Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 11:
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].
26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son (deliberately) wills to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” AMPL
Each of us has 24 hours in a day thus what we do with that time will determine our path into the future. What we ponder and dwell on in our minds will mold our outlook over the next days, weeks, months, and years.
Some people live in perpetual fear because their focus and priorities encourage fear thus they have no peace. They develop idols in their heart and as a result, they become enslaved to those idols. When taken to the extreme, the world classifies them as obsessive/compulsive.
Jesus emphatically states “learn from Me” in the above passage if you want to know FATHER. This is why I constantly emphasize the Words of Jesus as being critical to our maturing process. Jesus is The Word made flesh and within The Word is power and authority given to those who walk according to The Word.
If I spend very little time focused on The Word then what outcome will I expect and experience? If I focus solely on the multitude of prophetic words at a macro level, how will that time spent change me? Many spend time acquiring information but few spend time focused on personal change. Frankly, a lot of people think that everyone else needs to change and they themselves are fine right where they are in life. Regrettably, they can’t seem to find a mirror.
Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:
12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].
An enigma is a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. FATHER formed each of us in the womb with a specific purpose in mind. The purpose was and is motivated by HIS Agape Love. If we never look into the mirror, we limit our willingness to change and our life continues to walk in the mystery surrounding our calling. True peace is beyond our grasp.
If our focus and time are always dedicated to the “external”, the mystery contained in the blurred reflection will never achieve clarity. Only after we commit ourselves to focus on the “internal” will the clarity come forth in our lives. The blurriness is removed as we are sifted by The Word.
What happens when this reflection becomes clear? My past sins and lawlessness come flooding into my consciousness along with all of the soulish justifications and rationalizations for those past acts. When this clarity occurs, it causes me to totally appreciate Jesus’ work on the cross for me. The adversary will attempt to keep me in the past and try to convince me of my unworthiness to walk as a righteous son. Thankfully, Jesus died on the cross for ALL my sins, not just some.
Another area where the adversary would like to keep us in bondage is that of “generational” curses. Yes, our parents had a major impact on our development especially in the first seven years of our childhood but we are not bound to their blindness. FATHER spoke in Ezekiel chapter 18:
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.”
We must not allow the past to hinder our development into mature Sons and Daughters. The Blood of Jesus was and is sufficient to wipe away all transgressions. Let us establish our daily priorities and learn from Jesus, Our Elder Brother and Perfect Example.