Dwell On These Things

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If you find it particularly difficult to extend forgiveness, please understand that the Lord isn’t asking you to do something He wasn’t willing to do first.  There is no greater example of forgiveness than the forgiveness we’ve been offered through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  Jesus who had done no wrong bore our sin on the cross so that we could be indwelled with His presence, gifted with His righteousness, and forgiven us of every wrong we’ve ever committed in act, attitude, or nature.

The third chapter of the book of Hosea illustrates the relational and eternal power of forgiveness in a way that can’t help but impact us.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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I’m grateful that when I observe the hand of God in my life and in the lives of those I love, that He doesn’t quit too soon.  Even though I wouldn’t blame Him for wanting to give up on us, that isn’t His pattern.  And if you’ve been personally wondering if God has given up on you, I’m confident He hasn’t.

We are given a powerful example of God’s patient, long-suffering nature in the second chapter of the prophetic book of Hosea. 

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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Feeling distant from God?  Please take a look with me at what we're told in the book of Hosea about this very concept.

Hosea was a prophet in Israel who served in his role for roughly 60 years.  His book was written sometime between 755 B.C. and 725 B.C. during a very spiritually dark season in Israel's history.

 During that era, Israel was consumed with idolatry, and the nature of their idolatry was both vulgar and blasphemous.  Like many people in our own generation, the people of Israel were highly consumed with the desire to gain the best of what this world can offer.  It was a common belief in the paganism of the day that material prosperity and fruitful crops could be obtained by worshipping the false god Baal and participating in vulgar activities with temple prostitutes.

 I can only imagine how it must have felt for God to witness this spiritual unfaithfulness among the very people He had rescued, redeemed, and called unto Himself.  Sometimes, people picture God as unfeeling and distant, but that's not the image of Him that's painted for us in Scripture.  We're told that He rejoices over His people.  We're also told that His children can grieve His heart.  The book of Hosea reveals the depth of God's emotions toward those He loves.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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One of the most frequently asked questions among Christians is the question about whether or not it's possible for us to lose our eternal salvation.  Some Christians believe it's possible while others do not.  My personal belief on this subject has drastically changed throughout the course of my life.  The beliefs I held on this subject when I was new to the Christian faith are significantly different from the beliefs I hold at present.

Even before explaining what I presently believe or offering the Scriptural basis for these beliefs, I also want to acknowledge that I have several close friends who serve in various ministry roles who hold views that differ from mine.  I'm grateful for them, and while I consider this a major doctrinal issue with hefty theological and relational consequences, I still consider these friends true brothers in Christ.

So, what do I believe about this issue?  Or better said, what do I believe God's word teaches about the question of whether or not it's possible for a genuine believer in Jesus to lose their salvation?  With all sincerity, I do not believe it is possible for someone who has been brought to a saving relationship with Jesus to lose the gift of salvation.  Please allow me to explain why I have come to this belief.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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What do you think Heaven will be like?  Do you ever wonder what you’ll be doing there, or what your loved ones who have gone there before you might be doing?  Have you ever looked into some of the details we’re given in Scripture about life in Heaven?

There is a mistaken notion in the minds of many people that Heaven might be somewhat boring.  It seems that some people think of Heaven as a place where we'll sit around all day, playing harps, floating on clouds, and engaging in repetitious religious ceremonies.  That couldn't be further from the truth.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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There is no shortage of things to be praying about. There is no wrong time to pray. The Lord delights to welcome His children into His presence through prayer.

Prayer helps us express our trust in God.

Prayer is an effective way to confess our sins.

Prayer allows us to access God’s divine power.

Prayer prevents us from wandering from the truth.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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In the church, we all have an important function, even if we feel like we play a smaller role. If any one of us is missing, the entire body is going to be impacted. All believers have been set apart or anointed for the work God wants to accomplish through our lives, and we all play a valuable role in the great work He's doing.

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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Years ago I had a conversation with the son of a woman who attended the church I was pastoring at the time.  He was about twenty years older than me and he had recently converted to Judaism.  Because I was his mother’s pastor, his family requested that I officiate for the funeral of one of their family members.  After the funeral, we spoke for a few minutes and he said to me, "I think I'm willing to accept that Jesus is the Messiah, but I can't believe He is actually God."  

What do you think about that statement?  Is that what you believe?  What did Jesus say about Himself?  Is there anything we can find in Scripture that can help clarify whether or not He is actually God?

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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Over the course of any given week, you don’t have to look far to find examples of suffering.  At present, I’m friends with people who are experiencing suffering in areas of physical health, mental health, relationships, and finances.  When I read or watch the news, I encounter stories of natural disasters, wars, acts of terrorism, and other forms of difficulty on a national and global scale.  While there is much that is beautiful on this planet, we’re also surrounded by suffering and we never really know when a particularly difficult season of suffering may emerge in our own lives.

When I was just emerging as an adult, this was a concept I really struggled with.  To be more specific, I guess I should say that I didn’t necessarily struggle with why suffering existed in this world in a general way, but I often struggled with the concept of suffering in my own life.  I wondered why God would allow me to suffer when I was doing my best to trust Him, follow Him, and obey Him.  I now have a better understanding of why that is the case and I’ll elaborate on that shortly.

That being said, many people in this world would probably admit that they wrestle with the presence or concept of suffering.  It can be hard for them to consider God “good” when they’re wrestling with the fact that He’s clearly allowing people to suffer in all kinds of ways.

So what is the answer to this question?  If God is good, why is there so much suffering in this world?

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