About 2000 years ago there was a man born contrary to the laws of nature... This man was reared in obscurity. Earthly riches were not important to him. He did not travel extensively, only once did he cross the boundary of the country in which he lived and that was during his exile in childhood to Egypt. In infancy he startled a king; in childhood he amazed Jewish leaders, in manhood he ruled the course of nature, walking upon the billows as if pavement. He hushed the sea to sleep. He healed multitudes without medicine and made no charge for his service. He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about him. He never wrote a song, and yet he has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined. He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students. He never practiced psychiatry and yet he has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Names of great scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this man abounds more and more. Herod the great could not destroy him and the grave could not hold him. His name stands highest of heavenly glory, acknowledged by angels and feared by devils. Long ago God's divine principle was established, that "without shedding of blood there is no remission." Here is the living personal Christ, the Messiah and Savior, the redeemer of man. Here is God's appointed sacrifice for sins. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." Today God, in wondrous love tells us, "the blood of Jesus Christ his son, cleanses us from all sin." 1st John 1:7 Jesus is the only one who has fulfilled all of the Scriptures regarding Messiah's birth, ministry, death and resurrection. There are over 300 prophetic Scriptures in the Old Testament concerning Messiah's incarnation and life. Jesus fulfilled them all. Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh in order that he might die for you. He came to earth but was rejected by the people as their king. He is going to come to this earth again and then he will be accepted as not only king of the Jews, but as King Of Kings
and Lord Of Lords over all the earth.
Time here on earth is short but eternity is forever. Soon Jesus will
return to claim his believers to join him in heaven for all eternity.
The Bible says when you ask for forgiveness and express your
acknowledgement that Jesus is your Savior - the angels rejoice.
Make angels rejoice today!
"Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of his,
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name,
for his anger is but for a moment, his favor is for life.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:4-5
His anger is but for a moment…
We are a fallen people born to fallen parents into a fallen world, and without discipline we stay that way. It takes the training of the Lord to mature us.
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him;
for whom the Lord loves he chastens,
and scourges every son whom he receives.”
Hebrews 12:6
It's vitally important to remember that the discipline of the Lord does not separate us from his love. He disciplines us from a heart of Fatherly love, and his goal is to transform us into a mature and godly people. It is the hard things in life that teach us what we need to learn and that establish in us correct priorities.
vs 11:
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it."
The discipline is not forever, but only until the purpose has been met. Afterwards, the mercy and love of God is lavished upon us and truly "joy comes in the morning."
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
to the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever."
Psalm 30:11-12
It is the love of God that applies what is needed to transform us. Even in the world, we've all seen the results when parents withhold discipline from their children. We've all seen "spoiled brats," and it's ugly isn’t it! God our Father knows each believer's makeup and he knows just what each one needs to prevent that. When it is finished, we are left singing praise to the Father who loves us, the Father who loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
Do not resist God's discipline, there is nothing to gain from resisting except bitterness towards God. Embrace God's discipline rather, and pray for grace to truly cooperate with God and learn the lessons in your story that will lead you to a closer, more intimate fellowship with your Redeemer who loves you with an everlasting love. Later you will praise him for that discipline and realize that God is faithful who brought you through it, and you'll understand that he loves you too much to leave you the way you are.
"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees,
and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be dislocated,
but rather be healed."
Hebrews 12:12-13
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
lest the Lord see it, and it displease him,
and he turn away his wrath from him."
Proverbs 24:17-18
Human nature desires justice and our fallen nature craves vengeance, but the unwise do not stop to think that they too are deserving of punishment. We are all alike, born sinners, born with a fallen human nature, born to fallen parents, born into a fallen world, hurt by various fallen people, victims of victims, suffering injustice. All of these things foster bitterness in us and draw us into further sin, the sins of hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness. The Word of God says we are all in the same boat, that there is not one of us who is righteous.
"There is none righteous, no, not one;"
Romans 3:19
Believers are called to a higher place, one that recognizes the pathetic path of the wicked, knowing that only by the grace of God are we not on that same path. Like them, we were born sinners, and only by the grace of God are we spared.
"If you, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?"
Psalm 130:3
Rather than nurture a desire for vengeance, consider the end of the wicked. If one truly understood their end, they would drop all desire for vengeance. The Word of God tells us about hell, that it is forever, that it is a place of great suffering, torment, and eternal regret. One who truly understands this wouldn't want it for his worst enemy. It's awful. It's terrible. It's an eternity of suffering without hope of escape. When someone hurts you, take that as a signal that God wants you to pray for that person. You might be the only one on earth praying for him/her. Your prayers could change his or her eternal destiny. The more hateful they are, the more they NEED your prayers.
Indeed, that was where we were headed too, before the Lord showed us his salvation and revealed to us his Son who came to this earth to take upon himself the judgment due us because of our sins. We are no better than the wicked, except that we have a Redeemer. That's the only difference. Without the atonement Christ accomplished for us, we too would be headed for hell.
Therefore, let us have sympathy for those whose hearts have not been changed, let us pray for them instead of hating them. Let us be kind to them, considering that we could easily have been in their shoes. Let us do all we can, fasting and praying that they might have their eyes opened to see their hopeless state and to turn their hearts to the Redeemer that they too might have the hope of eternal life. If they claim to be believers, intercede for them that they might be set free from whatever evil thing that dwells within them. They truly need your prayers, if only you are willing.
"As I live,’ says the Lord God,
‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from his way and live.'"
Ezekiel:11
Amen! Let this be not only our attitude, but our heart too. Father God, please put your mercy into my heart, mercy for the hateful, mercy for the cruel, mercy for the hopeless. It could so easily have been me.