We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

 More things about our relationship with the Father:

 

            Full of compassion and merciful:

 

James 5:11

11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

 

            Some of us had fathers that were not very compassionate and had no mercy. It is hard to think of our Heavenly Father as being full of both. He never does anything to hurt us. If He disciplines us, it is for our own good; so that we will have the best life possible. If He were not full of compassion and merciful, He would have wiped us off the face of the earth a long time ago. That’s what we deserve. Thank God He gives us what we desire, not what we deserve. He truly does know what is best for us and makes sure we get it. Jesus suffered in the flesh, and so He can sympathize with our frailties. We should never take His compassion and mercy for granted. We should do our best to allow His Holy Spirit to live His life in us at all times.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have no desire to harm you, My children. I would have all that comes upon you to be good. I would have all that you see to be a delight to your eyes. Trust in Me that I desire that no harm come to you. You are My delight, and I would have all that comes upon you to be good. Trust in Me as I lead you into your destiny.”

 

            26. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful towards me even when I stumble.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

 He is at work in us:

 

            His workmanship (poem):

           

Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

 

            First of all it says that we are His workmanship. He did it, not someone else. He didn’t just rubberstamp it either. He took a special interest in making us. The Greek word here is the same one from which we get our word poem. We are His poem! When someone writes a poem, they take special thought and effort to do so. It takes on a part of the author too. When God “wrote” us, we took on a part of Him also.

            Why did He create us in Christ Jesus? It was for good works. Too many times Christians go to one extreme or the other. One side will be all about good works. They are constantly looking for good works to do. It is easy to believe that you’re salvation depends on the good works you do. If you believe that way, you can become obsessed with doing good works to the extent that you neglect the personal relationship aspect of salvation. You must be born again. The other extreme says that we are saved by grace, not works and so a neglect of doing good works sets in. They want to make sure they don’t link the good works to getting saved, so they ignore them all together. What God wants in somewhere in the middle. Our salvation is by grace, not works. However, if we are truly saved, we should be doing good works on a consistent basis. The relationship with Jesus is essential, but with the relationship should come the desire to do good works.

            God prepared these good works before the foundation of the world that we should walk in them. As we go about our daily lives, we should be walking in good works. We should get to the point that we don’t have to look for good works to do. We simply “bump” into them as we go about our daily lives.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My special project, My children. I have planned your present and your future for your good. I have highly anticipated what awaits you. Trust in Me that all will be for your good. I have desired to give you the Kingdom, and that is what I will do. There is no harm that can come to you as you walk in My Word and in My Spirit. I will show you the way to be an overcomer; for that is how I created you … to be one that triumphs over all adversity. You are My special poem. I took special care when I wrote your verses. You will be My special treasure as I await your coming home to Me.”

 

            25. I am God’s poem. He delighted in creating me in Christ Jesus for good works which He planned for before the world began.

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

 Guards what we have entrusted to Him:

           

2 Timothy 1:12

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

           

            We can be confident in Him. We don’t have to fear that it is all a hoax and that one day we’ll wake up and find out that we’ve lost what we thought we had. He is trustworthy to keep all that we’ve entrusted to Him (our eternal future). No one can take it away from Him. We should be convinced of this because we know Him. We trust the bank to take care of our money (at least most people do). These are people we don’t even know. How much more should we trust Him whom we know and have believed. He guards what we’ve entrusted to Him … not just with a single guard, but as with an entire garrison surrounding it.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is nothing to fear, My children from those around you. There is nothing that they can do that will harm you. I have protected you since the day you invited Me into your heart. I have not left, and I have not left you defenseless. You are protected forever in Me. You are Mine, and I will protect those that are Mine. You shall not fear those around you. They cannot harm you.”

 

            24. I know Him and I am certain that He will guard all that I’ve entrusted to Him.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree

 Redeemed from the curse:

Galatians 3:13

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—

 

            People of the world are interested in spells and curses. What they don’t realize is that they are under a curse. They have not lived up to the Law, and therefore they are under a curse. They might say, “We didn’t know anything about it.” Too bad … so sad. If you break a traffic law, you are still liable for punishment even if you weren’t aware of the law. We all deserved eternal punishment, but Jesus redeemed us from that punishment by becoming a curse for us. He became that curse when they crucified Him. When He died, we died. When He rose, we rose. We no longer live under a curse, but rather a blessing. That doesn’t mean that we can live any way we like. We need to walk in holiness as He walked to enjoy the full blessing of our redemption.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, there is no longer a curse for you. For the world, there is a curse; a curse associated with Adam. He sinned, and all who follow in his footsteps sin also. You are not of the world, and therefore, are not under the curse of Adam. You have been redeemed also from the curse of the Law. You are no longer under a curse of any type for you are under My Kingship and under My Domain. You are under a Law of Freedom; not a freedom to do whatever you please, but under a freedom to do what I please. It is not a hard thing to be under My Freedom. My Freedom brings much joy and peace; for you will know exactly what you should do and I will help you to do it. You are free, My children, and are no longer under a curse.”

 

            23. I have been redeemed from the curse of the Law by Jesus and have been set free.