God loves fools, too

Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.

Scripture: Psalm 53:1 (NIV) The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are file,
There is no one who does good.

The dictionary definition of a fool is “a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.” The Biblical meaning of a fool is someone who rejects God. Some religions call unbelievers infidels. A foolish man doesn’t necessarily lack intelligence; he just doesn’t see the wisdom of knowing God. On the contrary, many atheists are highly intelligent and well educated, and if you called them a fool, they’d probably laugh at you and call you stupid for believing in God and not science.

What the fool really is saying is that he doesn’t want to be judged for his sins. He would rather continue on with his life, than contemplate life with out the fun. Change is the hardest thing we do in life. If there is no God, fools think they can avoid judgment. The Bible calls such thinking folly. (I call it poppycock.) As Christians, we know we will be judged for every sin and need forgiveness. We need a savior. If there is no God, there is no need for a savior and Jesus death on the cross served no purpose.

Such folly does not mean those people will not be judged. It goes against natural law that there be no consequences for our actions. There are laws and penalties in place in society to keep order. God’s laws, too, keep order in the universe. We have rules in place in the home to teach our children how to behave and how to one day be an adult that can abide by the rules of society.

Therein lies the battle. Nearly 45 years ago, prayer was taken out of the school. Teaching evolution without intelligent design came in a package deal. Relative thinking became the norm, and not the one truth of God in the classroom. Those students became adults and one day became our educators and political leaders. Scientific thinking is behind our greatest debate in our nation: science and pro choice vs. God’s unequivocal choice of pro life. Every life matters to God. Psalms 53:2 says “God looks down from heaven / on the sons of men / to see if there are any who understand, / any who seek God.” Even though men have turned their backs on God, He keeps looking for those who want to know him. He is a god who wants to be in relationship with every human being, even the fools. Our job is to look for fools (just don’t call them that to their faces) and bring them into God’s presence and let God do his thing. Today is a good day for that.

How does this apply to my life?

Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to be open to sharing who you are with someone who doesn’t know you. Help me to be bold in proclaiming your love and goodness to a fool. Amen

Doug Mead
Parenting Solo

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 75

This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/july.asp?version=51