17/04/2022 - A GOOD COUNSEL

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So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually. Hosea 12:6

After talking about Jacob´s wonderful feat, who was called a prince because he dealt directly with God, Hosea went on to give powerful advice to anyone who wants to live well and succeed in everything. The Lord’s purpose is not to find out if a person has committed sin in order to avoid them, but lead them to repentance, because He does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). God is good at all times!

Conversion is personal, but it does not begin in the one who is in transgression, but in the Lord. He is the one who leads the sinner to Christ: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). The process of salvation begins in the heart of the Father; then the Holy Spirit convicts the person of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). When the person decides for Christ, they realize that they need Him.

Once truly led by God, the person stops their aimless journey and repentant turns to Him. This is not done in the emotional area, but it is a unique divine work. When the person declares that they accept Jesus as their Savior, the great decision has already taken place within her, and confession is simply the confirmation of this. In this process, the new birth takes place. Believe!

The newly-saved person must keep beneficence – the art of doing good – because having been born of Christ, they will be used by the Lord in His plans for their life. We have the Master´s example who went everywhere to do good: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38). Conversion is completed in the baptism with the Holy Spirit!

We must also keep the judgment that God executed in Jesus. In Him, the Lord put an end to the devil’s “permission” to act here on Earth. Since then, we have to tell the suffering and oppressed that there is no longer any need to suffer such evils. All the guilt that was in mankind was placed on Christ, and He suffered it (Isaiah 53:4,5). This is the greatest act of righteousness worked by the Most High in order for us to take possession of the blessing (Romans 5:1).

The devil will do everything he can to keep us from mentioning the work of our substitution accomplished by the Son of God on our behalf, because he knows that we have been delivered from all transgressions by it. So, if we determine something guaranteed by the Scriptures for our life, we will give the Lord the true glory, and no evil will be able to remain in us. The confession of our faith solves any problem. To determine is to believe in the Most High!

Finally, we must wait on God, the One in all the universe. He is our Savior and Deliverer. We must never accept any word that contradicts the Lord´s Word. Everything that does not come from it originates with the devil. Therefore, be prepared to put an end to all evils. Your faith is the expression that you believe in God!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares