But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8
March 2020
Time for Reflection
Many people recognize this time as the season of Lent (Feb. 26-April 9, 2020). It is a time when some people, particularly of the Catholic faith, will spend this time in reflection with fasting as they prepare for the celebration of Easter. Various religions have their own rites for celebration at this time but every nation knows the story of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion on the cross. Christians recognize Resurrection Sunday because Jesus died on the cross in our place for sins we committed. Now our sins are forgiven through His death because we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. However we choose to celebrate or recognize this time, it is a historic occasion, worthy of us taking note.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 3:16-19
Christians, in particular, know that their sins are already forgiven through Christ’s death and they may take this time lightly, feeling as if they are ready for the season. Worldwide we are seeing the devastation of the Coronavirus as it takes the lives of mostly the elderly, whose bodies are too weak to resist the devastating virus. That alone is a reason to begin to pray and seek God for ourselves and others. We are reminded in scripture that the death angel passed over the Israelites in Egypt when God came in to destroy the Egyptians. All the first-born in the land of the stubborn Egyptian pharaoh died while the Israelites went unharmed. God protects His faithful ones.
God knows us one by one and the very sequence of our DNA. He made us and knows all about each one of us. We may think we know where we stand with God, but he alone has our scorecard and our accounting is written in His book. Many people may confess their sins daily but we still cannot imagine all that is on our record. God is a forgiving God and the blood of Jesus Christ was given to atone for all our sins and Christ still intercedes lovingly on our behalf.
My writings have been online for the past seven years and I have always written that we need to repent. As Christians and Americans, there is a lot to repent of as a nation. While I have realized our nation needs to repent, I did not forget about my own soul. I know about others in part only because God has shown me myself and I am thankful. It is encouraging when the Holy Spirit brings to my attention things I need to correct while I read and study the word. I readily welcome His correction and work toward eliminating my faults, of which there have been many. There are some areas that I know of and have struggled with. Two particular areas God brought to my attention very recently; and I am not claiming I have only two issues, but I recognized them immediately. I have been through several trials over a problem area and then realized that in the end, I had repeated the same error. I had not sufficiently learned the lesson.
It is important to stop here and explain that God is a good Father and He loves His children. He is always teaching us so we can do better and be better to do more for Him in the earth. We know He is patient because He has put up with a lot in us. It is also important to know that He is willing to teach us again if we are pliable under His hand. That means we have to acknowledge that we messed up. Remember David; he messed up a lot but God forgave him, brushed him off and put him back on the throne. God will do the same thing for us if we repent. Yes, there may still be consequences, but God will see us through them.
Men! Men!
The sad thing is that a lot of people, mostly men, will not say I was wrong and I am sorry. There is something about men that makes them want to believe that because they are men and in charge, they can do things and not confess to sin. Bear in mind again that KING David messed up a lot and God forgave him. God called him a man after His own heart (1Sa13:14). We should take a moment and meditate on that. That is the kind of child God wants. Yes, a Man-Child that knows how to go to the Father and repent. He will forgive us and cleanse us of our sins (1Jn 1:9). Then He will help us by teaching us principles to live by. He is loving enough to help us in private, one on one, within the veil.
I want to take a moment as a prophet of God to explain something. Many people have said God put Donald Trump in office as president. Surely there nothing going on that God did not allow, but everything going on is not necessarily God’s perfect will. I, like many, was being tempted by the enemy to express hatred rather than love. We all agree His behavior is outrageous. So why did God allow such a horrible behaving person to become president? As I struggled with strong emotions about him, God began to show me why he behaves the way he does and my strong dislike of him began to mellow out to the place where I was able to pray for him. I still have to minimize my time listening to him speak but I don’t hate him. My sins are just as egregious to the holiness of God.
My understanding of the purpose of Trump in office is that he is there, in all his outrageous behavior, to show us ourselves. He is in the most visible position to show us what an egotistical fleshly man looks like. He has been described as arrogant, a liar, a thief, an adulterer, hard-headed, boastful, ignorant, a poor leader, disloyal, untrustworthy, impatient, unsympathetic, and a narcissist. The list is incomplete but every man can find himself in Trump’s outrageous behavior. Actually, women can find their personality there too, but men need to see themselves personally and up close in Trump because men do not like to receive correction. People either love or hate Trump when they see themselves in him. That may help to explain why our emotions are so strong about him and why the Republican congress stands by him. How can one deny himself? He is their mirror and many people are seeing their reflection in him as strength, wealth and power. God is exposing and pulling down the strong men that have exalted themselves through sin.
God as Teacher
Some things we are smart enough to know better, but cannot seem to comply when called upon. I recognized my sin and I repented being remorseful that God had to bring it to my attention again. God is so good! When we fail the test, it is time for more teaching. So God is taking me through the lesson principles again. None of us are perfect. We have all sinned and have come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Most of our failures are love failures as are mine. How do we love like Jesus loves? He has put love in our heart by His Spirit and His Word, but we still must be converted in our mind and soul and then walk it out. All the while there is an enemy tempting us to fail. God said no weapon formed against us shall prosper, so it has to come down (Isa 54:17). It is defeated in Jesus’ name.
We are made stronger through our trials.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom 5:1-5 (KJV)
We may have overcome some things, but there is more. We are being perfected in Christ and we shall come forth as pure gold. Ideally, God wants us to see ourselves in the word when we read it to ourselves. When we spend time in the word, God will show us our sin and then we can confess: “That’s me.” When we acknowledge our sin, God is willing to remove it and we are continuously being cleansed through the word. But the test will still come. Jesus was tested and we will be tested.
Leaders Need To Imitate Christ
If men insist on being the leader over women and other people, then men must learn to be like Jesus. We don’t need any help being like the other entity (Satan). We already know that side, but we need some help in being like the Lord. Men were to represent the authority of God. If God cannot use you as a man to help make your wife and children be more like him, what is your purpose? Every man is first called to be head over his own home and only if he excels at that should he be promoted to higher positions. Pastors need to know that they are either the biggest aid or hindrance to the church seeing Christ; and it is time to discover which through seeking Christ. In Christ and through grace, women can also represent the image and authority of Christ because in Him we are neither male nor female (Gal 3:28).
Ultimately, God is looking for us as His children to be transformed and made perfect or mature through the process He uses in our home, church, and environment to cleanse us of imperfections and be made like Christ, to enjoy life and spend eternity with Him in heaven. Christ has come and died for every person and every sin to give us access to Father. Apostle Paul stated: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Co 11:2).
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:25-27
Truth and Life Ministries of Christ with Apostle Joyce Reba Payne 