "Amazing Love, how can it be, that my king would die for me, Amazing Love and I know its true , its my joy to honor you, in all I do....."
We are so blessed to hae such a wonderful God with perfect TIMING!
Thanks Mike God Bless you & your family |
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