"Without Which"

 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

  "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely. Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT)

 There are so many things being said in this verse we are looking at today, I tried to count all of the verses that are listed as cross-references, they are just too many to look up and explain the connection. These verses from 1 Corinthians 13 are the ones I already knew would be easy to compare; yet they are also complicated to put into action. 

 There was something that Jesus publicly said, regarding the sheep and the goats; which a parable that spoke about those who serve the Lord, and those who serve for themselves. That might seem like a quick and easy illustration of what this parable meant; but for the sake of time, it pretty much sums up why they were separated, those on the right, and those that were on the left...

""But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

 "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 

 "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these brothers or sisters, you were doing it to me!'"" (Matthew 25:31-40 NLT)  

"The Body" - Too

 "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." (Hebrews 12:13 KJV)

  "But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 20-23 NLT) 

 Having a little experience in the way things can get out of hand in churches that have major breakups and serious judgment against leadership, I know that it is really hard to change people's mind, let alone, to get them to change their heart's. If you have been part of a church split, then you might not like what I have to say, because there really isn't any compassion or love that comes from those who take part in something that tears apart a fellowship; especially if it is all about nonsense and misunderstandings. 

 More than anything, I wish that people could just get along, no matter what differences they might have with one another; we all have different opinions on certain things; especially the things that might be about what we do or do not do; following the law, or whether your salvation can be taken away, if you might fall or get your name stricken from the Book of Life. 

 Much of what we fight over, has very little to do about loving one another; no one really feels like loving when they feel as though they have been offended or judged. What makes matters worse, is the spiritual warfare that takes place, without even knowing it! That is by far the biggest issue that is ignored, mostly because of cold, hard hearts. 

 This much is certain: We are all the body of Christ! If we fail to love one another as we should, then the body becomes sick and falls apart...

"Yes, the body has many parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not part of the body because I am not the hand," that does not make it less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not the eye," would that make it any less part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were and ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can never say to the feet, "I don't need you."" (1 Corinthians 12:14-21 NLT)

"The Body"

 "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." (Hebrews 12:13 KJV)

  "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we share the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT)

 Shining a little different light on the weak and strong, this morning I felt that fellowship was most meant to be the topic of this verse. As it is, we are all part of the same body of believers, each and everyone us are filled with the same Spirit, serve the same God, and share with the same love, for one another; at least that is what it should be!  

 The point I feel that needs to be made, is all about those that are of the body which might be lame, that doesn't necessarily mean those that are crippled, but those that are not fitting in, or don't really know how to truly associate and fellowship with their brothers and sisters. They might be referred to as the weaker parts of the body, which are actually those that should get a little more attention. 

 Almost every church has certain groups that all hang out together and keep each other in fellowship; but it should be the way we treat everyone! Especially those who might seem timid or weak in their faith, as they might be turned out of the way, feeling as though they don't fit...

"In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary." (1 Corinthians 12:22 NLT)  

"Uncertain Affinity"

"Wherefore life up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;" (Hebrews 12:12 KJV)

  "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, but not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies," (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NLT)

 Very interesting affirmation of our condition, living in this world, yet not of this world! The title is not meant to be derogative or negative, in any sense. It is more about things which might seem unclear, yet still important. Really thinking what that looks like, is much like comparing the thought about being strong in the Lord; yet at the same time, we are meant to be weak. 

 It is a lot like that illustration of God telling us to move a rock that cannot be moved. We are too weak to move it, but we somehow get stronger by trying. And in the end, it is only when we ask God to help, that the rock gets moved...

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT) 

"A Call to Listen to God"

  "Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears." (Hebrews 12:12-17 NLT) 

  "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly." (Psalms 119:1-8 KJV)

 There comes a time when we must evaluate our ability to listen to God; not as if we don't listen to Him, but that when we hear Him speak into our hearts, we actually do what He says! Looking at the things, we know God wants us to do, but not doing what He wants, not only causes us to feel ashamed, but we lose out on God's blessings and the peace of knowing we at least try to obey. 

 Maybe this sounds a little legalistic, almost as if we are meant to follow the law, making the law the thing that is giving us the righteousness that God wants to see? I wish that could be the case; because I know full well that the law saves no one; the law is there to show us how sinful we really are, so that we can know how desperately we need Jesus! 

 This is not about the law, as in following a rigorous set of rules; it is about being a servant and paying attention to what the Master says and doing it! Happy is the one who walks in His instructions...

 "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget your word." (Psalms 119:9-16 KJV) 

"Nevertheless!" - Too

 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11 KJV)

  "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:23-24 NLT)

 Thinking of this in a simple way, we also have a Helper that gives us help when we go through the fire, whatever that might be; as it goes, "it is simple, but it isn't easy." If that doesn't make sense to you, it isn't really that complicated to figure it out. God doesn't give us complex issues or things we can't figure out; His commands, laws, and principles are very simple to understand; they are just not easy to always obey, especially when we don't want to! 

 The whole reason that He needs to chasten us, is always to get us going in the right direction! I can recall something a loved to do as a kid, with these rectangle magnets I had; which was to put them on my desk and push one around the table with the other. But when I flipped the one in my hand in the other direction it would pull the other magnet and lock together, and they would both be one. 

 Using that illustration might not make sense, but when you are really going through a very serious trial or circumstance, you really feel as though your being pushed further away from God, until all you have left is to turn around and surrender to His open arms...

"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Isreal, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, 'No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.' But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop." So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help." (Isaiah 30:15-18 NLT)  

"Nevertheless!"

 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11 KJV)

  "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." (Romans 5:1-3 NLT)

 Now, about yesterday's post, although it was short, I had many more things to say but didn't feel like I had the time to say them; as it was, I overslept and needed to start getting ready for work. Even my time of prayer was somehow cut in half: what usually took an hour, was completed in less than 30 minutes. Not sure how that happened, except to say, I must have had some kind of help. 

 One of the things I wanted to share, concerning the Father's hand, was what He planned, from the very beginning, and how willingly the Son went through with it. We know from the Matthew's word, that He was overwhelmed with sorrow in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating blood, as He pleaded with the Father, praying, "My Father! If it is possible let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39 NLT) 

 The thought of what Jesus was willing to go though, must have become exceedingly grewsome, as it was time to suffer through that which He knew would happen, for thousands of years! He had told the ones that followed Him several times, but it was spoken as if it was not that big of a deal; almost as He told them of Lazarus' death, as if it wasn't a big deal and it was all going to be alright. 

 Nevertheless, when it came time for it to fall into place, the suffering He was about to go through was overwhelming and Jesus, the Man, meaning the flesh which He walked in, was about to be torn and put to death. As I thought about that yesterday morning, it was more that I could take just trying to imagine what it was like. 

 That was pretty much the reason for my quick change to share about the wonderful outcome, to a very complex and grewsome plan; seemingly, something my stepdad would say, just before I was given the paddle, "This is going to hurt me, more than you." I say this, only because the Father didn't answer...

"Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their schemes." (PSALM 37:5-7 NLT)  

"The Father's Hand" - To

 "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure: but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10 KJV)

  "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21 NLT)

 I can recall the musical play that came to our church, back in the early 90's, the play was called, "Toy Maker and Son." As John puts it, in his writing, "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) To be honest, the whole thing about us being 'toys' was a little much, but the play was pretty good. As it really goes, God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us." (Genesis 1:26a) 

 There is only so much that we can really imagine, based upon what we read in the Bible; but this much is sure: When we get there, things are going to be overwhelmingly amazingly perfect...

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."" (Revelation 21:3-4 NLT)   

"The Father's Hand"

 "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10 KJV)

  "This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (Colossians 1:21-22 NLT)

 More than ever, there is a certainty that these surely are the last days; mostly because Jesus said that we needed to be ready; and if there could be any better signs than what I see happening in this world, this is the time to make ready! That doesn't mean we shut ourselves up and isolate ourselves from the world; because Jesus clearly said that two would be working, meaning that we continue with what we do; but one will be taken, and the other one left. (Mathew 24:40) 

 Anywho, this word for 'profit' that is very close to that of 'partakers' in the verse ten; as it is, there is a form of fellowship in both of the translations. This might sound too easy to believe, but God's whole purpose in creating us was to have fellowship with us. As I have said several times before, true fellowship was not available between us and Him, even in the very beginning. He might have been able to visit Adam in the Garden, but Adam wasn't holy enough to visit Him in heaven. 

 We must understand that Jesus was planned to come and pay the price for our sins, even before the world was made; therefore, God already knew in advance that we were flawed and would sin. Why else would He place a tree in the middle of the Garden, to give Adam a reason to sin or not sin? That was the whole reason it was named: "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."

 We must also know that tree will not be in Heaven; but the Tree of Life will be! God's perfect plan to make it possible to have fellowship with His children...

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:17-19 NLT)  

"Our Good Good Father"

 "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:9 KJV)

  "The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all of our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die." (PSALM 103:8-15 NLT)

 So, I really never had a father growing up; I had a stepfather, but most of the time we didn't get alone; to say the least. My mother and my real dad separated before I was two, and I really didn't meet my real dad until he came with my mother and my aunt to visit me in Fire Camp, when I was about 16, going on 17. I think the visit was meant to be some sort of an intervention, as they were trying to stop me from being a life-long criminal.   

 Not that my stepdad didn't try to correct me, because he did. He worked at a plant where they made things like plastic glass, so he brought home paddles that he made; some of them had holes, just for me. By the time I was 12, we really didn't get along at all. When I came home one night, around 11:30 or so, the lights were off, and he was waiting for me to show up. As I walked through the living room, he hit me square in the face; I had a broken nose and two black eyes. 

 That was pretty much the last straw; as it was, he went to jail, my mother had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized; and my sister and two younger brothers were placed in juvenal hall. But I was on probation, and my probation officer didn't think it was a good idea for me to be locked down, so I lived at my girlfriend's house, for a few weeks. 

 I know I have shared this before, but I truly believe my Heavenly Father was always there, keeping a close eye on me. I truly believe that the Father knows who His children are, long before they ever even know Him. So, the way I see it, He knows us already, waiting patiently for us to surrender...  

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day has passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" (PSALM 139:13-18 NLT)   

"We All are Partakers" - Too

 "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:8 KJV)

  "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen." (1 Peter 5:8-11 NLT)

 If you have ever had a chance to read a book called, "Hell's Best Kept Secret," then you might remember Ray's illustration of the two men on the airplane that are offered parachutes. One is given it and told that it would make him comfortable and feel safe. The other is given one and told that the plane is going down, and it was his only chance to stay alive. 

 It's been a while, but I do remember the first one took it off, because it really wasn't comfortable, and he also got laughed at for wearing it. While the other one, really didn't care about being uncomfortable, and even if people laughed at him for wearing it, he only warmed them that they needed one too. It's been a while, so excuse me if I left anything out. But I think you get the message.

 Peter is sharing about giving all your worries to God; which includes the trials which we go through. We have a great enemy, the devil, and when we are feeling as though our trials are overwhelming or too much to bear, he is always ready to give us a hand to back out and take off the Parachute...

"Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe? But the time is coming - indeed it's now here - when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."" (John 16:31-33 NLT) 

"We All are Partakers"

 "But if ye be without chastisement, wherefor all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:8 KJV)

  "Look at these wicked people - enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked." (PSALM 73:12-17 NLT)

 Getting to the point about what this looks like in real life, Asaph opened this Psalm expressing his heart; saying, "Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone." If you have ever felt that way, it is really not that difficult to understand how easily we can slip or fall, just because we might envy the wicked. 

 That might not seem to be a reality to some, but I know what it is like, as it is, I get a chance to see the way they live, inspecting their houses and seeing all the wealth that they have acquired. Getting a little taste of glamor and many expensive toys, can sometimes make us envious and feeling a little left out.

 But one thing I often do, without getting too nosey, is look around to see if there is a Bible being used or some kind of sign that they are believers. If I don't see anything that might show that they part of God's family, then my heart gets right, and I don't feel so envious anymore. 

 Better to be partakers of God's chastisement, then to be feeling like you can do things on your own! We that have experienced what that feels like, if we are His children, then we should know, He will not allow that for long! If you have been following this blog for a while, you might have known what I mean! If God isn't teaching and molding you, then who is? 

 Pray hard for your family, especially those who don't think they need the LORD...

"Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant - I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (PSALM 73:21-26 NLT)

"Preservation!"

 "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:7 KJV)

  ""Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin not more'? Or 'I don't know what evil I have done - tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?"" (Job 34:31-32 NLT)

 If you are wondering what this title, preservation, might mean, it was taken from the meaning of the word, "endure," as it has the same character as what it takes 'to hold fast to one's faith in Christ'. As we should always do, if we have sinned in any way that we know of, we need to ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us; and if we think we are being disciplined for something we might not realize we have done, then we ask Him to show us, and thank Him for correcting us. 

 Actually, it works both ways; as we are doing all that we can to be holy, He does all that needs to be done to keep us holy! And just so you know, if you have been washed in the blood of Christ Jesus, you have been made Holy in the eyes of the Father! 

 There is just something that grace does, that is more than we can really understand. But the more we try to understand it, the more we think to ask for mercy, because we don't think deserve the grace we have been given. But that's why we need the preservation! If you have been saved, you are now a child of God; and because you are His child, He does whatever needs to be done to preserve your inheritance as one of His children! 

 It is a win-win situation, no matter the circumstance or trial, we really have nothing to worry about, as long as we keep our eyes upon Jesus, knowing that whatever it is we are going through, it is for our good, because He is a Good Good Father...

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights of the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you have died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)

"The Father's Love"

 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." (Hebrews 12:6 KJV)

  "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. [Interlude] Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. [Interlude]" (PSALM 32:1-5 NLT)

 Something to think about, as I was trying to share yesterday, we will have tribulation and trials! If it is not something that we are dealing with, one way or another, then maybe we should wonder why that is so, because those who follow Jesus are meant to through the fire, one way or another! If you don't receive that, thinking that I am making it up, look it up for yourself, because it is our cross to bear, like it or not!

 Looking at this verse, the word, "chasteneth," is different than that of "scourgeth", in so many ways. To show what that might look like, in the way of instruction: Chasten is actually meant to train, cause to learn; molding character into us, even using discipline, if needed. While scourge, it just means to flog! 

 I can recall from my childhood days, that my mom would sometimes have me go out in the yard and choose the stick, by which I would get a spanking. I learned right away, the bigger the stick, the less it would hurt! God just wants us to obey Him; not because He wants us to control us, but because He wants to protect us from going the wrong way! 

 I remember my mother telling me, "Son, make sure you look both ways, before you cross the street." It really wasn't to control the way I walked, but more about staying safe and secure. Funny thing is, that she did that for her peace of mind also... 

"Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgement by the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commended me what say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."" (John 12:44-50 NLT) 

"The Chastening of The Lord" - Two

 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:" (Hebrews 12:5 KJV)

  "O LORD, don't rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me LORD, for my bones are in agony." (PSALM 6:1-2 NLT)

 Secondly, there is something that many of us might have forgotten, or ignored, in this loving relationship we have with our Heavenly Father: His Son, who did no wrong at all, took on the chastening for our sins, and was shamed and cursed as He hung on that cross! If our Lord and Savior was willing to go through all of that, having done nothing to deserve it, then who are we to complain, knowing all that He has done for us, even though we did not deserve it! 

 There is just so much we seem to forget, when we are going through trials and tribulations; mostly because we focus on the here and now, thinking, 'Why me,' when we should remember how much Jesus suffered to take away the sins that condemn us, and has given a chance for eternal life with Him! Instead, we should keep believing, knowing that nothing that happens to us in this life, can take away the real life that we are hoping and looking forward to, when all of this is over...

"All of us like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands." (Isaiah 53:6-10 NLT)