Listen my friends, if we can just get our minds back on the right track during this sanctification process, and hear the Lord is not telling us that we’re necessarily going to have to live in a slum all our life, that’s not what He’s saying! No, but we do have to make our choices, for we all will be both commonly and uniquely tried during these boots on the ground “gettin-ready” encounters!
You do know what happens when we’re not tried & tested? Usually the same thing that happens when we never work out, never go to the gym. We just get all mushy soft & weak. If we desire vigor, we must get get appropriate exercise. Perhaps, even lift weights. When we lift weights, what happens? The weights oppose our muscles. Likewise, to strengthen our faith, just as a parent lovingly applies discipline for their child’s course correction, we need something that will oppose our faith, something to challenge, discourage or diminish our faith. For all the while we’re fighting desperately to remain committed to Jesus, to stand up in obedience, we mature, we gain His righteousness, we are humbled, strengthened; such that nothing can take us down. That’s the sanctification your Father is desiring for us.
Consider what happens when a baby begins to crawl? Do you not know their muscles are incredibly weak? But they will crawl until they can’t move. They experience, as we do in the gym, when we do reps until we experience “muscle burn-out.” They exert everything they have when they start crawling inch by inch, in order to get somewhere, such that months later, their bodies get strong & sufficiently coordinated to crawl fast, eventually pulling up, taking steps, that leads to walking. Initially, they only walk several steps and fall over because their legs are weak, but they get up and do it again, over and over, until they master balance and gain strength. And when they DO begin walking, they do not get up saying, “Oh, how many steps is it to the front door? That comes much later, such as when you have a mobility problem with your legs or your strength. Right? When you utilize “walkers” featuring a seat to rest on, brakes to stop with, and a basket for your treasures!
After maturing into adulthood, you exchange fighting mobility & gravity and gaining social skills for the likes of, whatever for example, is stressing you out right now. You’ve been, and are yet BEING, prepared to overcome everything that lies before you in your journey to sanctification; every trial, every tribulation, every relationship disappointment or rejection, that will happen in your life. Perhaps somebody lied when they flippantly told you, “You’re not supposed to be in this situation!”
Yes, we must, and will be, in order to learn to overcome them. Remember, when we’re opposing whatever, the process becomes just like you learning to walk, or, when we’re very young, and we don’t yet have immunity against colds & viruses; thus, exposure makes us sick, but every time we suffer sickness, we gradually build up our immunity to that bug, such that whenever it comes around again, our “unconsciously built-in” immunity within our body will fight it off, before we’re even aware of its presence. We literally have no idea how many “bugs” we’re exposed to every day, whether it be in you body’s natural immune system, or even more importantly, because we’re spiritually immunized by God’s Instant Justification, and by His continual sanctifying natural immunity. HALLELUJAH!
That’s exactly what the Lord is working out for each of us every minute of our lives. He doesn’t merely rescue us from the devil. Rather, we’re here to overcome & defeat the devil, so that when the serpent does his dirt, we step right on his head and keep on walking. Unfortunately, too many Christians today believe we’re supposed to be “rescued” from darkness, when actually, the Lord desires to make us spiritually stronger than the darkness.
Can we see that? That we’re being made stronger all the while we’re being sanctified & reinforced, as with our bodies’ natural immunity? Such that we will unconsciously build our spiritual strength such that we will be immune to the devil and anything he represents? That’s what’s happening here! Do you understand how much training that requires? In order to make us strong, So Satan can’t take us out.
But we certainly don’t act like that! Out & about, I’m hearing that the serpent is trying to kill us and wreck our lives, that our lives are a mess, and this that and the other… No, actually, God is helping us become immune to darkness, the devil, and anything he represents. We’re learning to walk above the darkness and its effect on us! Now do we see why God does not come and rescue everybody? He need not do that! He knows exactly what He’s doing in order to grow us, such that we ASAP possess His different mindset. Do we all see that?
Somehow, we must make ourselves mindful that these trials and tribulations are directly from the love of God. Can we remember that? He is faithful to make us stronger than anything Satan represents, stronger than all darkness, truly being His children. Don’t we see that? And, since we’re still alive today, and here, by strategically believing in Christ, that means his power is working, because the darkness that affected us earlier, does no longer. Hallelujah!
BOTTOM LINE:
We must remind ourselves of His provision for His Natural & Acquired IMMUNITY, so we’ll not be one of those who would believe we’re supposed to go to Disney World on vacation, when in fact, we’re being strategically and tactically prepared for His kingdom service here & now, UNTIL He calls / takes us home. That PROCESS will establish the solid foundation we need to survive and thrive on our journey to the Celestial City.
BONUS SCRIPTURE FOR FREE. Had this read to me this morning while walking. These 11 verses are worth more than all the above. Just saying….merlin
Hebrews 12:5-15 (MSG)
5. So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.
6. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
7. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training,
8. the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?
9. We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live?
10. While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best.
11. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
12. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!
13. Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
14. Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God.
15. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.
ENJOY YOUR DAY!