Let Him Deal

Solomon states, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7) Jesus tells us, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11) "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (Matthew 15:18) Basically, these verses of scripture deal with ones character. What begins in the heart must be carefully cultivated to come to full fruit in actions that bring glory to the Lord. The Apostle Paul tells us, "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whether we want to accept it or not, God deals with the heart of all believers to develop their character so they may be vessels of honor for His use, and effective in their ministries. While the gifts of the Spirit are given freely, character development comes only with time through self-denial (Luke 9:23) and a greater dependence upon the Lord in every area of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The provision of the divine nature through repentance from sin, faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit belong to the divine sovereignty of the Lord. But the application of these become the responsibility of every believer to apply in their lives. God has given believers all things pertaining to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:4); He has given us His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); He has given us His abundance of grace (Romans 5:17); and in Christ, believers lack nothing. (Colossians 2:9-10) Therefore, believers have all that it takes to develop a mature Christian character as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if believers do not do the things necessary for these promises to be fulfilled, Jesus tells us that they could lose the things that should be theirs. (Matthew 25:29)

The writer of Hebrews reveals specifics concerning the Lord dealing with believers, "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:3-11)

Notice, the Lord deals with believers as "sons"; He deals with His sons through His great love; His dealing are for His sons to profit; His dealing yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. If every believer would keep these things in mind, they would never have anything manifest in their life but joy. (James 1:2) There are several purposes for God's dealings in believers. (The following are not all inclusive nor do they have a particular order) First, to transform us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Second, to purge us from  any and all dross (worthless rubbish) from our lives. (Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:8) Third, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:9) 

Fourthly, to cause fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:1-8) Fifth, to prepare us for service. (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:19-21) Sixth, to bring enlargement to our lives (Isaiah 54:2), in areas such as, our vision, our steps, our heart, our confession, our prayers, our ministry, our dominion, our love, our service, and in our gifts and callings.  Seventh, to provoke us to seek God, His Kingdom and His Word. (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 6:33) Eighth, to produce more spiritual wine in us. (Ephesians 5:18) Ninth, to give us a new focus and perspective of the world in contrast to the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

The Apostle Paul tells us to, "be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) This becomes more evident as we yield ourselves over the the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, daily, as He builds the very character of Christ in us. So, let us, "put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Amen...