Jesus Didn’t / Doesn’t Cause Sickness, Storms, or Sticky Situations, But… (Grace Basics 4)

We have a lot of crazy ideas about God. Lots of them.

We talk about His discipline- and how harsh it can be. How he scourges us to get us “in line.” As if God is very much like the high school hall monitor that was always waiting to catch us…

… but on a cosmic level, one with bigger ramifications.

😳

Today, I hear THREE primary areas that (in my opinion) we get wrong about God. Namely, we mistakingly believe that God causes:

❌ sickness

❌ storms

❌ struggles

For instance…

👇

We talk about sickness— and how He brings it to refine us, to make us more dependent on Him…

… and even how we were “chosen” for it.

If so, if sickness is God’s will, then why go to the doctor? Why pray for healing? Why not just accept the lot…?

(Side note: I wouldn’t bring a sickness on my kids to make them love me more, or to make them better people… Would you?)

👇

We also call storms— natural disasters— “acts of God,” and we often link them to Divine punishment for something we’ve done (or something others have done) wrong.

But we never see Jesus send a storm in the Bible. In fact, He always CALMED them rather than CAUSING them.

(And, if He truly shows us what God is like, as we discussed in the previous lesson… then we can presume that God doesn’t storms either.)

👇

Finally, some people suggest God causes our struggles, that He leads us into tough situations in order to shape and refine us.

I dunno…

I don’t think He intentionally TAKES us there, but I do believe He MAKES the most of those circumstances to shape us into the character we need so we can carry a greater degree of His presence and a fuller measure of compassion to others, later imparting to them the same hope and consolation we’ve received.

👇

Here’s what I’m getting at: We shouldn’t assign to God things that don’t exist in Heaven… things that don’t reflect His character.

The Bible says “Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil” (Acts 10:38). It doesn’t say, “Jesus went about doing MOSTLY good… and healing all who were oppressed— or disciplined— by God.”

In fact, when Moses asked God to show him His glory, atop Mount Sinai, God actually showed Moses… His goodness (Exodus 33:18-19). His goodness and His glory are inextricably linked…

🔥

💙

Identity eBook referenced in this talk $5 = https://www.jenkins.tv/offers/LcR6Bz3a 

https://www.jenkins.tv/assessment-DISC-colors  to assess yourself

Identity video course = https://www.jenkins.tv/offers/twHHm6Lh 

The Purpose paperback = pay the shipping & handling, and we’ll send it! https://www.jenkins.tv/purpose