In this Age of Laodicea, our God is not much loved because He is at the door and He knocks. "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) God help us to be aware of our commitment. We are not here to play. We come to the House of Correction to teach us, to rebuke us, to lead us in the way of truth.
"For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be like his Son, that his Son might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29) While people do what they want, God calls His own one by one. The mighty hand of God is always at work to draw them to Himself. We are at the end of time but we are not aware of this or we would make other arrangements. "But toward evening the light will appear. (Zechariah 14:7) God did it and we are walking in the Light. We did not seek Him, but God went to the trouble of seeking us. He remains faithful despite our unfaithfulness. "What do you see, Jeremiah? I said, "I see an almond tree branch. And the Lord said to me, 'You have seen well; for I have kept my word, to do it. (Jeremiah 1:11-12) Our God deserves respect. Fear, respect and consideration must be part of our lives. At the appointed time, God came to take us out of the mire.
Do we really love this God? We love Him a little because we need to or because we are afraid but fear is not in love. God has truly loved us. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) God must have done something for you to love Him like that. You love this God because He means so much to you. He has done without asking for anything in return. He did it to give you something better: Eternal Life. What have we given to the Lord to receive forgiveness? God is so good, that hell was never created for man, but it is you who force the way to hell. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) In order to have a wage, you have to work. You have to work for it. But the free gift, there you do nothing. "The Lord does not delay in fulfilling the promise, as some think, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but wanting all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God does not want you to perish but you are the one who forces the way.
When Sodom and Gomorrah were plunged into sin, God could have simply destroyed them but He came down to Abraham so that Abraham could intercede. Abraham expected nothing in return. A chosen one does good without a quid pro quo. When the righteous do something, they forget, they don't remember. Do not fall into the trap of the enemy, do not expect anything in return. There were two people on the road to Emmaus, what was the topic of conversation? What are the topics of conversation between us? They had concerns in their lives but they were talking about the Scriptures. They had a bigger concern. "We hoped that he would be the one to deliver Israel; but with all this, behold the third day these things happened." (Luke 24:21) God doesn't come just any old way! Jesus came to them. "Seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) When Joseph and Mary searched in the temple, He answered them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49) The woman who lost the drachma. She did not stand by and wait, but she did not rest until her husband came. Your mouth should be used for praise, for exhortation, not for insults or quarrels. My mouth must seek to speak good things. "I will bless the LORD my counselor; even in the night my heart exhorts me." (Psalm 16:7)
When you leave the church, what do you talk about? This is communion, always around the Word. Hell is for Satan and his angels, but if you want to associate with them... "What do you talk about as you walk along, that you are all sad? And one of them, named Cleopas, said to him, "Are you the only one who is staying in Jerusalem and does not know what has happened there these days? (Luke 24:17-18) Jesus showed them the life of God's Word, not religion. Their thoughts were turned to what concerns spiritual things. God cannot come near those who do not care about Him. Abraham was under the oak of Mamre. It was God who had asked Abraham to go out of his country, and Abraham had obeyed. God could not abandon Abraham. Three men came to Abraham: the Lord and two angels. "The men went away and went to Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the Lord. (Genesis 18:22) Abraham is an elect. If God has chosen you, it is for a purpose. You must accomplish something. We must submit in obedience and faith in what God tells us. Three people but Abraham addresses one person and he calls him my Lord. That is election. When God chose you, He placed something special in you.
1 John 4:4-6
"My sheep hear my voice" (John 10:27). But what voice are you following? If God has given you a place to hear the Word, then listen to the Word. "That thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars" (Revelation 2:2). There must be something of God in you. The throne of God has come down into everyone's heart because God has given us discernment. When it comes from God then there is a deep Amen that comes from the heart. The vulture swallows anything but for the eagle it is not possible because inside it cannot pass.
Philippians 4:4-8 / Colossians 3:12-13
God has never asked us to complain. If someone hurts you, forgive. "Above all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) You do this because you seek peace. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not enemies. Be true, love your brothers and sisters. We are the Lord's sheep. The sheep is gentle and obedient. Your family character must go. Salvation is individual. Your husband may be bad but I want to go to heaven. "Don't worry about anything," the Master had said the same thing. If God knows I need it, He will take care. This Jesus wants you to be at peace. "...to have sincere brotherly love" (1 Peter 1:22), not double, not hypocritical.
1 Peter 1:22-25
"Sanctify them with your truth: your word is truth. (John 17: 17) God does a work in you, there is no more hypocrisy. When we have experienced this new birth, "I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone from your body, and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26), we are new creatures.
1 Peter 1:17
We are pilgrims here on earth, we have no roots. But we have a home waiting for us up there. You must know where you are going. "Did we not cast out demons by your name? (Matthew 7:22) You can cast out demons and at the end of your life find yourself with them. When the name of Jesus is proclaimed, the demons tremble. But what is your life? When Jesus spoke, Lazarus came out. This name has power. "Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11) We are to bear that Name. Being led astray, they also lead others astray and for that they will pay. "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all nations. (Matthew 24:14) Every man has to hear the truth, it is up to each one to make his choice. God gives you free will. You have the freedom to believe or not to believe in this Word. Who can measure the love of God? It is so deep. When you see what God had to do for man, it makes you want to sing every day of your life. When you come to understand this, it allows you to endure the trial. A Christian can never break down, a Christian endures, he resists to the blood because he has understood why he goes through this path. "If you are outraged for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14) God is always watching, He has set a limit that must not be exceeded.
Philippians 4:8
God wants us to be partners with Him. God is doing a work in you. It doesn't come all at once but God prunes and removes all the bad things you have had to store up. We must see Christ in you. God is not looking for you, but He is looking for Christ in you. "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16) "For this is the time when judgment will begin at the house of God." (1 Peter 4:17) God works on character. It is not you that God is going to take away but He is coming to get the Body of Christ. We enter the Body of Christ through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. God does not beg you.
Ephesians 4:1
You want us to see you, but we are looking for Christ. If we see you, we no longer see Christ. "Why do you look at us, as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (Acts 3:12) "After He has given His life as a sacrifice for sin, He will see a seed and prolong His days" (Isaiah 53:10) Not me but Christ. I can do nothing for man, let Christ do it. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)