Do I seek signs of the Kingdom or do I perceive God's rule? The newbirth gives a new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God's rule. His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature I can see His rule.
The "new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God's rule" is the best way I know to describe what it has been like to realize how blind I have been to some of the sin in my life in the past—like still thinking intermarriage was a bad idea somehow. How could I believe this while believing that all people were children of God—loved equally by him and as believers in Christ, given equal standing in the Kingdom and especially with Jesus? Or holding on to hurt rather than giving the grace and forgiveness that had been showered on me by a loving Savior.
"His rule was there all the time…now that I have received his nature, I can see his rule." I also understand Chambers saying that John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin, "just that we "need not." God still gives us that wondrous and horrid option of choice—each and everyday—to "perceive God's rule"—to accept and act on his nature in us, or, not to—by choice. To see as Jesus sees, or to turn away and act on our own—to commit whatever sin it may be that is not in the nature of God.
For me, now, the things, the sins I must guard against are two-fold: my need to take back control of self and to expect a level of perfection in others that I know I cannot reach in myself—that lack of grace and forgiveness for their inadequacy or their harm to me, my family or others.
These things are my sins revealed, among others, by my Abba, in love and forgiven after his chastisement and my repentance.
But old habits resurface unbidden and daily prayers are necessary to keep watch on my human tendency to let my eyes wander from where they should be. I need not sin and it is in my constant awareness now not to sin, as those particular things have been revealed to me. But I am sure that there are others not yet revealed and I pray for such revelation—"to discern God's rule" in whatever way he chooses to reveal it to me.
I know that when I fail, it is a grief to my Lord. But it is now for only a short moment that this is so; for my repentance is immediate, as is the joy that follows. Abba's child is learning and this is a source of boundless joy as well!
Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me more and more into the nature and discernment of Christ.
