I have always loved this verse! It resonated in my spirit the first moment I read it in the 70's. And today, the more I learn about God and His Ways the more I realize I have just scratched the surface on knowing Him! And I am painfully aware that He FULLY KNOWS me!
I remember hiding things in my heart, from myself and erroneously thinking He wouldn't see them either! I'm sure He didn't want to see the evil I did, anymore than I wanted Him to, however whether looking or not, HE KNEW! For He knows me better than I know myself, for He made me! (Jeremiah 12:3) (Psalm 131:13)
We are all His children, and when we are Born Again into His likeness, we are given the milk of The Word. And as we grow (and we are supposed to grow) we are then fed meat! (1Peter 2:2)
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (I Corinthians 13:11 NKJV)
As we grow (and put away the childish things) we see His love formed in us! We take on His attributes! We love because He first loved us! (1John 4:18)
This is meat:
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV)
That is love! That's what He does and that is what we are supposed to do! But we don't, and we then excuse ourselves "because we are only human!" That is a lie from the devil! You see when we miss it, we are not supposed to excuse ourself, we are supposed to repent!
When we repent of our lack of obedience; when we ask forgiveness and own up to our sin, then we can call on Him for mercy! His grace is sufficient and His work in us continues! When we make an excuse instead, we are justifying ourself and our sin, and we stay right there in our shortcomings! If we repent and purpose, in our hearts, to conform to His likeness then we begin, to look like Him! His love working in us and through us to reach a lost and dying world, shines brightly in the darkness!
Reread the above verse! (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV). Does that describe you? So many times I do not respond like that, but those responses are my hearts desire!
"but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”" (I Peter 1:15-16 NKJV)
Holiness only comes from obedience to His Word! Jesus obeyed The Father's every command and we must purpose to do the same! Repentance gets us there!
Making excuses keeps us in our sin!
So repent and repent often!
A friend often says, "when we get to heaven, I'm sure we won't get into trouble for repenting too much!"
However, if we don't obey, if we refuse to repent of our rebellion, if we excuse our sin . . . Then we will never look like Him!
"But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’" (Luke 13:27 NKJV)
It is beyond time to grow-up church!
Before time runs out! Repent!!!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 8/4/15, 4/23/16
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