The emperor Cyrus proves it.
(Note my emphasis in the verses below.)
Isaiah 45:4-5 NIV
[4] For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. [5] I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,
Cyrus conquered the world and became the emperor of a powerful empire. And he accomplished all this without a personal knowledge of God.
Consider all the blessings God bestowed upon a man that didn’t even acknowledge Him:
- God anointed him. v1
- God took hold of his right hand. v1
- God subdued nations before him. v1
- God stripped kings of their armor before him. v1
- God opened doors before him so that gates would not be shut against him. v1
- God went ahead of him and leveled the mountains. v2
- God broke down the gates of bronze for him. v2
- God cut through bars of iron for him. v2
- God gave him the hidden treasures. v3
- God gave him riches stored in secret places. v3
- God summoned him by name. v4
- God bestowed a title of honor on him. V4
Yet he didn’t know God!
Isn’t it intriguing that all these extraordinary blessings were bestowed on a man that didn’t acknowledge God? He had no personal relationship with God. Yet He experienced the anointing, blessings and gifts of God.
Think about it.
We must let go of the silly idea that in order to be blessed by God, you need to have an intimate personal relationship with God. That’s a religious fantasy that has no basis in reality.
Millions and billions today are enjoying the goodness and blessings of God, without any personal relationship with Him. He blesses the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Matthew 5:45 NIV
that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
The sun shines on you, not because you’re evil or good, but because it’s the sun. Shining and beaming down its rays is what it does; an expression of what it is.
The rain falls on you, not because you’re righteous or unrighteous. It’s simply being the rain. Pouring down its showers is what it does; an expression of what it is.
And so it is with God.
God’s gifts and blessings are not distributed on the basis of morality or religion. They are given based on God’s nature and mysterious purposes. Whether you are good, bad or ugly has nothing to do with the blessings of God.
The Scripture even warns against seeing godliness as a means to financial gain, telling us it’s a twisted way of looking at things.
1 Timothy 6:5 NIV
…and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Whether you go to church or not, whether you serve God or not, whether you give or not, whether you are just or unjust, good or evil, the rain will fall on you, and the sun will rise on you.
For this reason, it’s time to rise to a higher motive in your relationship with God. Let go of greed, fear, or selfishness. Don’t be motivated by punishment or reward. Rather, let pure love become your driving force—Pure, unconditional and undiluted love. Period.
May the Lord Himself help us to seek and follow Him strictly out of the purest motive of love. In Jesus name. 🙏
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