My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Discipline is considered onerous, irritating, and unnecessary. The lazy and sinful parts of us want no boundaries, even if they are good. We resist any guardrails to our behavior because we do not wish to receive any direction that might conflict with what we want to do. But the Lord disciplines out of love to bless us. It is a sign of his delight in us. Why? Because he is not content to leave us unchanged, unmotivated, and disinterested in what real life is. He does not want to see us deceived, misled, or captured by the evil one's lying ways. He wants to move us closer to our goal: Jesus, and our eternal destiny with our Lord!
My Prayer...
I confess, Righteous Father, that I don't like discipline. However, Father, deep down, I know that your discipline is for my spiritual good and eternal blessing. Please help me better understand and use the situations in my life that you use to discipline me, so that I can become more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
"Dear Father, empowering God, Let my love be genuine for everyone in heaven and on earth. Help me hate what is evil at all times and everywhere. Help...."
"For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and....."
"Dear Precious Disciple,
So what did I write in the dirt with My finger?
I know many of you have wondered this about the episode in the verses below...."
Bible: Browse OT/NT Books
Comments
Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment