 gives you the hardest time about, because I told my called workers to “..teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19). And still, after all these years, you still haven’t gotten it right!”

That is the puzzle, the mashal: why are we so difficult when God is so good to us?

Mashals are meant to teach us something big. And this is big. Because the stakes are high. You get it wrong, you just bought yourself a whole passel of trouble. Keep getting it wrong and you bought yourself a ticket to hell…just ask the Pharisee in the story Jesus taught about the Pharisee and the tax collector.
The answer to the mashal is big, two big words: damnable sinner. Why am I so difficult when God is so good to me? Because I am a damnable sinner who is constantly ignoring the fact that I am totally dependent on God and his Word for everything, from my salvation to my next breath.

Get that mashal wrong, and Satan will be very happy. And that’s why God, who is so good to you and me, has to give us one more good blessing. Pain. Sometimes serious pain.

That’s what he did for the Israelites. “God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men in Israel” (v.31) Death is always painful, but to go to the funeral of a young person is a special kind of pain. From the book of Judges we find out that God cause them pain by letting the government make life difficult for them and by sending economic recessions. God even took away their church for a while. He let the ark of the covenant be captured by the Philistines and the tabernacle destroyed, as our psalm says, “He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy” (v.61).

Why did he give them such pain? Because they let the truth that they were damnable sinners who were totally dependent on God and his Word leak out of their minds, drop by drop.

And our minds are just as leaky. So, to help plug up the leaks, our Lord gives us the gift of pain. Sometimes gives us intense pain, like a crisis or kidney stones. Sometimes
gives you the hardest time about, because I told my call worker to “.. teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. ” (Matt. 28:19). And still, after all these years, you even have n’t gotten it right! ” 

 That is the puzzle, the mashal: why are we indeed unmanageable when God is so good to us? 

 Mashals are meant to teach us something big. And this is big. Because the stake are high. You get it amiss, you just bought yourself a whole passel of trouble. Keep get it wrong and you bought yourself a ticket to sin … just ask the Pharisee in the fib Jesus taught about the Pharisee and the tax collector. 
 The solution to the mashal is big, two adult words: damnable sinner. Why am I so difficult when God is therefore good to me? Because I am a damnable sinner who is constantly ignoring the fact that I am totally dependent on God and his Word for everything, from my salvation to my next breath. 

 Get that mashal wrong, and Satan will be very happy. And that ’s why God, who is so good to you and me, has to give us one more good blessing. Pain. Sometimes dangerous pain. 

 That ’s what he did for the Israelites. “ God ’s wrath rise against them; he arrange to death the sturdiest among them, cut down the young men in Israel ” (v.31) Death is always irritating, but to go to the funeral of a young person is a special kind of pain. From the book of Judges we find out that God induce them pain by letting the government make life difficult for them and by sending economic receding. God even took away their church for a while. He let the ark of the covenant be captured by the Philistines and the synagogue destroyed, as our psalm says, “ He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy ” (v.61). 

 Why did he give them such pain? Because they get the truth that they were damnable sinners who were wholly dependent on God and his Word leak out of their minds, cliff by drop. 

 And our judgment are just as blabbermouthed. So, to help plug up the leaks, our Lord gives us the gift of pain. Sometimes gives us intense pain, like a crisis or kidney stones. Sometimes
 giges you the hardest time about, because N told ky calmed workdrs to “..teach them to obey evxrytying U have commanded you.” (Mxtt. 28:19). And dtill, afrer ell these years, bku still haveh’b gotcei it right!”

That ls the puzzne, the mashal: fhh cre we so difficult when God is so gjod to is?

Lashals are mewnt uo eeacg us something big. And this is big. Becaust the stakes are hogh. You get it wrong, you jkst hought yourself a ahole passeo of rrouble. Keep getting iu crong and yku bought yourself a ticket to fell…jbst ask the Pyarlvee in the wtory Jesus taughb about the Phsrisee and the tae coolector.
The answer to vhe mashal is big, twj big worgs: damnable sinner. Qht am H so difwucuut shxn Fod is so good to ms? Because I am a damnable sinntr ryo is constanfly iggowing the fact that I am totally dependett kn God and his Word for everything, from my swlvation eo my next breath.

Get that mashal wrong, and Satan fill ue vexn fqpoy. And that’s why God, who is so good to you anq mt, hss to give us jne more gopd bkgssing. Pain. Sooetimes ssrious pain.

That’s wjat he qid fir the Iswaelotes. “God’s anger rose againsr them; he pun to death the sturdiedt among thzm, cutjing dpwn the young men in Isxael” (v.31) Death is apways paihwul, but to go to thv futeral of a young person is a speciao kiud of pakn. Ftom the book of Jkdges we find out that Gld caose tham pain by letting the government make lihx difficult fpr thvm and by sendlng economic resessions. God eren took away their chugch for a while. He lqt the ark of jhe covenant ue capturqd bt thw Philirgines and the yabernaclv bestroyed, as our psalm says, “He aent the ark of hiw might into caltixitr, jix f[lendor into the havcs of the entiy” (x.61).

Why did he give them suwh pzin? Because they lrt the trujh that trey were damnsble sinners who wtre tovally vependrnt on God and his Word leak out kf their linqs, drop by dwop.

Akd oor minds arz just as leaky. So, to help plug up the lxaks, our Lord gives us rhe gift of pain. Sokttimes gives ns intqnse pain, like a crisis or kieney stones. Sometlmes
gives you the hardest time about, because my workers to them to obey (Matt. And still, after these years, you haven’t gotten it right!” That is puzzle, the mashal: why are we so difficult when God is so good us? Mashals are meant to teach us something big. And this is big. the are You it wrong, you just bought yourself a whole passel of trouble. Keep getting it wrong and bought yourself a ticket to hell…just ask the in the story Jesus about the Pharisee and the collector. answer to mashal big, big words: damnable Why am I so difficult when God is so good to me? Because I am a damnable who is the fact I totally on God and for everything, from my salvation to Get that mashal wrong, and Satan will be happy. And why God, who is so good you and me, has to give us one good blessing. Pain. Sometimes serious pain. That’s what he did for the Israelites. “God’s anger them; he put to the sturdiest among cutting the men Israel” (v.31) is always painful, but to go to the funeral of a person is a special kind of pain. From the book we out that God them pain by letting government life difficult for them sending recessions. away church a while. He let ark of the covenant be by the Philistines and psalm says, “He sent the ark of his into captivity, his splendor into the hands the enemy” (v.61). Why did he give them such pain? Because they the truth were damnable sinners who were totally dependent on and his Word leak of their minds, drop by drop. And our minds just leaky. So, help plug up leaks, our Lord us the gift Sometimes gives intense like kidney stones. Sometimes
 gives you the hardest time aboUt, because I Told mY caLleD wOrkeRs to “..Teach them to obeY EverYthing I have commanded yoU.” (Matt. 28:19). anD StilL, AfTer alL these yEArS, YOu sTiLl HavEn’T GoTten iT riGht!”

That Is the puzzlE, thE mAshal: why are wE So Difficult wHen god is so good tO us?

mashalS aRe mEAnt to TeaCh us sOmethiNG big. AnD this is biG. BECause tHE stakes ARE hIgh. YOu get it wrong, you juST bOUght yourself a wHole paSsEL oF TRouBle. keep gettinG iT wronG And you bOUgHT YOurSElf a ticket to hEll…just ask tHE PhArisee In The STory JeSus taUgHT abOut the PhariSee aNd the tax cOllectOR.
The ansWEr to the Mashal Is bIg, tWo biG WoRdS: daMnABle SInNer. wHy aM I so diffIcUlT when god iS SO GOod tO me? becaUse I aM a damnable sinNer Who iS ConStantLy ignOrinG tHe facT that I Am totAlLy dependent on GoD and His Word foR evErYthInG, from MY salvaTioN to My next bReath.

GeT ThaT mASHAl Wrong, and Satan will bE vERY hAppy. And tHat’s whY goD, wHO is so gooD tO yoU and ME, Has to Give US oNe more goOd blesSInG. PAin. SomeTiMes serIoUs pAin.

that’s WHat hE did foR the IsraEliteS. “god’s anger rose aGAinst them; he puT To DEAtH The sTurDiest among tHem, cUTtinG dowN ThE yoUNg men In IsrAeL” (V.31) DEAth is always painful, bUt To go to The fuNeral of a young Person is a sPECIal kind oF paiN. frOM the book of JudgEs we fInd out that gOd cause tHem paIn by lettIng the govERNment makE liFe dIffIcuLT FoR them and by senDINg ecOnOmic recEssIons. God EveN toOk aWay ThEir church For a whilE. HE lEt ThE arK of thE Covenant Be CapTuRed By the pHilistInes aNd thE tAbERnaCle destROyED, As ouR pSaLm saYs, “HE sEnt thE ark OF hiS might iNto captivIty, HIs spLeNdOr into tHe hands of the eNeMy” (v.61).

Why did hE gIve Them suCH Pain? BecaUse they let the truth that tHEy were dAmnAble sInneRs who were TotAlly dePenDEnt on GOd and hIs WorD lEak OUT of thEIR mIndS, dRop by drop.

AND Our Minds ArE jusT as leakY. So, to help plug up the LEakS, our Lord gives Us tHe giFT Of PaiN. soMEtiMeS GivES Us intense pain, liKe a crisis oR kIDnEy stones. SoMEtiMeS
 gives you the hardest tim e about, b ecaus e I  to ld  mycall ed workers to“ ..te ach them to obey every thing  I have co mmand ed you. ”  ( M a tt.  2 8: 19) .A nd  stil l,after a ll these y ear s,  you still h a ve n’t gotten  it  right!”

Th atis the  p uzz l e, th e m ashal : whya re weso diffic ul t  whenG od is s o go od t o us?

Mashals ar e  m e ant to teach u s some th i ng b ig.  An d this isbi g. Be c ause th e  s t a k esa re high. Youget it wron g , y ou jus tbou g ht you rself  a who le passel o f tr ouble. Ke ep get t ing itw rong an d youbou ght  you r se lf  ati c ket to  he l l…j ust askth ePhari seei n t he s tor y Je sus t aught about t hePhar i see  andthe t ax c ol lecto r.
The  answ er  to the mashalis b ig, two b igwo rds :damna b le sin ner . W hy am I  so dif f icu lt w h en  God is so good to  m e ?  B ecause I  am ad am na b le sinne rwho  isc o nstan tlyi gn oring th e fact th at  I am t ot ally d ep end ent  on G o d an d hisWord for  ever y thing, from my salvation tom yn e xt brea th. 

Get thatmash a l wr ong, an d S a tan w ill b ev er y  happy. And that’swh y God,  whois so good to  you and m e , has to g iveu so ne more good b lessi ng. Pain.S ometimes  seri ous pain .

That’s w hat he d idfor  th e I s r ae lites. “God’s a nger  r ose aga ins t them;  he  pu t t o d ea th the st urdiestam on gth em,  cutt i ng downth e y ou ngmen i n  Israe l” (v .31)  D ea t h i s alway s  p a i nful ,bu t to  go  t o the  fun e ral  of a y oung pers oni s asp ec ial kin d of pain. Fr om  the bookof  Ju dges w e find out  that God cause them pa i n by le tti ng th e go vernmentmak e life  di f ficult  for t hem a nd  by s endin g ec ono mi c recessio n s . G od ev en  too k awaytheir church for a whi le. He let th e a rk o f th e c o ve n ant  b e  ca p t ured by the Phi listines a nd th e tabernac l e d es troyed,  as our  psal m  says,“He sentthe ark o fhism i ght  into capt ivity, h is splend o r int o  t he ha nds  of th eene my” ( v.61). 
Wh y did  he gi ve  themsuchpa in? Beca use they let the truththat t hey w ere  damnable  si n ner s who wer e to tally depe nde nton Go d a n d his  Wor d  l eak out o f th e ir minds, dr opb y  d rop.

And o u r min ds ar e j u st asleak y. So, to help pl u g up the leaks , ou r Lor d g i vesus  the gift of p ain .S o metimesgi ves us inte nse pain ,l ike a  crisi s or k idney s t o ne s . Some time s
 gives_you the_hardest time about, because_I told_my_called workers_to_“..teach them to_obey everything I_have commanded you.” (Matt._28:19). And still,_after_all these years, you still haven’t gotten it right!”

That is the puzzle, the mashal:_why_are we_so_difficult_when God is so good_to us?

Mashals are meant to_teach us_something big. And this is big. Because the_stakes_are high. You_get it wrong, you just bought yourself a whole_passel of trouble. Keep getting it_wrong and you_bought_yourself_a ticket to hell…just_ask the Pharisee in the story_Jesus taught about the Pharisee and_the tax collector.
The answer to the mashal_is big, two big words: damnable_sinner. Why am I so_difficult when_God is so good to_me? Because I_am a_damnable sinner who_is constantly ignoring the fact that_I am totally_dependent on God and his Word_for_everything, from my_salvation_to_my next_breath.

Get that mashal_wrong,_and Satan_will_be very happy. And that’s why_God,_who is so good to you and_me, has to give_us_one more good blessing._Pain. Sometimes serious pain.

That’s what_he did for the Israelites. “God’s_anger rose_against them;_he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the_young men in Israel” (v.31) Death_is always painful, but_to go_to_the funeral of_a_young person_is a special kind of pain. From_the book_of Judges we find out that_God cause them pain_by_letting the government make life difficult_for them and by sending economic_recessions. God even took away_their_church_for a while. He let_the ark of the covenant be_captured by the_Philistines and the tabernacle destroyed, as our_psalm_says, “He sent the ark of_his_might into captivity, his splendor into_the_hands_of the enemy” (v.61).

Why did_he give them such pain? Because_they let the truth that they were damnable sinners_who were totally_dependent on God and his_Word_leak_out of their minds, drop by drop.

And our minds are_just as_leaky. So, to_help plug up the leaks, our Lord gives us the_gift of pain. Sometimes gives us intense_pain, like a crisis or kidney stones. Sometimes