Come Away, My Beloved

I wanted to share something from one of my favorite books this week. Enjoy

"How can you say . . . 'Brother let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?" Luke 6:42

  O My people, I have called you to repentance and confession and forgiveness and cleansing; but you have listened to my words as though they were slight rustlings in the tree tops--as though they were of little consequence and could be brushed aside at will. Behold, I say to you: You cannot resist My Spirit without suffering pain; and you cannot turn a deaf ear to My words without falling into the snare of the enemy.

  You have not cried to me with all of your hearts, but you have complained that I have not heard your prayers. As it is written: He [the Lord] is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). And again: "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with ALL your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13.

  Look no more to My hand to supply freely your needs when you have not humbled your hearts and cleansed your hands and come to Me with the sacrifice I have required--even a broken and a contrite heart. You need not expect Me to speak to you when your ears are heavy from listening to evil reports.

  Just as there can come no healing to the physical body until first the poison is removed from the system, so there can come no blessing and revival and renewal to My Body, the Church, until evil is put away and sins are purged. Your eyes will not look upon My face while they are still engaged in viewing faults and imperfections in the brethren. When you look to Me in truth and sincerity and repentance, you shall indeed see Me, and having seen Me, you will look upon your brothers and sisters with love and understanding and patience, knowing full well the needs in  your own heart and life.

  Behold, after the weeds are cleared; after the fallow ground is broken up; yes, after the rocks have been removed: Then I will send the showers, and then I will minister to your hearts in kindness and blessing. Although My heart has been grieved, I love you; and though I have hidden My face from you for a time, in great tenderness I will gather you again to Myself.

  I will withhold My chastening rod when you turn to Me in repentance. If you confess your sins and recognize your transgressions, I will be faithful to you and forgive you. I will cleanse and restore you. You will find peace. You will say the tears of godly sorrow have been sweet.

  The heart that grieves over sin shall experience genuine comfort. There is nothing like it in any of the comforts of this world. If you bathe my feet in your tears, I shall clasp you to my heart in love. I cannot describe to you My love. I can only give it to you. It is beyond the Cross. Go through. The Spirit alone can communicate what lies on the other side.

from Come Away, My Beloved by Frances J Roberts