View attachment 222162
Saw this verse on the Bible app and decided to make this little verse image for myself.
I often need to remind myself this. I’m someone that condemns and criticizes themselves pretty much continually. Or at least had those thoughts pop up a bunch. And obviously that’s not what HE says, and what He says is the end of the matter.
You address an important concept in scripture, AND you show a tender conscience.
In
Numbers 24 we have an interesting exchange. Balaam is sent with the promise of wealth by a Moabite king to curse Israel. Now let us not be fooled. The Bible shows Israel as idol-worshipers in Egypt (Josh.24:14). And the Bible shows us that Israel carried their idols, and even the tabernacle of their idols for the 40 years in the wilderness (Act.7:39-43). Of 600,000 fighting men of Israel that crossed the Red Sea, only TWO made it into the Good Land. There is no doubt that if anybody needed cursing, it was Israel. But what do we read of God's perspective in Numbers 24:5. It is;
"How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!" Why this seeming contradiction?
The fact of the matter is that a man who has been chosen by God has TWO standings before God. He has a POSITION before God, and he has the results of his DISPOSITION which he must answer for. For God to have anything to do with a man, this man needs to be holy - for he deals with an holy God. Man is UNABLE to reach this standard, and so God must construct this holiness for that man and IMPUTE it to him. So Israel are given the five major offerings and the day of atonement. These offerings were holy and their achievements are IMPUTED to Israel. Aaron must slay an animal, wash his body and wear special clothes that cover his flesh. With this HOLINESS, Aaron may enter the Holy of Holies, and walk out not having been slaughtered by a holy God. His sacrifice, his washings and his clothings gave him a POSITION before God that was up to God's standard.
But when Aaron left the Tabernacle, what was waiting for him? His daily life under the Law of Moses. Aaron could walk out of the Tabernacle in full favor with God and grab another man's wife and commit adultery. What would his fate be? DEATH of course. If Aaron was DISPOSED toward adultery, he would be judged and slain. His IMPUTED rightness for audience with God would not help him. But God is the JUDGE - not Balaam. So when Balaam rises up to be judge of Israel, no matter how right he is, it is God's view that counts and not Balaam's. And if God has IMPUTED righteousness to Israel through the sacrifices, who is Balaam to lower their value? So also the Christian.
The rebirth is only in the human spirit (Jn.3:6). But we still live in the flesh. They are mortal enemies and Galatians 5:17 says they war against each other and mostly the flesh wins. But the Christian's standing, his POSITION is IN CHRIST. So God looks at him with all the favor he accords to Jesus His sinless Son. It says that Satan accuses us
"day and night" before God (Rev.12:10). That is what you are feeling - Satan's accusation. And mostly Satan, like Balaam is right. But God is the Judge. And so what is His answer to Satan?
"My servant is perfect. How goodly is ArtsieSteph's dwelling place!" Why? Because your POSITION is IN CHRIST. Satan must leave in silence, for the Judge has spoken. Case closed! But the matter is not over.
God has a conference in heaven, and says;
"See my servant and my son. He is too slack in this and that matter. And he is my son. I must ensure that he stops this nonsense. I will chastise him (Heb.12:5-11). I will change his DISPOSITION. I will make his road bitter to make him have 'the peaceable fruits of righteousness'". Satan may not curse you, but God will judge your DISPOSITION for His name's sake. And that is why you need a tender conscience. The way out of God's judgement and chastisement is to judge yourself. In 1st Corinthians 11, some saints were slack when they came to take the Lord's Table. They were loose when dealing with Christ's magnificent sacrifice. So God cast sickness on them. And then, those that had no conscience just carried on demeaning God's Son's death - a terrible mistake! God gave them (Christians) and early death (1st Cor.11:30).
What is the escape for you if you want it? JUDGE YOURSELF (v.28). So you have posted well. You have addressed BOTH the wonderful protection we have from the enemy. He cannot curse you because of your postion in Christ. But God can judge and chastise you IF YOU DON'T DO IT YOURSELF. Keep your tender conscience, BUT .. never forget your position.
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