God will often use people to offer a verbal rebuke through prophecy or admonishment before disciplining us. Instead of letting our pride get offended, we should be willing to accept and give such rebukes within the body of Christ so that we can avoid sterner discipline of the rod. The Lord uses discipline as a last resort. If all God needed to justify mankind to himself was a bigger cattle-prod, then Christ died for nothing!
No, God’s plan for the earth is love first, discipline last. To get us to listen and repent, he will use deep conviction, the rebuke of friends, coincident sermons, the quickening of Scripture, and every other means before disciplining us. But if we resist God’s Spirit of light and mercy, we are promised the rod of correction. When God disciplines, the punishment fits the crime. Time and again, we realize that we cannot get away with unrepentant sin. God is sculpting us into holy vessels, and the process can be painful.
Hebrews 12: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 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.”
May God bless you this morning and renew your strength with His purpose and not your own. For there great joy when we learn from our past to improve something in the future. Here is an awesome song and 9/11 Tribute sung by Casting Crowns that I pray touches you as it will always touch me And Now My Life Song Sings (9/11 Tribute)
James A. Harrison
Solitude is an important spiritual discipline we often overlook as we grow in our faith. Finding time alone with God is an important part of growing closer to Him.
Discipline matters in ways our soul cannot live without. Discipline is God’s gift to those he loves. His discipline is also his grace.
The glue that holds the everything together in this world is love, cooperation and selflessness. This is the order of this on this planet, so many people are blind to this, yet it is so obvious.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son….
My partner and I really enjoyed reading this blog post, I was just itching to know do you trade featured posts? I am always trying to find someone to make trades with and merely thought I would ask.
Please feel free to use the post. In return we just ask that you create a link in return and acknowledge our ministry….