November 23: ETERNAL GRATITUDE

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17

To cause eternal separation between God and all of humanity has been Satan’s purpose all along. But, all praises to God, what He accomplished in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son is far greater than just recovery from the ruin that has been wrought by sin. In Christ, we grow more closely bound to our heavenly Father than if we had never fallen. In taking upon Himself human nature, Jesus has bound Himself to the human race with cords that will never be broken.

For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.  Hebrews 2:11

This cleansing process, or sanctification, serves to transform our inner characters to fit the perfect, new bodies we are promised—and for the perfections of Heaven! The crucibles we must traverse should be understood as divine preparations; preparations that will serve to rid our characters of defects, provided we accept and cooperate with the process.

We are to see ourselves now as citizens of heaven. In so doing, you and I will more readily discern those negative traits that must be “put to death” permanently. In meekness and humility, I must ask the Holy Spirit to show me the absurdity of thinking this or that wrong habit, way of thinking, or character trait is acceptable in His kingdom. It is not! Apart from gaining divine discernment, I am only deceiving myself and doing the devil’s work for him. But, with the Holy Spirit, I can confidently yield myself to the Lord, knowing how ready He is to reclaim me as His own.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Philippians 3:20-4:1