REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION - Is this still not the question today? Choices. If we are to obey our elders, submitting to them in all things, what would be the difference in regard to the Jewish people submitting to the elders of the day when JESUS walked the earth? JESUS had said to His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. He openly confronted them, and even went through the temple in a rage overturning the tables, because of the incredible deceit in their own hearts! Would this not be regarded as sin? JESUS also said because you see not your sin, you are condemned, to the leaders of the day. Could this mean possibly that we are all capable of being pharisaical in our approach to our fellow man? Is JESUS also not warning us, that we are all capable of being like Saul and David alike, but because of JESUS’ blood on the cross, we continue to grow in the character of JESUS even though we fail many times, in being as Saul.
As we grow in faith, we become more like David, in the heart of the matter, in which we do at times fail, then do we hear the voice of judgement, or the voice of encouragement, teaching us His ways, growing in His character. So, I ask again, was JESUS in sin, when He did not submit to the elders of His day?
In regard to the law, Paul said, we could not be saved by trying to keep the commandments, that if it didn’t work for the Jewish people, that there would be a better way. What as born again, spirit filled believers, is the difference in our lives as to how we should live? If we are all susceptible to sin, and yet through our relationship and vital union with the SON of the Living GOD, who has brought us out of condemnation into the loving embrace and acceptance of Our Father, in whom we are now ONE with, and through His Spirit, are we still trying to gain our acceptance, by striving to keep the Law of the Commandments, or through Mercy, understanding that we all fall short, and because we are now His, we are now able to see each other through the eyes of Mercy - the eternal blood of JESUS CHRIST, bearing with one anothers’ faults, forgiving each other, dwelling with Him, and IN Him, IN Mercy.
Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive Mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. What is it to be pure in heart, or even holy? Is not this to allow Mercy and Forgiveness, to be always flowing from our hearts, because of the understanding that now flows through us, because of the understanding and comfort of His Spirit that now dwells within? Emmanuel, God with us. Should we be dwelling on each others’ faults, or should we be seeing instead, each other through the eyes of GLORY, JESUS CHRIST, who has forgiven us all on the basis of what He did, not on what we did, or do? Thanks be to God, for the Gospel of GOOD NEWS, that allows me to step out of the world of judgement, and condemnation, and into the HOPE that He has once for all done when He died on the cross, and proclaimed, "IT IS FINISHED!" So, even though at times, I fail, I now can see others through His eyes, and finished work, allowing forgiveness and understanding to flow to myself, and then to others. Lord, that I may seek not so much to be understood, but to understand. It is my desire that in the many different and unique personalities that Our Father created in each one of His children, that we lose not our individuality, but rejoice in our differences, and be united through the blood of JESUS, which now courses through our veins, MERCY and FORGIVENESS, being the choice of our hearts, uniting us once again, bringing tenderness, gentleness, breaking down the strongholds that hold us in fear of one another, suspicious, in what the other might have said or done, or ultimately might say or do. I have a sincere desire that anyone that may have an offence toward me, might be able to come to me, that true communion might flow, and that I may be forgiven, and that I might forgive. I cannot go on without the FORGIVENESS of any brother, or sister in the Lord, for the veil has been rent to allow this beautiful gift to each other, and in responding to this gift, I see the FACE OF GRACE, in JESUS CHRIST Himself, thus seeing the FACE OF GRACE, in each other. Praise be to the NAME of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!
I love the LORD JESUS CHRIST. He is My LORD and SAVIOR, and I love my brothers and sisters with a love that only comes from the depth and knowledge of a vital relationship, which comes only through Him. The Blood of JESUS cleanses me, and allows me to see you only through the eyes of MERCY and FORGIVENESS. I pray in earnestness that you too will see me through the eternal eyes of the Blood of JESUS. We must always seek FORGIVENESS from the heart, so that the LOVE of the FATHER, be revealed unto us, that we might have a FACE TO FACE encounter with our LORD JESUS CHRIST, submitting to one another in the Spirit of GRACE, which will bring us to a place where we will "KNOW HIM, in the power of the resurrection, in the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death," Phil. 3.10.
Let this not be a means of lightly throwing off offences, that we have with one another, but instead be a beginning toward reconciliation that can only be wrought by FORGIVENESS, and MERCY, and a firm commitment to understand and love each other in that resolve, knowing that love can and will never fail, but will eventually bring down every wall of resistence to the obedience of JESUS CHRIST, availing us of His Nature, and bring the GLORY of His Countenance upon ours!!!
Is it that we so much desire to justify our sins, or is it that we desire to see one another through eyes of LOVE, and MERCY, in the FACE OF GRACE, JESUS CHRIST, SON of the Living GOD? "...and the WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us" JN. 1.14
Are we not Living Epistles? Do we not declare out of our mouths, the message of REDEMPTION, and RECONCILIATION, FORGIVENESS unto all men?
We must LISTEN, with the ears of the SPIRIT, to one another, dwelling in the "Land of COMMITMENT, and RESTORATION", the true communion of the HOLY SPIRIT, true fellowship. It is this LAND, that is the LAND OF MILK AND HONEY!!! The sweet land of maturity, the inner most court, THE MOST HOLY PLACE!!!
Now that we all have the fellowship, communion, or shall we say, communication with the Holy Spirit that indwells us, does not that mean that the communication that we have with each other, to be open and honest, allowing each other to share their hearts, and listening with a heart and mind attuned toward understanding from the start, instead of perhaps, seeing evil in one another. What do we choose to see? Do we make a choice to see evil, or the strong work of the Spirit, conforming us into the image of the Glory of God, which is hearts full of Mercy!
What is REDEMPTION, if it is not one word alone, FORGIVENESS, which opens the understanding in our hearts, that the whole basis of the GOOD NEWS allows us to do one thing alone, UNDERSTAND, which immediately frees us to go the throne of GRACE, unmerited favor, and receive His GLORY, which is the SPIRIT of UNDERSTANDING and MERCY. What a wonderful God we serve that allows us to enter into the "LAND OF UNDERSTANDING" with each other, dwelling with each other in love, even when we do not live up to one anothers’ expectations of each other, knowing that we too, cannot possibly live up to everyones’ expectation of ourselves. Unless one walk in another mans’ shoes, we cannot possibly know or judge that person. Yet each one of us, everyday can judge, and at sometimes do, but ultimately, I ask you, does FORGIVENESS rule as the measure of the day? Does true righteousness flow which is Mercy and Understanding, or does judgement also respond in us, and a complete breakdown in communication unfold, presenting barriers to great, which have become strongholds, that we, that are standing in disagreement with each other, no longer seeing clearly, but seeing only through buttresses, or fortresses of pride? Is one better than the other? Is one more chosen or loved than the other?
In His Glorious Name, Catherine Heim
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