Did God REALLY say that?

Since the beginning of sin’s entrance into the perfect world the lie began as a simple question to Adam and Eve, “Did God really say that?” I can almost hear the whispered voice and the doubting thoughts that Eve and Adam started to entertain. I thought about how today my very hope filled- Christ centered life can often take me on a unfaithful detour with Satan himself as my tour guide as he whispers those very words that he used from the beginning to confuse and provoke mankind. See the more I become aware of his tactics (they aren’t anything new or modern by any means…I don’t believe Satan has used one ounce of his time and thoughts on reinventing the wheel…unlike many of us do) the more quickly I can respond and the better prepared I am to face him with the truth I know and the new person I am because of Christ blood and sacrifice.

We walk not as children of LIGHT and as over comers but rather we walk as defeated people…just like the world. We are no longer set apart or living lives of purpose. We become interested in what the world thinks of us and what their scale may say about our lives and our focus. We are to please ourselves and then make others happy and that should be enough. That is never enough. Christ is the only enough I can think of…

Everyday, at some point or another, I hear a whisper that says something along the lines of “Did God really say that, Brooke?” Did he REALLY say you were wonderfully made? You think He REALLY meant that you are called into ministry? You couldn’t possibly think He REALLY intended for you to be a leader right, you are more of a follower? See Satan doesn’t have to TELL me I am anything. He just plants a thought. A simple question is all he asks. And then I take it from there. Maybe I am not enough. Maybe He didn’t think I was wonderful…I mean I have changed from what He created me to be? I am not ENOUGH. I will NEVER BE ENOUGH.

My purpose seems so distant and unclear that just maybe Satan is onto something. I realized something Satan can’t deny. God didn’t have to say crap. He did (don’t get me wrong) but I have always been a big believer in “actions speak louder than words” and that is what I am talking about here. Romans 5:8 puts it this way “But God DEMONSTRATES his own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God DID something about this haunting question that Satan uses to distract and defeat and kill His people. Rather than just be a pansy like Satan and question humankind I will demonstrate and show them my love in such a form that they can’t refute. Even though these people can do nothing for me I will give them the biggest gift I can think of. I miss my people and want to have a relationship with them and yet while they are of no worth to me I want to provide them accessibility to me. I will give them the way to find me and in that search find life. The Message version puts that verse this way, “But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.”

He didn’t have to do this. He wouldn’t and still hasn’t gained anything from this ordeal. He put His love, His all, everything that meant anything to Him on the line to only OFFER us something.