"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)"...
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)...
When I look at Satan, and Adam and Eve, the question I want to ask is, “What would keep me from falling?” My answer would be what Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) (Indeed, because of this very point, I am currently spending my ministry developing discipleship material to encourage others how to maintain a constant and practical connection to Jesus.)
Therefore, the issues I need to be concerned are are twofold. Firstly, how shall I remember the fact that I am nothing without Jesus? And secondly, how, in my weakness, can I remain in an intimate connection with Jesus so that his nature is able to flow automatically into me, and as a consequence, I will reflect the very good fruit of his character?
Jan Johnson perhaps sums this all up in a quotation I found recently, “As we do the connecting with God, God does the perfecting in us."
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