Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

Currently, there is a television program where one person routinely slaps the head of another person (using today’s vernacular it might be said that s/he received an “oops upside the head”). In promoting the television program, and this particular act, a relatively recent commercial depicts people in a variety of situations (i.e., work, play) wherein one is invariably slapped upside the head. A significant number of people including believers view Abba Father the same way; just kind of sittin’ up there waiting to catch them doing something “wrong” so that He can slap them upside the head. Such a misconception results from a lack of knowledge as to the fact that Love is God/God is Love (1 John 4:8); and also reflects a lack of awareness as to right standing by the blood of Jesus. However, those who believe, and have confessed Jesus as Savior and Lord are no longer “just an old sinner” because we are born anew by the all redeeming, re-creating, reconciling, and all restoring blood of Jesus (2Co 5:17-21). Indeed, Jeremiah 9:24 tells us that Abba Father delights in exercising loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. Scripture also tells us that the beloved in Christ Jesus are not the object of God’s wrath; His wrath is against the godless. These are they who: are knowledgeable about the truth yet suppress and/or turn their backs, refuse to praise or glorify He Who is Sovereign, and harden their hearts; in so doing God gave them over to a reprobate mind and all that follows thereof (Romans 1:18-32). As it is written the mercy of God leads to repentance, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV). A significant number of believers will quickly point to Job as though Love Who is Compassion would actually open the door to the enemy of God just to wreak havoc in the life of His upright servant. Truth is, at the time Satan began poking into Job’s life, he was living well within The Blessing (Proverbs 10:22); and we are assured that the Word of God can never return to void, that He sends it out and it always produces fruit: “It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” Isaiah 55:11 (NLT). Rather, Job opened the hedge via the repetitive prayer regarding the possible activity of his children (Job 1:1-5); “. . . he stepped out of faith and into fear.”¹ Faith stands firm-footed on the WORD which tells us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7). This day, believers have the advantage because the written Word of God the Father is in our household by which we are assured of the promises in God the Son which includes the teachings of God the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, relationship with Abba Father through Christ Jesus is always via free-will . . . by inviting Him in. Such is the Way of Love Who is God, and Who first loved us. “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 (NKJV).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet
Acts 20:32

¹ Copeland, K. (2011). THE BLESSING of The LORD Makes Rich and He Adds No Sorrow With It Proverbs 10:22. (p. 140). Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications.