''I know every single child by name, long before they are born.'' - says the Lord (05:30 am 16/02/2024)
The Lord converses with us his children. He speaks to us about ourselves, others, and himself. Many are just that - conversations that increase our understanding or give direction, comfort, or companionship. Then there are those things that are pressing in his mind. Things he wants us to tell the world about because it matters so much to him. The first line of this article is one of them: ''I know every single child by name, long before they are born. Each is precious to me.''.
Political parties are formed around strongly held ideologies and beliefs on governance. The belief systems originate from corporate (shared) experiences, prevailing culture, religious or atheistic affiliations, and commercial or financial interests. While every citizen needs to vote and actively participate in the governance of the Nation where they live, it is important to understand especially as leaders in God's house, God's expectations.
Each party is doing their best from their perspective. I would say every political party has at least one point of ideology compatible with God's ideology but none has all. While it seems a Democratic society is the best Humans have had to offer so far in our 'modern' times, there is a higher way and view in God's Kingdom. It is to this view and 'way' he calls us.
To redeem means to 'buy back'. We must not overlook what that means practically. Assuming my cousin pawns his inheritance (let's say jewellery) and defaults on repayment of the loan given to him by the broker, the Pawn-Broker now owns the item. If I buy back that piece of jewellery from the pawn shop, it's ownership transfers to me. The original owner might have been my cousin, but since I bought it back from the Pawn-Broker with my own money, that item is mine. In the Jewish context of a 'Kinsman redeemer', I might have purchased it to keep the inheritance of my family member within his family. Although I might not enforce my right as an owner in order to preserve the sustenance or 'name' of my cousin and his family, the items are still mine. [This practice ensured the inheritance of the twelve Israelite tribes remained within their God-ordained families and maintained a culture of care. see Ruth 3:9, Ruth 4:1-11]
What I am drawing at is this:
When God (YHWH) redeemed Israel as a nation from their slavery to Egypt, the whole nation became his 'possession'.
''But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.''
''I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” Isaiah 43:1, 15
When Jesus redeemed all humans from the curse (and judgement) they rightly deserved as sinners against YHWH's righteous ways, they became his 'possessions' - a part of his life, i.e. set apart from this world to live his life(style) in this world.
''And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.'' 2 Corinthians 5:15
It was a divine exchange: his pure life was punished in place of the impure human life. Now he gets to give us his resurrected life and ways. [John 17:1-3]
However, Jesus himself said he came not to do his will/desires but that of the Father YHWH. Therefore our governance is of Jesus and the Father YHWH.
'' Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.'' John 14:23-24
Now here is what the Father's governance says:
'Look, all lives belong to me — both the parent’s life and the child’s life are equally mine — so it is the person who sins, himself, who must die.' Ezekiel 18:4 CJB
All life is sacred. All life belongs to God the Father. All human life belongs to Jesus and his Father. So what he is saying is that each person is an individual and will be assessed as an individual ''so it is the person who sins, himself, who must die.''. Because we are evaluated as individuals, the wrongs and mistakes of the parents do not immediately make the offspring culpable. The life of the child must not be used to pay for the error(s) of the parent.
In particular, he stressed that a person is first a person with him even 'BEFORE' they take on a body.
These are the scriptures he referred me to:
''for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. Luke 1:15 He knew John the Baptist as a person and filled him with his spirit before he was born.
''He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16 - 17 He had a clearly defined purpose long before he was conceived.
''When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.'' Luke 1:41 John as a foetus of six months old had a physical response to the sound of the voice of Mary.
''As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.'' Luke 1:44 Elizabeth the pregnant mother understood the reaction of the baby in her as 'joy' - an emotion of delight. She knew it because his response had a corresponding effect on her - she got filled with the same (holy) spirit her baby had been filled with.
''...Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.'' Luke 1:13b
John had a name with God before he was conceived. So was he material first? no, he was a spiritual/soul being with a life plan. He was waiting to acquire his fully formed body.
Elizabeth rightly recognised that the privilege was hers. She had the blessing of being part of how his body was formed. She was the opportunity for that pre-existing life/soul to come to earth. She was the path by which John's soul fulfilled the purpose of his existence (in God) to the benefit of the whole of mankind.
''I know every single child by name, long before they are born.'' - says the Lord
As King David gratefully said:
''For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.''Psalm 139:13-14
Every life is precious and sent as a solution to the benefit of all humanity.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'''' Matthew 6:9b-10
As those redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus, the onus is on us to live for him. We cause his will to be done on earth as he ordained it in heaven. We vote for policies that allow his will to be done on earth as he purposed it in heaven to the benefit of the Human race. This is also how his Kingdom comes on earth.
''Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.'' 1 Peter 1:17-19
''Then he pointed to his followers and said, “See! These people are my mother and my brothers. Yes, anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my true brother and sister and mother” Matthew 12:49-50 ERV
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