But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not for I have redeemed you ; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I’m the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Isaiah 43:1-3
The dark hours we experience gives us more reasons to desire the light: It is by what we face which toughens us for tougher battles ahead. Every phase we go through are trails which must be crossed to qualify us for greater glory in the ministries we are entrusted with. The truth is that, we either suffer because of our sins or for the cause of what we must achieve. At times in desiring the best, we also sin our worst and yes the consequences are always severe. The moments of physical and spiritual agony has taught me of how unfaithful I had been to a faithful God. Trouble did not seem like trouble to me till I experienced it, pain did not feel real to me till I felt it. The consequences of our folly are always severe and it is we who suffers most when we sin most. However, even in our vileness, the truth never forsakes us, pursuing us over and over again to give us life and a hope for the future. It is this very passion of God which saves us from the wrath which would have befallen us. Never to forsake us is the promise and we are the living witness to it.
No matter whatever the degree of our wounds are, we must not look on our wounds but on His promise. When God says we are His, we truly are and no force can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Though we fall it is love that raises us up again and it is to God’s glory to see us rise in the truth. The book of Romans thus exhorts “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God knew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28-31) This gives us the understanding that we are justified by grace and our pride is not in ourselves neither in any of our goodness (there is none) but in God’s greatness. The passion of God is to revive our relationship with Him. Trusting this, our eyes must be constantly fixed on the cross of Christ and our passion must be always renewed in the truth. The eyes of God are His passions.
N.B: Eyeing what we eye and loving what we love, the passion in us will speak for us. The fire of the Holy Spirit always inflames us in love, righteousness and purity. In addition to this, the desire for holiness increase with every new anointing we receive. This is also a kind of it and we trust to receive more as we desire more. The Holy Spirit is the Passion of God.
Ambrose.J.Chakre
