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Today is Tuesday August 10, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Isaiah, chapters 47-51. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-august-10

Today's Message: God's Free Will

Perhaps one of the most amazing gifts we can ever receive from God, apart from sending Jesus, is the gift of free will. While God knows already who will and will not follow Him from the time we are conceived, He still gives us the choice to choose Him. Now, often you will hear the world, especially people we use to hang out with, say something like, “You are brain washed” Believing in God is not being brain washed, it is predestined, we are all born with the knowledge of God, but we allow circumstances and false doctrine alter our perception of Him. People are more willing to believe that they evolved over billions of years rather than believe the truth. In fact, no matter what people go through they are more likely to believe the lie that the truth. Did you ever have someone accuse you of something that was not true? This is the same situation. Instead of trying to hide your faith, embrace it. Who cares what people think? It is God that we have to please, not people and if they are any kind of friend they will respect that and see that we are not brain washed, but free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32. Praise God!

God is not forcing anyone to believe in Him and that is why some people will only remain as God's creation while others will become His very own children. Yes, there is a difference. God created everything living, but only those who believe in and accept Him and His Word can become His children. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” - Ephesians 1:3-5. When we believe in and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we become one of God's children. Praise God!

God's free will allow us to test the spirits, He says, go ahead, seek help from all the false gods, idols, and astrologers out there and see what they will do for you. Through Isiah God addresses those who believe in all of these things, “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.”- Isaiah 47:10-15. God will not share Himself with any other god. If you are going to choose God He expects you to commit only to Him. He will not take anyone away from their choice, but He will welcome all who come to Him, even if they followed other gods for a while.

I will tell you there was a time in my life when I was so far from God that I tested those spirits one time, I use to read tarot cards and often recited chants to them. I even convinced myself that it was from God, in reality it was from the devil. All it took for me to see that it was evil was for one of those chants to come true. I was so scared that I threw everything away and vowed to never recite anything, but a Bible verse ever again. And now, I not only am forgiven and a child of God, I am also a testimony proving that only God can change our lives in a positive, good, and prosperous way. You see, God may become angry with us from time to time and we will suffer for our actions, but it is through the affliction that we learn we need God and just how loving and forgiving He is. God continues through Isaiah, “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.” - Isaiah 49:5-7. God will bring blessings out of suffering and triumph out of tragedy for every child of God, but the key is to go to Him and ask Him for forgiveness.

Jesus Said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:13-16. Jesus assures us that all who believe in Him and call on Him are not servants, but His friends. What better friend to have then our Lord, Savior, and Brother, Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.
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