Text Size: Zoom In

As Needed

Art Prize Exhibit

So much of life isn’t simply a matter of right or wrong.

Medications, sedatives, painkillers, doctors, hospitals, courtrooms, prisons, weapons, and armies, look different— as needed by us or someone we love.

We don’t have to walk down this road too far before coming to the hill on which Jesus was crucified. What does his torture and death tell us about the rightness of a Father who let our people do that to his Son?

Our Father apparently wanted us to know that none of us is simply “not quite right.” All of us, regardless of our real or imagined problems— need to know, and remember— that even wanting to kill our God (intentionally or unwittingly) could never keep him from loving us.

He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:23


Vote on whether you think this post is something you'll be thinking about:
Vote This Post DownVote This Post Up (+4 rating, 4 votes)
Loading...
31 Comments »

31 Responses to “As Needed”

  1. jeff1 says:

    Great is Thy faithfulness
    O God, my Father
    There is no shadow of turning with Thee
    Thou changes not
    Thy compassions they fail not
    As Thou hast been,
    Thou forever wilt be.

    (Chorus)
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Morning by morning,
    New mercies I see
    All I have needed
    Thy hand hath provided
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Lord unto me

    Summer and winter, springtime and harvest
    Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
    Join with all nature in manifold witness
    To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

    (Chorus)
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Morning by morning,
    New mercies I see
    All I have needed
    Thy hand hath provided
    Great is Thy faithfulness
    Lord unto me

  2. poohpity says:

    The Lord draws near to those who know they are “Not Quite Right” and will find a closeness and eternal home with Him(Psalm 34:18) compared to those who boast in their rightness by looking down on others they will have no eternal home because they do not realize their need. (Luke 18:9-14)

  3. mtman says:

    Either I’m totally missing the point – but “just not right” seems wrong when we compare it to Jesus on the cross. I think in God’s eyes we are right and acceptable as long as we have surrendered our lives to Jesus, and accept what he did no that cross for our salvation.
    We are no doubt flawed but we are still acceptable in God’s eyes because of what his Son did for us on the cross. I don’t think it proper for us to go through life thinking we are not quite right when in fact through Jesus act on the cross we are very right.
    I think I must respectfully disagree with this “not quite right” concept as it is being put forward. Going down the road and meeting all the obstacles outlined is right because Jesus will be right there to see us through the trials we face. I think this “not quite right” concept takes us in the other direction from getting closer to God and more to working toward “getting right” and diminishes what Jesus did to redeem us is all we need.

  4. SFDBWV says:

    Recently I did the Ancester.com spit test and came up with some real interesting information. The biggest being a string of “hits” from people who share my DNA.

    This can become rather time consuming, something, a commodity I don’t have much of, but one such hit from Humboldt County California caught my eye right away, because I knew it was from grandchildren of my great-uncle Ted who lived in Eureka CA.

    We have had a daily sharing of little messages and in my last one I said I had so much to tell them that given the space and time it would just be very difficult, but I want to.

    The same goes for you Mart, I so wish we could set on the swing and just talk. I am a straight shooter and have learned that there just isn’t enough time left to play hide and seek.

    The only way to get an honest answer is to ask an honest question and not be afraid to expose yourself in doing so.

    There are just so many questions about God that begin with “why” that only God can answer.

    When I try to answer them the answer is going to be conjecture from all of my life experiences and learning.

    People need the company of other people, we need to feel comfortable with each other as well as safe and the only way that is possible is for each one of us to be concerned about the welfare of the other.

    Some people just are too concerned with themselves that they don’t realize each cut, each barb, each jab at another is a cut, barb, and jab at Jesus as he is continuously nailed to the cross by such behavior.

    Those at the feet of Jesus wept, those along the way cried out as He carried His cross to His crucifixion.

    It is because they could see this was unfair and an enormous injustice.

    But it was what God wanted to do. We cannot question His actions only observe them in awe and most of the time in mystery.

    Another inch of snow overnight.

    Steve

  5. jeff1 says:

    The question I asked myself today is “Did I need Jesus to die on the Cross?” and the answer is ‘Yes I did’.

    God needed to do this for ‘ME’ to be reconciled to Him so I keep it simple ‘if the cap fits wear it’.

    ‘I am a sinner saved by Grace’ is what my cap says.

  6. SFDBWV says:

    Mtman after I finished typing my comment and posted it I seen your comment already there. A casualty of my having to type between duties here.

    I totally agree in that once we accept Jesus as Lord we are “right” with God.

    Also I believe that once we receive the Holy Spirit that it is His Spirit that helps to guide us and keep us on the “Right” pathway of living as God intends for us to. A Holy people (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

    If our actions are contrary to living a holy life then our decisions are contrary to the unction of the Holy Spirit and if anything is “not quite right” it is because we listen to a different drummer.

    Steve

  7. poohpity says:

    For me it is a before and after. Before Christ I was “Not Quite Right” in the eyes of the Lord realizing that is what brought me to Him in the first place and after the Cross I am covered in the righteousness of Christ which made me right with God.

    BUT still I will never be without sin(not quite right)as long as I live so it would behoove me to realize I am still broken and in the process of being healed so not to look at another broken person from my broken eyes is not quite right that would be like what Paul taught in 2 Cor 10:12 NIV; We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves(or think they are right). When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

  8. joycemb says:

    Viv I was singing that very same song this morning driving to meet a friend for breakfast. We had a great time sharing our faith, love, and trust in God and how He is the bottom line in how we live in a pagan culture. Though nothing is ever quite right He is always right. Have a blessed day all.

  9. poohpity says:

    Before Christ I would compare myself with others like I do not do that so I am better than them or the opposite when I saw someone who seemed to do everything right I thought less of myself But in Christ I know that ALL are on equal ground(not quite right) before God and ALL are in need of His grace and mercy. So who am I to say anything about anyone else.

  10. mtman says:

    Steve: Your comments most often mirror my thoughts and beliefs. I recall several years ago we would share overlapping comments and trip all over each other making the same point. Your time is limited and occupied with taking care of Matt so I have the advantage in that I can drop in more often. I’m trying to post fewer comments so we don’t overlap.
    You are so right – we have two paths to walk in life. One is accepting Jesus as our savior, surrender ourselves to him, let him lead us and when we do we are “right” in Gods eyes. That makes us “not quite right” to those on the other path.
    The other is the follow the world path which makes us “not quite right” in Gods eyes but right in the worlds eyes.
    The one path is narrow and the other wide and the choice is up to us. These type of topics bother me because if we have chosen well we should not be doing mental gymnastics over whether we are “not quite right” or not. Being “not quite right” can lead even Christians trying to be right by doing more good work, in my opinion, and that diminishes what our Lord did for us on the cross.

  11. cbrown says:

    Bear One Another’s Burdens
    6:1 Brothers,if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

    This mornings sermon in my church was on Gal 6:1-3.The message was as brothers and sisters in Christ we are a family and should bear one another’s burdens because we either are going through a trial or know someone who is in a trial.

  12. jeff1 says:

    As long as our motives are right for doing good works i.e. to please God and not to glorify ourselves then I don’t think that it does diminish what God has done for us.

    Even those who have done good works because of false beliefs are saved by the cross which is a relief for them who have spent their lives trying to please God through good works.

    God does not want us to perish, so He makes away, faithful to the end.

  13. narrowpathseeker says:

    I don’t think anyone here would dispute the reality that God loves us ALL no matter what we have done. Any parent(yes maybe a few exceptions)love their children no matter what, but every parent also has house rules and would like obedience. Most children disobey those rules( some on occasion and some regularly)..depending on the extent and frequency of the offense and the child’s abilities to obey, would most likely dictate the consequences. I had one child that was profoundly handicapped…he didn’t have any rules to obey. I was fairly lenient as long as they didn’t lie. YES, I still loved them if they did, but the consequences were severe and they knew that so my children grew up to be honest men and women. So God loves us all but I don’t think that means we can be willfully disobedient. Who here could endure a world with no police, no laws, rules, and regulations whatsoever and people could do anything they wanted 24/7? Would we as Christians be expected to smile at someone coming at us with a blood covered hatchet that had already killed everyone else on their way to us and tell them it’s ok…we love them? I don’t think so, but that’s me.

  14. joycemb says:

    That certainly would be a challenge to our faith and trust in Jesus wouldn’t it Pearl! It would take a supernatural kind of love, the kind that comes from God only. Hopefully as Jesus’ followers we are ever learning as all disciples do. Not there yet myself as the tests God places before me are quite benign compared to your scenario and I fail more than not.

  15. joycemb says:

    Although God does give me and all faith to endure hardships “as needed”!

  16. poohpity says:

    For me what is just “not quite right” is what Jesus did for me.

    How Can It Be
    Lauren Daigle

    I am guilty
    Ashamed of what I’ve done, what I’ve become
    These hands are dirty
    I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

    You plead my cause
    You right my wrongs
    You break my chains
    You overcome
    You gave Your life
    To give me mine
    You say that I am free
    How can it be
    How can it be

    I’ve been hiding
    Afraid I’ve let you down, inside I doubt
    That You still love me
    But in Your eyes there’s only grace now

    You plead my cause
    You right my wrongs
    You break my chains
    You overcome
    You gave Your life
    To give me mine
    You say that I am free
    How can it be
    How can it be

    Though I fall, You can make me new
    From this death I will rise with You
    Oh the grace reaching out for me
    How can it be
    How can it be

    It is just hard to really wrap my mind around and embrace all that truly means.

  17. foreverblessed says:

    There is nothing we can do to step out of God’s love…
    Because God cannot but love us,
    How can that be?
    I heard an explanation years ago by a pastor. He was saying that that love of God is Agape love!
    He gives His material blessings to all, ” the rain falls on the good and on the bad people”
    But God cannnot give His spiritual blessings to everybody! The unrepentant could not receive them.
    God loves those who follow Him, not only with agape love, but also with phileo love, love between brothers or friends.
    Jesus said: ” You are my friends if you follow my commands, if you do what I say”

    Just as at the beginning of His ministry, it is said that Jesus did not show Himself to mankind, because He knew what was in the heart of men.

    So those who are meek and humble, and of a poor spirit ( who do not think high of themselves) who follow Jesus wherever He leads them, from trusting God to loving Him with all their heart. Who want to get to know Him, and His will, who delight in doing His will,
    They are His friends,
    Or the Bride, purified and made clean, made One with Him.

    I hope I have explained to it well, God is no respector of persons, but He can show more of Himself to those who persevered and have overcome the old man by the blood of Christ.

  18. foreverblessed says:

    What I wrote could be easily misunderstood: to be clear about it, God wants all to come to repentance! He wants all to be His brothers!

  19. jeff1 says:

    O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
    Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
    Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
    Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

    O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
    How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
    How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
    How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

    O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
    ‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ’tis a haven sweet of rest!
    O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
    And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

  20. street says:

    We don’t have to walk down this road too far before coming to the hill on which Jesus was crucified. What does his torture and death tell us about the rightness of a Father who let our people do that to his Son?

    yes mart if we take a closer look the things you mention are temporal. temporal in the fact that God said the wages of sin is death and he meant it. he found grace and mercy at a great personal cost of enduring suffering for the ones He loved. the innocent holy powerful God suffering from a broken heart from the very ones He made and they/we betrayed Him. if His love is eternal so is His pain. he put and end to sin and His pain at the cross not an end to His Love. seeing the suffering of the innocent puts our backs up against the wall. to see it correctly and speak of it correctly is a gift from God.

  21. street says:

    Our Father apparently wanted us to know that none of us is simply “not quite right.” All of us, regardless of our real or imagined problems— need to know, and remember— that even wanting to kill our God (intentionally or unwittingly) could never keep him from loving us.

    yes God wanted us to “know” we were not right and estranged from Him because of our sin. yes He wanted us to “know” that penalty of sin has been dealt with at the cross of Christ. yes we need to “know” that God still loves us. it would seem to me if some one really loved us they would make them selves available to us so we can get to “know” them? pursuing us…holding out an outstretch arm, what is keeping us from “knowing” this God?

  22. poohpity says:

    I can say without a doubt that God loved ALL the people of this world those who would come to know Him and those who would not that never stopped His love. His love is not dependent on us in anyway our obedience or disobedience. Believing in Jesus has to do with eternal life, salvation but His love was poured out to the whole world since creation.(Romans 5:8; Eph 2:4)

  23. street says:

    He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:23

    His redemption in Christ’s work endures forever.

    there sin I will remember no more.

  24. joycemb says:

    I get that it’s man that puts the burden of being not good enough on another. Not good enough to, well, fill in the blank yourself. But nobody is ever good enough. Only Jesus could turn our homicidal tendencies into the freedom we desire. Who could even imagine a God that would kill His one and only Son to save mankind? It’s mind boggling; crazy, sickening, frightening and humbling all at once. To have the opportunity to be born again was a brutal and painful delivery. One of a kind for all mankind. Blessed be our Savior Jesus who has mercy on us all.

  25. Mart DeHaan says:

    I think I understand the good question being raised earlier about whether it is helpful to suggest that those in Christ are anything but “right with God”.

    But does the standing of such “rightness” make us perfect in the practice of our love for God, neighbor, or enemy? Does being in Christ mean that I am now perfect in knowledge, patience, or self-control?

    Does being right with the God who doesn’t condemn us mean that we no longer need to “hunger and thirst” for the ways of Jesus?

  26. jeff1 says:

    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    Who stilled the water
    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    Who calmed the sea
    Take a look at yourself
    And you can look at others differently
    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    From Galilee

    My momma taught me how to pray
    Before I reached the age of seven
    When I’m down on my knees
    That’s when I’m closest to heaven
    Daddy lived his life, two kids and a wife
    Well you know what you must do
    But he showed me enough of what it takes
    To get me through, oh yeh!

    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    Who stilled the water
    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    Who calmed the sea
    Take a look at yourself
    And you can look at others differently
    Put your hand in the hand of the man
    From Galilee

  27. SFDBWV says:

    Ok once again trying to clear up the mud.

    No Christian should look down on another Christian for not being as “good” at being a Christian as they.

    However a Christian who does not demonstrate the Christian basics of being friendly towards another needs sometimes to be told so, by those offended.

    It is the most exasperating experience I know of for a person to judge me for what they perceive as my judging them.

    Making themselves guilty for the same offence they accuse me of.

    No one can be God. No one can perfect exactly like Jesus. Even though He said to be so, it ain’t gonna happen.

    So who is it this subject is condemning?

    The person who tries to live a righteous/holy life as instructed to from the pages of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation? Led by the Word of God on page and in the heart.

    Or the person who is jealous of the people who has some success in trying to?

    There is a vast difference between poking someone in the eye and trying to remove a splinter from it. But what kind of “neighbor” would we be if we just left the splinter in another’s eye?

    Yes there is a mirror here in play, that same person who accuses someone of being righteous by pointing their finger at them is guilty of what they are accusing the other of.

    In fact no one here is saying they are a better person or Christian by telling another of their sin.

    What would you do if you caught your pastor with a whore, or stealing money from the church? Would you just walk away and say nothing to him, or would you tell him he is in sin and warn him of the consequences of his actions?

    If I understand this topic you would be condemned for trying to help a brother see their sin. And accused of being “self-righteous” if you told him he is in the wrong.

    But be seen as “right” as doing nothing.

    Again being judged by people who accuse another for judging.

    If I drank whiskey (and I don’t) it would be time for a shot. As this subject just has me shaking my head in confusion and frustration.

    32 degrees and cloudy.

    Steve

  28. Mart DeHaan says:

    Steve,
    If you are responding to my comment, I think we are misunderstanding one another. I agree with your sense of responsibility to confront what is hurtful to all. Am hoping the next post on “What’s helpful” will give us a chance to clear the air— and make that shot of whiskey unnecessary—for either of us :-)…

  29. narrowpathseeker says:

    Good Morning and Amen to Steve’s post.. as well as Mart’s reply.

    Steve…tracking said package was delivered on Friday to parcel locker? Not sure what that means…

  30. street says:

    But does the standing of such “rightness” make us perfect in the practice of our love for God, neighbor, or enemy? Does being in Christ mean that I am now perfect in knowledge, patience, or self-control?

    this is a great struggle of all christians. we are free from the penalty of sin in Christ. yet i find myself in sinful flesh, Romans 7. our struggle is for the supremacy of Christ in all things. remember paul saying we struggle not against the flesh , but the powers principalities of the air. we are struggling for Christ as Lord of all. first and foremost in ourselves, then our families, congregations, and the world.

    i remember a very powerful and moving command Jesus asked of His Apostles. Jesus said, “you give them something to eat.” they thought how could we possible give them something to eat. Jesus ask, “what do you have?” don’t miss this part they gave what they had to Jesus. then He instructed them what to do.

    i am thinking self control is not under the influence of darkness or evil, but under the control of the Word of God the Spirit of God and the Grace of God. He shall reign forever.

  31. joycemb says:

    2 Peter 1:5-15New International Version (NIV)

    5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

    10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.