If God is love, why does He allow war?

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Steve Husting

The question as worded questions the idea that God is loving and in control of the situation. If He was in control, then He wouldn’t allow them to suffer, the premise goes. This argument is beloved by atheists because it cleverly attempts to hide truths that open the door to faith in Christ.

Any question that begins with “If God is love…” has already gone off the tracks. God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). But He’s is so much more than that. You too can love. But you can hate as well, or feel empathy, or jealousy, and so on. God is not one-dimensional, in other words. He has other attributes. And all of them are flavored with love.

Suppose we reword the question as, “If all people are sinners, and God is a just judge, then how could He allow them to suffer?” Yet in the end, God doesn’t want us to suffer, does He?

Continue reading →
Posted in Demons, H e l l and Suffering, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

No Other Way to the Father

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Steve Husting

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

How do these two halves of the verse work together? What do the three attributes of the Son have to do with coming to the Father?

If we perceive Jesus in the three ways He identified Himself in the first sentence, then we are already on the way to God through Jesus. It indicates that the Holy Spirit has shown us who the Son is and we have pursued this relationship. Let’s explain.

Continue reading →
Posted in Sin and Salvation, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My Prayer List Benefits

Posted on February 5, 2022 by Steve Husting

I’ve been using a prayer list to keep my prayer times productive. Here are some of the blessings I’ve discovered after keeping to it almost every evening. These benefits are for anyone who wants a better prayer life!

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement, How To | Tagged | Leave a comment

Strengthening Ourselves in Christ

Posted on January 1, 2022 by Steve Husting

David was a master war strategist before and after he became king. In 1 Samuel 30 we see one of the reasons why. In this incident, we also learn how to discover and boost the God-given talent, ministry, or gift we possess. Let’s see behind the scenes of David’s greatness before he would be king. Perhaps this insight will help us as we enter a new year of spiritual challenges.

After three days David and his men of war had returned to their city and found it looted and their families carried off (vv. 1-3). What did David do? He prayed for wisdom and waited on the Lord until he received direction (vv. 6-8). 

That was his master strategy in a nutshell. That was the secret of his military success. Let the Lord lead. 

Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Isaiah 9 Meditation: A Son is Given

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Steve Husting

Here is my chapter breakdown for Isaiah 9: 
1-3 From gloom to gladness 
4-5 Breaking the yoke, the rod of their oppressor 
6-7 A divine son is given, and his government of peace will increase 
8-21 God is angry with proud Israel 

The end of Isaiah 8 speaks of the prophet eagerly waiting for the Lord, who is hiding from Israel (8: 17). It speaks of the time Israel will experience “the gloom of anguish” and be “driven away into darkness” (8:22). In sin and error pining. 

Gloom continued for the next 400 years since the last of the Old Testament prophets spoke to the Jewish people. 400 years without prophetic utterance. God and Israel were not on speaking terms. In the meantime, the Old Testament canon was finalized and in print. 

Chapter 9 begins with a note of hope. A “great light” will shine in a dark land (9:2). What will the light do? The gloom will be replaced with rejoicing, and the darkness with light (v. 3). 

Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Steve Husting

Some of the most enduring hymns contain a treasure-trove of scripture framing the whole. So it is with “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It was written by Charles Wesley, with classical composer Felix Mendelssohn adding the tune. Charles, drawing from his rich reservoir of Bible knowledge, wrote this marvelous composite of scriptural truths concerning the birth of the Son of God. Who is He? What did it mean for the Son to become flesh? To what end did He come?

These truths are boldly sketched, dipped into the Word of God to paint the pages a colorful rendition of His advent. Let’s examine this hymn, then come and worship. 

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Make the Good News Known

Posted on December 11, 2021 by Steve Husting

In His last days on earth after His resurrection, Jesus’ final words included this commandment: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). 

In this statement, our Lord is revealing the scope of the good news. It’s not for the Jews alone, but everybody. All the world; all creation. No place is off limits. To the uttermost parts of the earth. 

He is telling us to continue the work He started. His mission included the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. The gospel/good news is found in its immediacy—the kingdom is now, “at hand.” Today is the day of salvation. The King has already come. Kingdom blessings can be retrieved by faith, now. 

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving in Israel

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Steve Husting

God gave several yearly feasts for Israel to observe as a nation. All the biblical feasts center on remembering the work of God in the history of the Jews. Most of the feasts are celebrations and times of thanksgiving. (None of their holidays commemorate people like we do, such as remembering Noah building the ark or Moses at the burning bush.)

Their feasts can give us ideas of how we can give thanks to the Lord this month, or more often. Specifically, how does the Lord want us to remember Him? The yearly Feast of Passover gives us ideas on how we can remember God with a grateful heart this Thanksgiving. (Feast of Passover: Exodus 12:1-13, 21-25, 42). 

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Isaiah 8 Meditation: Signs and Wonders

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Steve Husting

This is my chapter breakdown for Isaiah 8:

1-8 Prophecy regarding Maher-shalal-hash-baz: Damascus and Samaria will fall by the Assyrian invasion soon
9-15 Fear the Lord, not what the people fear
16-18 Being a testimony to God
19-22 Look to God and live, not to spiritists and the dead

What do you fear? The coronavirus taking your life? Government conspiracies against you? The nation’s financial collapse (or your own)? The erosion of your freedoms?

Just before 722 B.C., the Jews in the divided kingdom feared danger because of the oncoming civil war, especially since northern Israel made an alliance with a foreign power, Rezin king of Aram, against southern Israel.

God’s instruction to His holy ones then are the same to us who hold fast to Him today. “do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread” (Isaiah 8:12 ESV). What then should we fear?

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

America, America

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Steve Husting

Despite what you read in the media, it’s not about race: it’s not about White versus Black or any other people group. It’s about sin. Our national anthem prays: 

“America! America!/God shed His grace on thee,/And crown thy good with brotherhood/From sea to shining sea!” 

By God shedding His grace, His own power to change those who acknowledge Him, people grow to respect others in spite of racial heritage. He molds us after His own character, the one who “so loved the world” (John 3:16), and imbues us to “crown thy good with brotherhood.” 

Continue reading →
Posted in Encouragement | Tagged , | Leave a comment