September 16 - Separated.

Luke 6:22
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.”
 
No one likes to be left out and uninvited. 
But what if the Lord is protecting us from being included into something?
 
No one likes to be excluded from the company of those you considered family.
But what if the Lord removed you to prevent a greater disappointment later?
 
Our human flesh hates dissatisfaction and displeasure. 
Both of them often lead to being discontent. 
 
Jesus understands our pain, and He is Able to comfort us like no one else can. 
He faced the same disappointments, yet it never caused Him to sin. 
 
Hebrews 2:18
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
 
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
 
Instead of focusing on what was lost, we can choose to rejoice in what we have been given.
 
Luke 6:23
“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
 
Our reward is so much greater than anything we think we have lost. 
Anything we are willing to lose for Him is always replaced with something better.
 
When we are excluded from something, it is an opportunity to be set apart unto Him.
 
2 Timothy 2:21
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
 
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Bible Reading:
Isaiah 13-14   |    Revelation 22