The REAL Good News

Volume 1, Issue 2 of Good News

by Vic Zarley

July 18, 2017

The Complete Book of Bible Promises

For this 2nd issue of Fake and Real News, this page once again reflects the Truth, the Good News, the only REAL news there is in this strange temporary home we call Earth. Are we going to focus on the Good News or the world's fake news? Good question.

I would like to invite you to have a laugh by reading the fake news but don't forget to balance your life with the real news of God's Word.

My wife and I would like to be able to reach a lot of people with the Good News of Jesus Christ and maybe through this website, some may come to know the Lord.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you feeling the pressures from your job? Our prayer is that there is some consolation and hope from the following verses from God's Word. And, I pray, that the commentary is helpful in a small way as well.

I'm pulling these Bible verses from The Complete Book of Bible Promises which was compiled by J. Stephen Lang.

Mercy

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

If it seems the people of this world are intruding into your space, forgiving them becomes a gift you can give yourself for ultimately it is through forgiveness (or mercy) that you will obtain peace of mind. Frustration, anxiety and fear poisons us, not other people. That truth in itself ought to point you readily toward giving your burdens to the Lord rather than keeping them for yourself. Accept the soothing balm of mercy as a way of life.


Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

Stop judging others and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. If you give, you will receive. Luke 6:35-38

This is similar to the last Bible verse we discussed only this verse goes a couple of steps further. We are to lend money but not be concerned if they repay. Do you think you could do that? Wouldn't you rather hound them until they coughed up every penney owed? Collection agencies operating in this world do not have the biblical attitude shown in this verse from Luke. I'm not sure they could survive if they did. But we, as individuals striving to be more Christ-like, can do this. But not without Christ's help. You know how apples are carmelized on the outside to make candy apples? Our souls will have to be "mercilized" in order to not expect repayment of a loan. We may have to constantly remind ourselves that we want to show mercy to this individual so that we can receive mercy from God.

Do you have a critical heart? That's another area of release we need to work on. Fortunately, with God all things are possible.


The Good Samaritan

Read Luke 10:29-37 which is the story of the good Samaritan. Most everyone is familiar with this story so I'm not going to quote it here.

A Jewish priest and a Temple Worker both passed by the man injured in a robbery, but a Samaritan man tended his wounds and put him up in an inn promising the innkeeper that he would pay for the injured man's stay. We can wear earthly robes that represent God's holiness but in our hearts, still not be holy. Jesus asked the Pharisee, "Who was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" The answer is obvious. It was the Samaritan. We are to be neighbors like the Samaritan was.

A side-note is that the Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies but despite this class conflict, the Samaritan showed mercy to his Jewish brother. Once again, we are to be like that.


Be Nice No Matter What

Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. 1 Peter 3:9

As perhaps you can tell, our emphasis this month is mercy. When insanity rules the world and "eye for an eye" mentality seems to prevail, someone has to restore sanity sometime. It might as well be you and it might as well be now. The Bible tells us to "be nice." It emphasizes mercy and I can't say enough that in order to have mercy bestowed on you, you need to bestow mercy on others.


Hatred Stirs Up Quarrels

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12

Hatred almost has the ability to start a huge fire in a world dry with easily ignited trees. One match, one evil look, and the whole forest, the whole of humanity, is ablaze. Love, however, quells our tendency to hate. It heals us and it heals others. Love starts a chain reaction that allows the spiritual waters to come down from the sky and put out any potential hot spots. Love will soothe the savage beast, love will make people re-think their position and possibly even come aboard the love train you have started. We are so grateful to Jesus Christ for the gift of perfect love He has given us.

John 3:16

God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I'm leaving this verse up again this month. This is the ultimate in compassion and love and it comes from God to us. He gave his most precious Son to death on the cross and then resurrected Him which God will do for us as well when we are in sin up to our necks. All we have to do is humble ourselves and ask for help from God. Regarding Jesus' sacrifice for us, would we give our lives for one another as Jesus gave His life for us? Good question.


Perfect Peace

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

This is quite a promise from God's word. Who wouldn't want peace in all that they do as long as they stay focused on the Lord? Actually there are those who seem to thrive on conflict, on one problem after another, on negativity. It is like they were addicted to the attractions of the world (and I don't mean simply gravity). We can turn to the Lord and have the peace of God (if we desire it). Trusting God to smooth things out, to calm the rough waters you're sailing on, requires some faith. If you didn't believe God was there, why would you put your hope in Him? But, in faith, put your hope and trust in God and you will be rewarded with the peace God promises.


Prayer

The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him*; He hears their cries for help and rescues them. *Or is in awe of Him.

It is only God's mercy that he gave us the ability to communicate with Him. The Creator of the universe actually takes time to listen to each of our prayers. He even knows what our needs are before we ask. Be sure to take time to pray daily. Your prayers do not need to be formal prayers that utilize "thees" and "thous". Talk to God as you would your closest and dearest friend because, indeed, that is what he is. Do not be tempted to handle conflict with human devised plans. Let God handle your conflicts through your sincere trust in Him to handle them. He will not let you down.


Let Us Come BOLDLY to the Throne

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:16

We are so easily distracted by the things of this world. We find a multitude of ways to stay busy. Then when a mighty need arises (as inevitably it will) we cry out expecting God to respond but sometimes he says, "I don't know you." Why would He not know us? One reason is we didn't take time to know Him, to love him deeply, to crave a relationship with Him. There is nothing certain in this world and one day you will need Him desperately. Why not prepare for that time by striving with all your heart to know Him now and come boldly (not timidly) to the throne. Make your case to the God you know, not to the God you could never find the time to know. Love Him with all your mind, heart, and soul.


Believe and Receive

Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:24-25



You can't hold a grudge and expect prayers to be answered. According to God's Word, you must forgive. Belief comes in various stages. There's believing that God CAN heal you or fix your problem (whatever it is) but you might still wonder if he will. Then there is the firm belief that God has already healed you, that He has already solved your problem (whatever it is). It is this type of belief we must strive for. A belief that God has already provided the answer to your prayer. Because he has. The answer was provided by God through his son who died on a cross for each of us. With his shed blood, He took away our sins so that they are as far away as the east is from the west. If you believe with no doubt (and let's be honest, it may take some time to acquire belief with absolutely no doubt because we pay attention to so many things on this earth that are distractions) you will have your answer to prayer. Praise God that with Him all things are possible!


Eye Hath Not Seen...

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9



With the reward unclear, intangible, unable to be described, are we motivated to do God's will? We can trust that one day our eyes WILL see and our hears WILL hear and our minds will no longer have to try to imagine the good that God has prepared for us. It truly is a worthwhile goal to follow Jesus and become a member of His kingdom. God bless you richly this month.

Please go to the home page and choose "Archives" to read the previous month's "Real News" and enjoy the "Fake News" as well.

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