John 3:16 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. Who has ever denied love from someone? Love is almost always understood as being synonymous with the word ‘accepted’ yet they are not the same at all.
We live in an era where there is much talk about the Father’s love. Books have been written by the thousands about a wooing kind of love from the Father. What I have repeatedly seen in this explanation of love is that it is seemingly a “wow” experience and then vanishes after some months and the same difficulties resurface. The true love that comes from Heaven is not intended to leave people in the same condition of sin and bondage that they were in when Christ received them. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Our old nature, which is not friendly toward those we esteem higher than us, had to be won by someone becoming lower than us. This was the true remedy for the pitiful human race without exemption. This person was the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.
In God’s love for the lost and dying creation, His desire was to bring back this entire fallen state of humanity and restore them back to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a separated people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light:
This Christ-appointed plan of salvation to bring about restoration to children lost in darkness and deteriorating eternal defeat, is a plan of superior royalty. It is a plan of restoration and reconstruction. The cost of restoration is one of the greatest conflicting phenomenons in a Christian’s life. This process often starts while we are yet carnal and see little through spiritual eyes.
This season of reconstruction and restoration has a major character component in which we suffer great loss within our personality. Many cannot accept this marvelous work from the love of the Father. This transformational event within the true believer is so dramatic in different phases of the Master’s process, that most fail the test and hold the hand of God away from them in utter disappointment. This is the exact reason that most Christians never come to a place of spiritual usefulness. The loss and rebukes are considered too destructive. The result: there can be no rebuilding unto spiritual royalty. Becoming a servant of God in continual surrender without offense is the only way God can and will bring someone into Heavenly places in Christ. Many would even agree with this very statement, yet could never endure the love-chastening of God. The intensities of such deep valleys of sorrow can only be endured by those who refuse to become offended in God or in each other.
When Jesus looked into the eyes of Peter and said, “Get thou behind me Satan”, Peter needed no explanation of what was just said. Today, this would be the offence that would establish a new church. Peter did not argue, he was not offended; he was not hurt, he did not run away, he did not blame nor did he plead his cause to anyone. The difference between the multitudes of Christians today and the early Christians, is that they were disciples. What God wants to do in every believer is to make them disciples.
In our modern times, we do not want to be disciples, we want to be leaders. We find our own opinions to be of great importance. This is one of the delusions that Satan has inputted into the church of the day. This breeds a generation of impatient people that defer the sufferings of Christ. This delusional state of being restores nothing within the heart of the believer. This carnality will never bring any Christian to the maturity of God’s heavenly intention. We continue as babes stumbling on milk and remain untouchable, while we should be teachers. The immature state of most professors of Christ is a very sad condition. We must understand that the purpose of receiving God’s love is for restoration of the deprived soul. God chastens and scourges those whom He loves.
May I then receive the Father’s love so that I can live a life free from all offence and misunderstandings. A disciple of Christ will not fail when rebuked. Why? He is a disciple and has not claim but to his Master and true fellow saints. The Lord is not easy on those whom He truly loves, however it is with royal, heavenly purpose!
Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: V.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. V.7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? V.8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
