THIS IS NOT A REVIEW! So please don’t look away just yet! 🙂
I’ve just started reading a new book of mine: Gospel Treason by Brad Bigney.
The subtitle is “Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols.” I’ve had to read several sections over and over-not because I dozed off while reading, but because I have struggled with grasping what he is saying as it applies to me. The following is an excerpt:
“God is not our Sugar Daddy in the sky. He’s not some cosmic Santa Claus looking for ways to make us more comfortable. He is look for ways to make us more like Christ, so He wants to show how you respond when you don’t get your way…Think about it. When do you grow the most-when you’ve got a husband (wife) who’s just the way you want him (her)? When do you become more like Christ, and cry out to Him in desperate prayer as you search the Scriptures-when your whole world is ordered just the way you want it? No. It’s when your husband (wife) isn’t what you want him (her) to be; it’s when the job isn’t that you had dreamed of, when your health fails, when your children rebel. That’s when God meets you and conforms you to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.” (p.23)
Those words made me pause and think and pause and think some more. Easy road? Not on His watch! Any thoughts?
Why do Christians beat themselves up on trying to be like Christ? It isn’t going to happen. The dude did miracles. You can’t do miracles. And who wants to wander the countryside with a bunch of guys telling ignorant superstitious people the world is about to end and everyone should follow me. Forget about tomorrow and follow me. As it was it was pretty bad advice. The world didn’t end, there was no return to earth. No rapture. No judgement. No nothing. Life just went on as if it never happened. And it is still going on as if it will never happen. Wake up America.
Those are the best kind of books … the ones that make us stop and ponder, reconsider and claim for sure what we know to be true about God.
They’re not quick reads, are they … but they can be life savers.
Yeah. He nailed it. The times of the most growth come in the valley, not the mountains of life. God could march any of us, and often does, around the valley, but real wisdom and His sovereignty for the world to see is when the world is looking down from above, like a stadium. Excellent quotes.
I laugh at those “happy, joyful, carefree, smiling with those teeth showing” Christians. Ewww.
Sure, you can have joy as a Christian, but Jesus was a man of sorrow.
Not long face of course, but very serious.
Like Floyd said, the times of growth comes from being in the valley.
Trials are certainly when we are being perfected, but I think mountaintop times are too. I mean, look at when the people in the Bible failed most… when they were prosperous. He may not have meant it this way, but I don’t think we should separate when God refines us. yes, I know it’s through the fire, but isn’t prosperity one of the biggest refining fires of our day?
Hi Bill,
Who is the publisher for that? Did he self-publish?
It’s interesting how different writers notice different things and get us thinking some days, huh?
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
P & R Publishing. Here is the Amazon link: (Sorry I usually put them in the blog)
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Treason-Betraying-Hidden-Idols/dp/1596384026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467320697&sr=1-1&keywords=gospel+treason+brad+bigney
I’m with Floyd. In my experiences, I have learned to lean into God when I’m going through those rough patches. They have definitely made me grow, even though it was uncomfortable at the time. Any trial that brings us closer to His presence is worth it.
Blessings, Bill!
I’ll jump on Martha and Floyd band wagon. I wouldn’t trade the wisdom and joy I have gained through mostly trials for any mountain top. don’t get me wrong, I love a good mountain top as much as anyone but here the thing, the air is much thinner up there, no water usually, few make it to the top so it can get lonely, and you must always come down where the lush and green. Oh I know this is kind of silly talk, or is it? As far as those bunch of guys telling the world is gonna end as Jeff said. Well, my world is not going to end, because I started eternity the day I believed who Jesus said he was, at that moment He gave me eternal life. Mine will go on forever, some here but the rest in heaven where the air is not thin on the mountain tops. Sounds like a good book Brother.
This sounds like a great book! I’m going to put it on my reading list.
I’ve been going through a trial for awhile and as it continues its hard to trust in God and His goodness. A few weeks back I made the comment that while God isn’t my genie, I’m tired of this battle and wish He would answer my prayer. I was frustrated. God gently reminded me to focus more on Him and less on circumstances.