5 Minute Bible Study: Find out we aren't as bad as we think because God is better than we know.

In reality, I don't have much to my name. But I sure act like I own the world. I don't really have much to lose because not much is mine. I'm going to lose it one day anyway. Isn't that downer???

My ex husband rampantly cheated on me. It is easy for me to read this and think of people like him. But when I REALLY read it, I'm guilty too. Jesus is saying that it isn't just a checklist anymore...it's a heart issue. And that makes me just as guilty. I could say he is a worse guilty and I'm a not-as-bad guilty. But in the end, guilty is guilty and guilty needs to be dealt with right?

This whole new perspective on the murder commandment is impossible. At least for me. I could give you a list of people I'm currently irritated with or holding a little grudge...or a big one. Let's be honest. I don't know that I can stop it. How about you? Do you feel the same? Is this a struggle for you, too?

I have skipped over these verses almost every time I come across them. First, I didn't really get them. Second, I didn't really think it mattered. I didn't think it was teaching anything I really needed to know. Not a crucial part of the Bible. But again, it shows me who God is. Again, these little tidbits that are so boring are actually screaming at me about who God is. It is nothing exceptional...just listen to it. BUT I learn that God is faithful. God doesn't change. He can be relied upon. That will be comforting at some point in our lives right?

These verses hit home as I thought about it. God didn't save us to be useless. He didn't save us from ourselves for ourselves... but I'm often ashamed to bring God up in conversation. I'm even hesitant to say (even tho it is true!!!!!), "So I prayed about it and..."  God is in every part of my life. He really is now. So if someone asks me something, God's name should come up at some point some how. If it doesn't - because God wasn't in that part of my life - THAT'S what needs to be fixed right?  Easy to say, hard to do.

I took forever in my personal quiet times to go through this passage, literally word by word. But I think I get it a little bit more. And you know? I think I get God a little more because of it. I even think in a puny, tiny tiny, wee way...I can kind of see why we suffer??? I don't know if this will help anyone but if you really want a quiet time with God but can't find the time, here you go! 5 minutes:)

First of all, can anyone tell me what "godane" means??? If not, listen to find out:) Second of all, the last part shocked me that people would punish other people for this kind of behavior. Third of all, God is asking us to be these things because they are what He does...thank goodness he doesn't struggle to be these things with us like I struggle to be them with others!

Are you lacking? Are you broken? Do you feel like God is hard to trust right now? It feels like you are letting others walk all over you, or that you aren't standing up for yourself sometimes because God is asking you to be humble. It feels like we are losing.

I think what makes Christianity so hard is that you have to live the opposite way than most of the world is living...and trust that it is worth it. Not always easy. I guess the more I obey reveals how much I'm trusting God to come through in that moment.

It is so hard to admit we fell short and not give a whole explanation (excuse) as to why that is. I can't just admit that I want good enough for whatever I tried to do. We are this as failure. But everybody sucks at something right?!? So what is our problem? Why is it so hard to ask for help???

Generally speaking, the church is trying is best (obviously not all) but it just will never be good enough. There will always be flaws and downfalls. But those are people's flaws and downfalls, not God's. Poor representation sometimes.