The Father finishes what He starts ∙∙

The Father finishes what He starts ∙∙

He who calls you is faithful, and He also will bring it to pass. – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

1 Thessalonians 5:21-24

21 Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

23 Now, may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

Bend and Bent

Two words in the English language, “bend” and “bent,” may sound similar, but their meanings diverge significantly.

Bend is a verb that refers to physically altering the shape of something using force. It can also describe turning or directing something toward a particular path.
Bent, on the other hand, is a noun that conveys inclination, interest, or preference. While inherently neutral, “bent” often carries a negative connotation, implying corruption or moral distortion.

This contrast becomes especially relevant when understood through the lens of humanity’s spiritual condition. After the Fall in the Garden of Eden, humanity inherited a “bent” nature, a condition that inclines us away from walking with God and towards serving ourselves.

Humanity’s Natural Bent

Stanley writes, “Humans are born ‘bent away’ from the Lord. Our natural inclination is to please and serve ourselves. This is diametrically opposed to a lifestyle that serves and honors the Father. When we become believers, our Father begins to bend our will and ways back towards Him. But we must cooperate and yield to the process; otherwise, we are of little use to the kingdom.” This self-centered behavior is utterly contradictory to the God-honoring life that our Creator intends for us.

Reclaiming a Right Perspective

The Father seeks to transform every area of our lives. This includes breaking down thought patterns, habits, and behaviors that promote reliance on anything or anyone other than Him.

Stanley further emphasizes, “The Lord wants to eradicate every thought pattern and activity promoting dependency on anything other than Him. This means that relying on oneself for security, salvation, or physical and emotional comfort is outside His will. Actions that advance a person at the expense of others are also ungodly.”

The Apostle Paul encourages us to understand and gain the proper perspective on what the Father desires for us. He strongly urges us to align our desires with the Father’s will, which requires a radical paradigm shift. Our natural tendency is toward selfishness and sin; inwardly, we can be twisted and warped. The Father wants to restore us to spiritual wholeness so that we can choose to live a life that honors, obeys, and relies solely on Him.

How Does the Father Bend Us Back Toward Him

The journey of returning to God starts with His living and powerful Word. The Scriptures reveal the deepest inclinations of our hearts, illustrating who we are and how far we fall short of God’s perfect standard.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

The Father uses the Scriptures as a spiritual scalpel, carefully removing misconceptions, pride, and sin. Like a skilled surgeon, He works within us. His goal is not just to reveal our flaws; He desires to transform us into a reflection of His righteousness.

REFLECT & PRAY

Isaiah states in Isaiah 55:8-9: “My thoughts are nothing like yours,” declares the Lord, “and My ways are beyond anything you can comprehend. Just as the heavens stretch far above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts beyond your understanding.”

Father, help me to understand Your ways and align my thoughts with Yours. Teach me to see as You see.

INSIGHT

The Covenant Between Israel and the Father

Around 1400 BC, the nation of Israel entered into a covenant with God through Moses. This covenant, detailed in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, outlined both blessings and curses. The blessings would become a reality if the people obeyed the law of Moses. However, disobedience would bring the curses upon them.

A Choice to Obey or Disobey

It was up to the people to decide which path to follow. Tragically, for the next 800 years, from 1400 BC to 600 BC, the nation repeatedly chose disobedience. The consequences of these decisions were devastating and far-reaching.

Prophetic Warnings Ignored

Throughout this period, Old Testament prophets were sent by God to warn the nation of the impending judgment for their rebellious actions. Despite these repeated warnings, the people refused to listen and continued pursuing their own ways.

Their defiance led to disaster. In 722 BC, the Assyrians conquered the ten northern tribes, known as the Kingdom of Israel, and exiled them into captivity. Later, between 605 BC and 586 BC, the two southern tribes, the Kingdom of Judah, faced a similar fate. Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed, and the people were taken into captivity in Babylon.

Exile and the Promise of Hope

Now living as exiles in a foreign land, the Israelites were without hope. Yet, the Father, true to His word, had not abandoned them. He had promised that the captivity would last for only 70 years and that He would bring them back home.

Jeremiah 29:10 reminds us of this promise, where the Lord says, “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do all the good things I promised, and I will bring you home again.”

Jeremiah 31:9 declares, “Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.”

The Faithful Father Who Keeps His Promises

The Father always fulfills His promises, no matter how impossible they may seem. This unwavering reliability reassures every child of the King that He will complete what He has started in their lives.

The apostle Paul affirms this in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful, and He also will bring it to pass.”

Even in the midst of chaos and brokenness, the Father works to straighten what has been bent. His children are called to choose obedience and strive to live according to His will, trusting Him with the results.

Choosing His Path

When we align our perspective with the Father’s and see things as He does, we can respond to Him appropriately. This is the outcome the Father desires for each child of the King, and He remains committed to bringing it to completion.

Proverbs 3:6 encourages us, “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

The Father’s faithfulness is unchanging, and He continues to work, preparing His children to walk the paths He has intended for them with confidence and grace.

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© Dr. H 2025