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Small Bytes of Grace Blog
Learning to Cooperate with Transforming Grace

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Can God Regret, Change His Mind, or Be Disappointed With Us?

8/16/2019

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AskMark Question From Alaska: In your sermon, you said ‘God cannot be disappointed in us...that would be illogical because He already knows our future.’  According to the NIV God does have regrets and logically this means He can be disappointed.  What are your thoughts on the matter? If God can have regrets and therefore be disappointed in those He has appointed, does this mean God makes mistakes as well?

Mark’s Response:
 
The short answer is: No, God is not disappointed when His children mess up, God does not have regrets, meaning He never wishes He had done something differently, and He cannot change mind or His nature.
 
However, this short answer is not nearly enough.  Truth cannot be based on my opinion or anyone else’s, but His.  And this question is far, far too important to simply give an opinion.  This question speaks directly to the eternal nature of God and why we can depend on Him completely, wholeheartedly, and throughout eternity. 
 
To answer this based on biblical truth, we must dig deeper.  We must look at both how words are defined and what God says about Himself.  So now for the necessary, much longer answer.
(I am well-known for my very long answers to short questions. 😊)
 
1- Understanding how words are used in Scripture.
 
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities.  It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
 
God frequently speaks in Scripture using anthropomorphic human terms that we can understand.  God is a spirit.  As such, He does not have hands or feet or wings though some verses use these terms so we can understand. Yet, He is infinitely more complex in His emotions than we can possibly imagine.  God is fully capable of feeling “sorry” for the people He loves while fulling knowing what would happen long before it does.  And as the eternal God who knows all things, “the end from the beginning,” He is never surprised and would never choose to do anything differently.

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Are We Attractive?

8/14/2019

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A life filled with the fruit of the Spirit is attractive to those who have any desire to know God. New Covenant Grace empowers us to grow in right behavior, bearing His fruit. And that makes the Gospel attractive, desirable, magnetic.

TRUE LOVE IS ATTRACTIVE

Let's be attractive in our behavior!

 
“Slaves (employees) must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.”   (Titus 2:9-10 NLT)
 
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."    (Col 4:5-6 NLT)   
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“For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.”   (1 Tim 2:10   NLT)
 
In each place the word “attractive” is used, it does not refer to outer beauty, sensuous desire, or watering down the message to make the Gospel easier to swallow.   It refers to the attraction of hope and the “drawing” power of the Good News.
 
The Father draws needy, hungry hearts to the Son. 
The Spirit draws broken, heart-sick seekers to the Great Physician. And that powerful attraction can be helped or hindered by the fruit, good or bad, people see in the lives of His people.
 
Let’s constantly ask, and fully expect, the Spirit to grow His fruit in our lives so we will attract the bruised, broken, thirsty, and hungry to the transforming Grace of God!
 
Mark

-from Mark’s book, “The New Covenant Role of Women in Leadership.”

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    Mark Drake is an internationally known author, teacher and leader. He focuses on equipping leaders around the world in New Covenant Grace.

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