Hebrews 13:20-22
"Now may the God of peace, who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete IN EVERY GOOD WORK to do His will, WORKING IN YOU what is well pleasing IN HIS SIGHT, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. And I appeal to you, brethren, BEAR WITH THE WORD OF EXHORTATION, for I have written to you in few words."
After completing chiropractic school and attaining licensure to practice in Ohio, I became aware that "continuing education" was required by the state licensing board. The SLB would submit a list of 30-40 seminars available and acceptable and I CHOSE THE CONTINUING EDUCATION that seemed best to me.
"You have forgotten the EXHORTATION which speaks to you AS to sons"................."we have had human fathers who corrected us"..........."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". (Hebrews 12:5, 9, 10)
We can rejoice that the God of peace will work in us what is well pleasing in His sight- making us complete in every good work through Jesus Christ: the living word to us. But, it will be through His chastening; His choice for continuing your education!
Mark 11:22-26
"Have faith in God, for assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, THAT YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN MAY ALSO FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES."
Here comes the service or "works" of forgiveness: "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be SONS of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45).
(James 1:24 reads "You see then that a man is justified by WORKS, and not by faith only.") Understanding blesses the hearer; action accompanying brings forth fruit for the hearer and others! They get a chance to see what you heard!
How may we more fully appreciate this concept? Look to the One who "completed" it first - the Lord Jesus Christ - Who overcame and now sits at the Father's right hand. Jesus Christ is the head of all things to the church; He fills all in all. As we approach He and the Father Who are One, recollecting that we too have been and are being forgiven through His blood and body, He will show us what He understood and did, when on the cross, as "the vinedressers" were killing Him, He said, "Father, forgive them, they DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO." (Luke 23:34) Hallelujah!!!!
