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coronavirus, darkness, disaster, discerning the spirits, disobedience, dying in the wilderness, exhortation, God's love, God's voice, God's wrath, light, obedience, repentance, suffering, wisdom
This won’t be a long article as I just wanted to offer you a longer part from Scripture in which we see that God, though He is loving, never ignores ongoing sin in our lives. Whether we call it discipline or chastening, at times God’s hand might feel like punishing us. In such a case it is good to surrender all our negative feelings, our anger, our fears and our doubts to Him. There is no need to try to hide anything before God since He who knows everything knows our hearts also. Below you can read God’s call for repentance.
20 “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:20-33 ESV – emphasis added)
To someone who believes in a loving God who forgives all our sins past and future, it might sound terrifying that God even laughs and mocks when terror strikes those who have not turned at His reproof. “Is that loving?” they might ask. Don’t we forget that the Israelites died in the wilderness because God was angry with them. They rebelled and sinned although He had saved them from slavery. They did not want Him to be their Lord at all. And what about us? Do we really want to have a Lord who tells us what to do and what we should not do? Or would we rather make our own choices as we see that God lets people die from this coronavirus and from other sicknesses? Moreover, can we believe it is God’s will that millions of people die from famine and from lack of water? If it is His will, can we still trust Him? 🙄
“15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Heb 3:15-19 ESV)
Fred said:
Good message, I know I still struggle with sin. I also went through some major depression which sadly has caused more sin to seek comfort and yet I know God reminds me he is the comforter. Also, I am saddened by some major hypocrisy I have seen in those around me. I am also seeing those who seek truth and God being mocked by some friends that call themselves Christian. although there are non-Christians that join in.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
I am very sorry to hear that you suffered from depression, Fred. 😦
God’s comfort is better than anything else but as long as He does not let us FEEL it, we are tempted to seek comfort elsewhere due to our old Adamic nature that never changes.
This hypocrisy you were writing about is not appealing to God, either. 😕
Seeking the truth is always good, even if we choose different wrong turns at times. If God draws us to Christ, we will meet Him who is The Truth in the end.
If non-Christians mock God I do not like that, either (at all!!). However, if Christians themselves join in mocking God, that is a heart-breaking experience for me!!! 😳
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Carina said:
It’s very sad, sister. Knowing the heart of God we know it’s not His will that any should perish. Sometimes many need to die physically so that those who live will turn to Him in repentance. And maybe many of those dying will seek God at the very last hour and repent so they can enjoy eternity in heaven. That is my hope.
A passage comes to mind when I think of the many people who are dying:
Luke 13:1-5 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
May God have mercy on us and help us understand what His wisdom is expressing through these heartbreaking moments. It’s not the fit of rage of a capricious tyrant, but the heart-cry of a Father for His wayward children. May many find the way back home.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Absolutely true, Carina. God does not want to see ANYONE perish and suffer for eternity. I assume it is people’s own free will that will separate them from God’s presence forever. 😦
These Scriptures from Luke hit home with me. It seems to be a hard saying by Jesus here, too, but I believe He wanted to make clear that definitely NO ONE will ever be able to stand in God’s presence, bad or worse sinner, unless they have believed in Him and have been clothed in Christ’s righteousness before.
Amen to your prayer, my dear sister! ⭐
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Michael said:
Susanne, I am glad that your last picture in this blog speaks of spring breaking forth and new life.
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Rev 15:3-4, ESV)
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Yes, indeed, Michael. That was my intention behind choosing this and no other picture at the very end of my blog post. There is hope for everyone in Jesus Christ! 🙂
I took this picture yesterday on a bike ride behind prayer bench # 1, not far from ‘Egersdorf Waldsiedlung’ and ‘Cadolzburg’. 😉
Every knee finally will bow before our Lord and God. All human beings will realize that only God is just and holy and good. AMEN to this Scripture, my brother!
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Michael said:
Yes, my dear sister IN Him… There is an Easter Rising as we rise into newness of life in the Son and forsake our old lives in Adam. BUT what shall we say when we stand before our Father if we neglect so great a salvation? Mere religious activity is like kids playing dress-up instead of growing into REAL adults. I think this is exactly what Paul was addressing when he wrote,
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1Cor 13:8-11, NKJV)
Love you forever IN Him,
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Yes, Michael, 1 Corinthians chapter 13 says it all! ⭐
In His unfailing love for you, forever,
Your sister and friend,
Sanne ❤
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Michael said:
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Ps 103:7-13, ESV)
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Amen to this Scripture as well, Michael. We have both known God’s love and mercy, haven’t we… He is so merciful as no human being could ever be!
What just got my attention was that these verses you quoted contain a repetition:
(1) “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.“
(2) “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.“
That means to me that someone who does not fear God can neither experience God’s steadfast love nor His overwhelming compassion, ever. No wonder that people who do not know nor fear God often speak ill of Him as Fred mentioned in his comment above. 😦
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Michael said:
And this also explains the lack of mercy and words of judgment that those Jews had for Jesus as they condemned Him to die. I have also experienced this kind of lack in many of the churches I have attended in the past, sad to say.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Yes, you are so right, Michael. I am sad you had to go through so many painful trials in churches, my brother. 😦 But God has been healing your ❤ more and more over the years!
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Michael said:
You have been a great answer to my heart’s longing to find another saint that loves with HIS love and is able to fellowship as He does with the Father. You know how I have longed for that unity of the Father and the Son that should be ours as we abide in the Son (John 17:21}. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
That was a very touching response, Michael! Thanks a lot, you have warmed my heart! ❤
In fact, we both were looking for this kind of fellowship, you for decades and I ‘only’ for almost 19 years. But it was God’s plan to put us together, finally. And I am sooo grateful for you, my dear brother. 🙂
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Michael said:
And I for you, dear sister. ❤
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Anna Waldherr said:
As you make clear, Susanne, the call to repentance is a call to new life in Christ. Whatever trials we may face, we are offered peace and joy in Him. Frohe Ostern!
Much love,
A. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Yes, that’s it, Anna. Vielen lieben Dank und Dir auch Frohe Ostern! 🐰🥚🥚🥚 🙂
Much love to you,
Susanne ❤️
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Michael said:
Exactly, Anna!!! ❤
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