Pondering Questions God Asks in The Bible?


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What are you trading?

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Matthew 16:26 The Context
: In the final year of Jesus earthly ministry the opposition to Jesus was intensifying. The religious leaders opposed Jesus more and more. Jesus’ followers were seeing more clearly what it would cost to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” In the soberness of that moment He asked this question.

God Asks Us
: what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Mark 8:36–37 (Lk 9:25) For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

JNE
: We all have times of wishing we had more of what the world has to offer. This question simply challenges us to take a true measure of things and realize that the shiny, alluring things of this life are temporary at best and at worst could cost us the very thing that is most valuable for both now and eternity. Our soul is that part of us that has the potential to live in close relationship with God. Who in their right mind would give up that for a brief seventy years of wealth, fame, and selfish ease? What things am I wanting more than fellowship with God?

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WHY GOD ASKS QUESTIONS?

It is easy to read the Bible and see only stories and rules. Even if a person can see the Bible as a revelation of Who God is and what He is like it can be difficult to fully realize that in the Bible God invites us to the amazing adventure of an eternal and perfect relationship with Him.

How often do we wish we could ask God questions and have Him give us a plain answer? God, why did You let my father die? God, why am I not getting well? God, why aren’t my plans working? And the questions go on and on and on. The questions aren’t always doubting or complaining, but sometimes simply curiosity. I assume that it is a surprise to most of us that in the Bible God asks us more than 500 questions.

Why does God ask us questions? Surely if God is GOD He knows the answer to all His questions. God does not need us to inform Him of our circumstances, thoughts or motives. God’s questions are always in a context and the reason for them is to prompt us to think more seriously about our lives. So really, the reason God asks us questions is because He cares so much about us.

More than just seeking to probe what we know or think, God's questions can:
>> motivate our curiosity.
>> prompt us to reevaluate the way we think and behave.
>> help us see things from a different perspective.
>> help us dig deeper into really important issues.
>> help us discover what we truly believe.
>> demonstrate that God is dynamically interested in us.
God asks us questions because He wants us to grow.
How important are God’s questions to you?

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