For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty]. Colossians 1:13-14, Amplified Bible  

 

From our last blogs, we discovered what we possess in our new home IN HIM (the heart of Jesus Christ): 

• Every one of our Needs is Supplied by Christ.
• He cares for our Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual needs.
• We are Safe and Secure in His Loving and Protective Arms.
• We are Valued and Adored Unconditionally as if we were the only ones on earth.
• We have Perfect Peace and Unity.
• We are Loved Unconditionally; no strings attached!

 

When we know we are Loved Unconditionally, then we can experience True Freedom In Christ! This Freedom allows us to choose His Life and Truth, but also we are free to fail and choose death and lies.

 

It isn’t really God’s Love if we aren’t given a choice, right? What kind of love is it when we do well we are loved but when we mess up, we aren’t? You are correct, Conditional Love. The Love we experience In Christ allows both!  Some of us have had children who were easy to raise; they seldom challenged our authority, disobeyed us, or sneaked out of the house without permission. And, then we have had children like me… (Thank you, Lord, for loving me unconditionally) who gave my mother, Heavenly Father, and Lord a thousand gray hairs. My mantra in life was, “You must try it at least once!” Yep, and that once was never enough. Sin has a way of deceiving us and making evil look real good. It all appears good and luscious to the eyes but it always brings death to our minds and emotions.

 

Even though our Father respects our choices, He never looks away from our sins of unbelief, worries, fear, or disobedience, nor will He ever reject us. He longs that we choose His Life and Truth. Because our Father is LOVE, He will never coerce or manipulate us into making the right choices. But He does have methods for getting our attention and drawing us to the path of righteous behaviors because;

 

For whom the Lord loves, He disciplines, chastens, and corrects every son whom He receives. 

 

For verily our fathers chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He (Our Heavenly Father) for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby.  Hebrews 12:6, 10-11

 

HE CHASTENS THOSE HE LOVES

 

There are two teachers our Father uses to draw His children from walking after the flesh, sin, and disobedience back into the path of  Life and Truth; it is found in Isaiah Chapter 30 verse 20, KJV.

 

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers.

 

I know those teachers quite intimately. On one of those many occasions was in 1986, I had a panic attack in a restaurant and was taken to the hospital. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. As I laid in the hospital bed of the emergency room, the voice of the Lord said to my heart, “I told you No!  Three times, my daughter; why aren’t you obeying?” His No was regarding taking a particular job I so anxiously wanted, He told me to wait on His timing. Whenever I acknowledged my sin of disobedience, repented, and turned from the flesh and sin back unto my Father and Lord within me, I always found their loving arms waiting to receive me. Oh, I have many stories to share about disobedience and the grace and love of a Loving Lord and Father, but let me spare you. Our brother King David had his own encounters on many occasions throughout his life. He wrote about them and the Lord chose to share them with us. Here are a few encounters with the teachers, adversity, and affliction.

 

II Samuel 4:9 – And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, “As the Lord lives, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity.“

 

Psalm 25:18 – Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

 

Psalm 66:11 – You brought us into the net; You laid affliction upon our loins.

 

Psalm 88:9 -Mine eye mourns by reason of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon Thee; I have stretched out my hands unto Thee.

 

Psalm 119:67-69 – Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. 

 

Isaiah 48:10 – Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

 

This blog is written to give hope to some of my brothers and sisters who are wandering from the path of Life or have children who are traveling on the road of darkness. The Truth is, if they have given their lives to the Lord, they belong to Him forever and He has two teachers who can’t be ignored; with grace and mercy, He will lead them back to Truth when they are ready. If they haven’t received Christ in their life, then we will pray for them that the Holy Spirit will lead them to Jesus Christ, the Savior, and Lover of every soul! Jesus said, “All Souls Are Mine!”

 

Father, we thank you for Your love and tender care toward us. You said, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, self-imposed, or the schemes of the enemy, but You will deliver them out of them ALL!” Psalm 34:19, Amen

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Enjoy Christ, Enjoy Life!