Latest / Bible Tract Echoes Podcast / God's Best or Everything Else

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God's Best or Everything Else · Bible Tract Echoes Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey friend, I'm Mike McCurrey, this is Bible-tracked Echoes, thank you so much for tuning in.
• 0:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today, yesterday on the Broadcast, I told a, somewhat amusing story at least to me about a mistake I made some years ago, as a young boy less than 10 years old, I chose off of this beautiful menu at a Swanky restaurant,
• 0:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I chose prime rib, but I thought I was getting a slab of ribs.
• 0:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: You see, I enjoyed ribs.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I enjoyed the texture of them and the tactile sensation of pulling all that meat off the bones.
• 0:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's what I thought I was getting until I accidentally ordered something
• 0:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: better.
• 0:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: And get this, I was disappointed by the best.
• 0:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: The best thing on that entire menu was the prime rib I had ordered and unbeknownst to me.
• 0:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: The best wasn't good enough in my mind.
• 0:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have you ever been in that circumstance?
• 0:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have you ever been in that situation?
• 1:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's what we are talking about all this week I'd like you to turn your bibles to the book of Jeremiah Jeremiah twenty nine I'll read just one verse.
• 1:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: This will be kind of the beginning.
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: This will allow us to jump into this thought I think you know as well as I That God always wants to give us the best
• 1:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: God wants the best for us.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: You say, well, you don't know what my life's circumstances are like.
• 1:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: You don't know what I've gone through.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Everything we deal with, everything that's given to us, at the end of the day, known by God, whether understood by us is...
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: his best.
• 1:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jeremiah 29 verse 11, I realize that this verse, the historical setting, this verse is part of a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish people around 600 BC or thereabouts, and the cultural context, the Jewish exiles, the living in a foreign land, under difficult circumstance, they feel hopeless, outnumbered, and alone.
• 2:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: The purpose of this letter, the Jeremiah as a whole, Jeremiah is trying to encourage the exiles, reminding them, God, despite their current plight, God is still in the throne and still on their side.
• 2:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so yes, the context is written to the people of Israel, but I truly believe that we can take part of this as an understanding for ourselves, as well.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, sayeth the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
• 2:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, friend, God not only does He know the end from the beginning,
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: But he wants the best for us thoughts of peace, not of evil.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Here's some more verses just to support that thought.
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: John 14 verse 2, in my father's house are many mansions.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.
• 3:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be.
• 3:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Also, how about this Matthew 7 verse 9?
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or what man is there of you?
• 3:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Who, if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone?
• 3:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent?
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him.
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: One more verse because I don't think we can have enough Bible to support the fact that God is a good God And he wants the best for a Psalm 84 11 from the Old Testament now for the Lord God is a son and shield The Lord will give grace and glory.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: No good thing will he withhold from them That walk uprightly.
• 4:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we can all agree God wants and does the best for us
• 4:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: But what happens when we, you and I choose not to accept his best?
• 4:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just like that prime rib was offered to me.
• 4:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can tell you I just picked at it.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: I was so hope was deferred.
• 4:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I wanted ribs and I was so bothered.
• 4:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: You should've seen the look of my father's face.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: How disappointed he was with my disappointment.
• 4:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: He had scratched and scrimmed and he had paid for this nice meal for the family.
• 4:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I was disappointed by what I ordered.
• 4:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: How about the look on our Father's face, God the Father?
• 4:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: The disappointment in His eyes when He offers us the best, and we choose anything else.
• 4:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: You realize, friend, this is a binary decision.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is not good, better, best, or horrible decision, slightly less horrible, worse, worse, worseist.
• 5:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's not a word, of course.
• 5:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: But this is not a scale.
• 5:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: you either choose the best or anything else is the worst.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Friend, what happens?
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or the Bible is full of people making that decision and suffering that consequences?
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's look at one in Scripture.
• 5:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, in the book of Genesis,
• 5:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's look there for just a moment.
• 5:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I want you to see this with me.
• 5:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to turn on my Bible.
• 5:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Genesis chapter number three.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of the first decisions made like this where the best is clearly available.
• 5:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Verse number one of chapter three.
• 5:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now the serpent was more subtle.
• 5:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Then they'd be to the field, which the Lord God had made, and He said unto the woman, yea, have God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden, and the woman said in the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree, which is the midst of the garden, God has said, ye shall not eat of it, need to shall ye touch it.
• 6:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Lest ye die.
• 6:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, we could talk about the lies that were said, we could talk about the half truth, we could talk about Eve adding to God's commandments, but regardless,
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: She makes a decision.
• 6:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: When presented with the opportunity to part take of something she knew she should not, and God's best is a ruined.
• 6:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Really, sets a path for much of humanity, all of humanity.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: The reason for Jesus Christ coming being born of a virgin is to correct and air made at the very beginning to allow us fellowship relationship with God.
• 6:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: The question is this, will you choose God's best?
• 6:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or sin, Romans chapter 5 verse 12, wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world in death by sin, and so death passed upon all men.
• 7:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: For that all have sinned.
• 7:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: James chapter 1 verse 14, but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, then when lust has conceived, bring forth sin, and sin when it is finished,
• 7:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: death.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, honestly, I can almost understand people choosing sin over God's best.
• 7:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: You see elsewhere in Scripture, it is actually promised that there is pleasure in sin for a season.
• 7:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: But maybe you are right now in a circumstance of life where you have chosen sin over God's best.
• 7:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know what the best looks like and you've chosen something else.
• 7:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: I could list a litany of sins of all types and vices of every nature, sins of the flesh, sins of the eyes, the pride of life, all of these, but you know better than I. I could list off sins for an hour and
• 8:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: but the Holy Spirit might be nudging you right now.
• 8:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you've allowed God's best to fall by the wayside because you have chosen sin.
• 8:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: God's best or sin, which is it today for you?
• 8:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you are pausing, maybe even bow your head.
• 8:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you were to confront the God of all eternity.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's been knocking on the door of your heart quite possibly for long to the I've been talking.
• 8:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you give a mention.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you allow him to walk the deepest, darkest recesses of those hidden hallways of your heart, and maybe you give him the master key.
• 8:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: So he goes back to those hidden places, those secret rooms where you've hidden those besetting sins.
• 9:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe just maybe he's identified some of those things today.
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe your own conscience has betrayed you and you know there are some things that you could fix that you could tweak, that you could change things that you are convicted about.
• 9:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe there are items that you need an accountability partner for.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you know you've tried for weeks, months, years on, and maybe they've been decades, nipping at your heels, and you run strong for a while, but then you fall back.
• 9:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe just maybe today is the day that we turn a corner.
• 9:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Am I telling you that sinless perfection is around the bend?
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely not.
• 9:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I am telling you that if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, there is hope.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: God Almighty wants to give you the best.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, there may be wounds, there may be scars even that last for a lifetime, but I can tell you life is always better, living it on God's terms instead of persisting, instead of continuing in our sin.
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: God's best is always the best.
• 10:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you'd like a friend, maybe you'd like a
• 10:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Someone who honestly doesn't know you, well, sometimes it's easier to tell someone like me, those deep and dark things than it is, others.
• 10:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe just maybe, you'd like to reach out.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd love to hear from you.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd love to talk to you.
• 10:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: We have some wonderful counselors on the staff here at Bible Tracks Incorporated, and depending on my schedule, I'd love to get you in contact with one of them, regardless, though I'd love to hear from you and talk to you first.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can reach me directly, multiple ways, the announcer at the conclusion of the program will tell you all of them.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: But here are just a few.
• 11:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: You could text me.
• 11:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd love to hear from you.
• 11:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you know that there's sin in your life.
• 11:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe this is the first time you're willing to be honest about it.
• 11:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you'd like to talk to me.
• 11:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is not some sort of confessional.
• 11:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is not some sort of situation where I absolve you from sin and tell you to go say certain number of Hail Mary's.
• 11:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: No friend.
• 11:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: But iron does sharpen iron.
• 11:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: So a man sharpened the countenance of his friend.
• 11:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd love you to text me at 309.
• 11:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: 3, 1, 6, 7, 2, 4, 0.
• 11:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, that's 3, 0, 9, 3, 1, 6, 7, 2, 4, 0.
• 11:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can also send me an email, Micah at bibletracksink.org, that's m-i-c-a-h.
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: At Bible Tracts Inc.
• 12:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Tracts is spelled T-R-A-C-T-S, then I-N-C-dot-O-R-G. Micah at BibleTracts Inc.org.
• 12:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love to hear from you.
• 12:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'll be honest with you, that is a part of my ministry.
• 12:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: Don't think you're bothering me.
• 12:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: You are allowing me to fulfill a significant portion of what God has called me.
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: to do, please allow me the privilege.
• 12:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Tomorrow on the Broadcast we're going to continue talking about some other items of life that may cause us to neglect God's best.
• 12:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for tuning in today.
• 12:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Mike McCurrey.
• 12:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: This has been Bible Trek echoes.
• 12:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I look forward to speaking to you tomorrow on the Broadcast.
• 12:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have a wonderful day.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: A great day for his glory.
• 12:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: God bless.
• 13:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for tuning in to Bible Tract Echoes, the radio ministry of Bible Tracts Incorporated.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Want to see our gospel tracks and other resources?
• 13:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Visit us online at BibleTracksink.org that's BibleTracksink.org or follow us on social media to learn how you can partner with this ministry.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: May the Lord richly bless you as you live for him.