Good Morning!

As I get near to the end of my reflection, I am getting to the real rub. The more I study the bible, the more I am convinced that God is very intentional in his efforts to sort the sheep from the goats. You are probably familiar with this passage:

Matthew 25:31-33 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

This distinction is being made here on earth.  The day when Jesus returns, no one will be surprised about which side s/he is put. I’m sure there will be plenty of protest, but there will be no mistake.

I’m reminded of Paul’s anguish in this.

Romans 9:1-3 I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit – that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

As we know, Jesus is the only one who will ever take another’s place. Jesus. Through this, he has made disctinction, one from the other. As Paul continues,

v. 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

I don’t know how one can possibly make sense of this without Romans 9 in its entirety. Tough topic.

At the end of the day, can any relationship with an unbelieving child, parent, or spouse ever be on the same level as that of a brother or sister in Christ? I don’t know how it can be. Honestly. When one cannot openly share and interact in the excitement and joy of the Lord, how can one have the same relationship as with someone you can? We all know what it’s like to drive in the car with someone who is annoyed with worship music. Enough said.

Here’s the deal. While I should be confident on who is born again, I don’t know who will be. God’s elect look just like anyone else until the moment of regeneration, that moment that the Holy Spirit comes to reside inside person.

Until I am sure, I shall treat my daughter as if she might be. How? I suppose the same way scripture treats me.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Father, show me how to love my daughter, just as Jesus has shown us. Amen.

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers