[Discoveries] 8/23/03 True theology will follow

[discoveries-admin at dwightclough.com]

Today's story:  Our friends, Terry and Debby Baxter, share the moving story 
of finding hope in Christ in the midst of losing their two-day old 
baby.  http://www.dwightclough.com/testimonies/baxter_baby.html If you have 
a story to share or a link to a story, please email 
me:  dwight at dwightclough.com

Today's devotional:

Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between 
two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow 
him."  But the people said nothing.  1 Kings 18:21

	There is a limit to what theology can do.  Nobody in his right mind is 
going to give away his life for a creed.  Nobody is going to die for a 
doctrinal statement.
	The people said nothing.  On one hand they have King Ahab and Queen 
Jezebel.  They have made it politically incorrect to follow the LORD.  No, 
they've made it downright dangerous to follow the LORD.  Follow Him and you 
might die.  On the other hand, they have Elijah who seems be running this 
show, who is following the LORD, and who is claiming that Baal is phony 
baloney.
	Not enough data.  Any choice was risky.  Better play it cool.  -- This was 
how they were thinking.
	God knew this.  He knew that reclaiming His place in their lives would 
require them to experience God in a fresh new way.  And He was ready.
	This is one of the reasons, by the way, that God allows Christians to 
suffer for their faith.  Most people can't relate to a picture of a Jesus 
on a cross, an event removed by 2,000 years.  But they do understand a 
neighbor, a coworker, a family member who suffers for Christ and by so 
doing extends to them the depth of God's love for them.
	God invites us to taste and see that He is good.  He wants to meet us in 
the realm of our experience.  As we shall see in a few verses, when we 
experience the real God, true theology will follow.

Be encouraged!
Dwight
www.dwightclough.com/books.html - inspiring books
www.husbandsforhealing.com/pure_victory/direct/ - for men who want to move 
forward with God
To reply use: dwight at dwightclough.com

Subscribe / unsubscribe / make changes in your subscription at
http://three.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/discoveries