Continuing Michael's message, he writes that according to Brother Lawrence, “God loves us exactly where we are.” The essence of God’s love is that it is an unconditional, gracious, and merciful love. Our God of grace doesn’t angrily wait for us to walk in obedience to His word. When we turn our hearts to the Lord and focus on Him, we remind ourselves that our true desire as followers of Christ is to walk with him and in His way. We are partakers in fellowship with Christ when we focus our hearts to rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice to glorify Him.
If we find ourselves far from God, who moved? God remains true and faithful to His Word. Like the forgiving father, He patiently anticipates the prodigal son’s return. When we return our hearts to Him, He will run to embrace us. When we repent, turning from our pride and the worship of self, and turn our eyes back on Jesus, He will forgive our sins. For He who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.
According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He will forgive our sins, cast them as far as the east is from the west, and remember them no more. The Sabbath rest is the rest to which God is calling us. If we have been indoctrinated by the world’s message that calls good evil and evil good, we can return our hearts back to the truth of His love and grace.
How do we separate darkness from light? How do we discern truth from error? Discernment is according to the standard of His Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:13 says in the King James Version: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” The New International Version says: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Darkness and light are alike to you, O Lord. All things are laid bare before the eyes of God almighty. The word translated “naked (KJV)” or “laid bare (NIV)” is a wrestling term. It means to grab hold of the opponent so that he cannot break free. Another meaning of this word is to skin a dead animal. The dead animal cannot resist. When we’re laid bare and naked before the Lord, we cannot resist His calling, His election, His wooing us to “come unto me all ye who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God himself is the prime mover. He is the irresistible force. He is all knowing and all powerful. There is nothing hidden from the Lord. Therefore, may we enter into the Lord’s Sabbath rest. When like the prodigal son, we “come to ourselves” and realize that apart from Him, nothing is of value, then we can arise and return to our loving Heavenly Father, that we may ever live to the praise fo the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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