What actually is “bailout” and what does “stimulus” mean?
In an attempt to find out, I searched my handy Webster’s manual.
Bailout according to the great Webster himself is “a helping out of one in difficulty; a providing of government financial aid to a failing company, city, etc.; a rescue from financial distress.”
Stimulus is “something that rouses or incites to action or increased action; incentive.” Incite is “to set in motion.”
We are studying the Tabernacle in our Women’s Bible Study; and of the care and preciseness the Lord required in constructing it. The Tabernacle is a place in the Old Testament times, where the people went to met with God, a holy place where God’s presence dwelled. This Tabernacle or meeting place; housed the Altar of Sacrifice. Here, sacrifices or burnt offerings were made to God, as atonement for sin.
Over and over, in Old Testament scripture, sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sin. Because of His great love for them, God bailed out the Israelites, time and time again. No sooner did He help them out of one crisis, were they in another. Their sinful nature brought them much anguish. But God was, and still is, always faithful. God’s promise to Abraham follows to his descendants (us), and He intends to keep it.
God forever stimulates, in an attempt to teach us obedience and trust in Him. He allows temptations to test us and when we fail, He bails us out, two, three sometimes dozens of times. Why? Because, He loves us.
Being the self-centered society that we are, do we really deserve a bailout? When I think about all the corporate businesses that are being bailed, I can’t help but wonder if it’s really necessary. Sure I believe something must be done, but when the big guys take the money and frivolously spend it on elaborate parties and private jets, rather than finding ways to help our economy, come on, what’s wrong with the picture? And the stimulus package, what a joke, a whole thirteen dollars? Is that enough to help starving families put food on the table and pay their mortgages? What are they thinking? Now maybe I’m wrong due to my ignorance in the matter, but I’m not so stupid as to fall for all the phony boloney our current government has to offer. God help us!
Thank God, we Christians have a proven bail-out/stimulus package that will last through all eternity. Thank God, He thought enough of us to provide an easy payment plan; one that pulls us out of our distress, is guaranteed to work, and has no hidden surprises.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
An oldie, but goodie. This is probably the most well known verse in history, one that many people have heard of, but often taken for granted. God never intended for His people to perish. He loves His creation and desires to spend eternity with every one. Unfortunately, because many don’t believe, they won’t see the pearly gates and streets of gold. Maybe many don’t believe, because they don’t understand the extent of God’s love. Maybe because they just can’t fathom the depth of it. Or maybe, it’s because they are too stubborn to accept the Truth.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” NIV Eph 3:17-19
God wants us to know Him. He desires that we fellowship with Him and bask in His presence, just as the Israelites did. He allows circumstances in our lives to enter in, in an attempt to stimulate or cause us to take action toward a growing relationship with Him. The Word of God says that before we ever knew Him, He was at work, working on His plan.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
The United States of America is still a very powerful country, and we know it. Hopefully, the bailout and stimulus packages will help our economy. No matter what happens, I’m thankful that God is in control. Even when we are not, He is faithful. He will continue knocking on the doors of our hearts, hoping to stimulate us, with His greatest plan of all, His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let’s talk.
Terri can be reached at terriotterman@hotmail.com
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