smitten

GOD Loves His People

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Anyone who has read the Bible, and studied it, can clearly see that God loves His people. Though Israel had departed from Him many times, and the LORD chastened them, because He saw  them destroying themselves. He always calls His straying people to return to Him.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.  After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hosea 6:1-3

Many people who do not know God believe Him to be a harsh and cruel God; but He is actually very loving, merciful and gracious One. Someone has said, “God loves us the way we are; but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.” Another said, “God will not allow His children to sin successfully.”

When the LORD tells us we have sinned, then we better listen, and fall on our faces before Him and ask forgiveness for our sin(s). We ought to always keep our account with GOD short.  That when we realize our sin, we immediately go to the throne of grace and plead forgiveness. Guess what? He forgive us our sin (1 John 1:9). If you say that you have no sin then, hear this. “He that says he has no sin, deceives himself, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 1:8.  Lost and in the darkness of sin and death.

When one or many of God’s children return to Him it is like healing from being torn, and binding or wounds after being smitten. Even though GOD disciplines His wayward children we can be assured through and by the chastening that we are His; for He has said in Hebrews 12:5-8, ” 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: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

Now, if you are a child of God and you have the assurance of that salvation, but you have gone astray He is calling you back to Himself. He is calling you back. Hear Him and run back to Him. He will be running to you to welcome you home (Luke 15:20).

For those who read this and are not a child of God, and you want to be. Know this that you need to know God’s Son who is Jesus Christ. He took your place and mine on the cross, taking the full wrath of God for our sins, He was buried taking away our sins casting them into the very depths of the sea, and as far away as east is from west.  He did not stay dead, but arose from that tomb, alive forever more. When you call out to Him He will hear you.

The Judgment that Evil Judges

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him.  And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is it that smote    thee?”  And many other things blasphemously spake they against Him.                      Luke 22:63-65

We often hear the words, “Judge not” from many who make unrighteous judgments themselves. Yes, those of us who have been redeemed by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ often do make unrighteous judgments too, but let’s be honest. Is not telling others, “Judge not” itself making a judgment.

It usually comes from someone who does not agree with what has been said, whether it is right or wrong; according to Scripture; makes no difference.

The most unrighteous judgment ever made in the history of the world, and Adam’s race is seen in the verses above. The Righteous One being judged, mocked, smitten in the face, and blindfolded to be asked to “Prophesy…” is nothing short of evil and blasphemous.

To treat our blessed Lord that way is the epitome of evil; and of evil judgments. So the next time you hurl the words “Judge not” at someone who made a Scriptural judgment, a righteous judgment,  remember the evil of your own heart, and your contempt for the Christ who as the Righteous Judge will one day judge you.

Remember believer, “There is therefore, now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1).