Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

I sat pondering the great why this morning. Why do I have to suffer? When I ask pastors and theologians this simple question I almost always get THE ANSWER, “Because Christ suffered.” Yet when I went to the Lord earnestly, with a heart to know exactly why, I got a different and I would hope a better answer, while it satisfied me, I cannot guarantee it will ease your suffering.

God has the power to do anything. He has in the past violated His own nature, stopping the sun’s movement, holding back the waters of the Red Sea, healing the sick, raised the dead, and even made whole armies from dust and bones. So why, when I said yes to His Lordship, why didn’t he perfect me right then and there?

Some years ago, when I was elsewhere in my walk with Christ, the answer that satisfied me then was different. Then the answer was, “If I did there would be nothing to keep you here.” I got it, stop being selfish, think of others, the body of Christ needs to be filled and someone needs to be here to witness You to the lost. Now, years down the path we call The Way, I ask again. Why?

Please do not give me that “in weakness I am strong” speech. I am beyond that. Why?

His answer came at first within the issue of conformance, to be like Christ. Ultimately this is what I was asking and not everything that Christ is was created, because He is the Creator. I am not. So to build in me that character which I cannot have because it cannot be created in me, has to be developed in me in another way. Mind you, this was but the first issue.

Ultimately it came down to Genesis 4:4. The greatest gift given is life. That precious thing we take for granted has to be received and given as pure devotion to God before we can handle so precious a gift in our perfection.

“Love those who hatefully despise you.” Because life is precious.

I am not there yet. Keep walking.

Philippians 3:6b touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

I spoke earlier about not being into apologetics. There is however within me the desire to understand what I am reading. It occurred to me that this statement which is the Word of God and true has the opportunity to mislead believers and give occasion to the unbeliever to use his great knowledge to cast dispersions about.

If asked, “Since Paul was blameless without Jesus, why does he need Jesus?” My answer would have to satisfy both believers and unbelievers. In doing that I admit that a believer would only require as much as faith would cover. An unbeliever, lacking faith, would need something more convincing.

A believer might by faith accept without further edification that Jesus did away with the law as the standard for right standing before God. I know I would be satisfied with that answer.

For an unbeliever a more detailed explanation would be required. I think that perhaps I would begin with explaining that blameless is not the same as sinless. The law contained atoning sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. The covering atonement left them blameless but not sinless.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Herein lies the second part of the necessity in which Paul needed Jesus. He was up until this point at which he met the risen Christ perfect in execution of the law, but his performance to continue in exercise of the law would be at risk. Nothing guaranteed Paul would continue on as he had before.

It doesn’t matter how good you were yesterday, there is always tomorrow to worry about.

Only Jesus can take away tomorrows sins.