They are all too big for it now, but I'm saving my copy for grand babies! And, I'm seriously considering writing a companion book called If You Learn to Stand on the Promises(or something catchy that one of my amazing friends comes up with)! Just like that mouse and his cookie eating chain of events, when we start learning God's Word and the promises He has given His children (see intro post here),it becomes a catalyst to an amazing chain of events in the Christian life!
The whole concept of cause and effect is such a great learning/teaching tool. The story of that mouse is cute and sweet...and, I'm convinced, a plot, along with the Stuart Little thing, to get us to think mice are adorable. Not happening.
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Anyway...sidetracked...cause and effect! Such a great teaching tool beginning with the best cause and effect of all time!
Because Adam could not keep the covenant of works, sin entered the world.
Because of that sin, all born in the first Adam were to pay the wages of that sin.
Because of God's great love toward us, He made a way to justify us.
Because He sent His only Son(the second Adam) to make atonement for our sin and fulfill the covenant of works and the covenant of Grace, we are covered in His righteousness.
Because we are covered in His righteousness, we are no longer enemies of God.
Because we are no longer enemies of God, He has called us friend.
Because we are His friend, He(Jesus) has made known to us everything He has learned from our Father.
Because He has made everything He has learned from His Father known to us(joint-heirs with Christ), we can stand on the promises of God!
Now, that was a very If You Give a Mouse a Cookie way of showing the cause and effect of the gospel, and those causes and effects are MUCH more detailed, but it is a good starting point for understanding the If/Then's given to us in scripture! And like we said in the previous post, you can't stand on those promises if you don't know them.
First If/Then:
IF you are God's child, then you will desire to read His love letter to you:
"...if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." John 14:23-24
Let me add, sincerely, that, if you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and desire to understand the gospel of salvation, may I direct you here for a better understanding of redemption and the gospel? I would also be more than privileged to talk to you personally or through email. (You can message me on the sidebar of this blog).
Second If/Then:
IF you read His Word, He will show you His truths and His promises!
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32
"All scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God might be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Just to name a few!
So, I will be adding If/Then promises here on the blog frequently for us to meditate and stand on so we can grow in spirit and in truth!
Here is one to whet your appetite!
"If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." John 15:7
To preclude any worries that I have given over to the prosperity gospel, know that I take God's Word to mean just what it says! If His words are abiding in me, I will want only what God wants. As I abide in Him, I am fed by His perfect Word which transforms me to desire His will and His ways. By this the Father is glorified! By abiding, I am learning what His promises are. The effect? Standing on the promises of God!
If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to want a glass of milk.
If you learn to stand on the promises, you are going to desire the sincere milk of the Word!
"Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 1 Peter 2:2
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." 2 Corinthians 1:20
(Here is a great little cause/effect chain worksheet if you are a visible learner!)
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P.S. Pastor hubby told me to include: If Christ was not raised, then our teaching is in vain! (Did not mean to leave that out of the gospel cause and effect! Praising Him that we are saved with Him, justified in Him, buried with Him, raised with Him, and glorified in Him!)
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