We can all agree that God is a God of love, right? But when we become His children, our lives are not totally changed that moment. We still have the human side to us. Former sins may become distastful, but do you really think that satan just says "Ok, I give up on this one, they belong to the Lord now and will never sin again!" If you believe this, then you're already perfect on this earth. Satan keeps working on us, daily, minute by minute. And God is there, if we're listening, to correct us. If He didn't, then we could say that sin is fine, there's no need to get it out of our lives, that God condones sin. Not true! I raised two sons. I was a firm disciplinarian. Why? Because I love them with all my heart, they are part of me, and I want the best for them. If I love my sons that much, how much more does God love me? And that fact, and the Bible confirms that becoming a christian doesn't mean we don't sin and doesn't mean that God doesn't correct us. We cannot pick and choose what parts of God's love we want....He's the whole package.......we can't pick just the "feel good" verses out of the Bible and never look at the convicting ones. 12:6 For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." His Word says it plainly, and it gives me comfort to know that He loves me enough to discipline me. There should be no fear in God's discipline because He does it to refine us, to grow us in Him. He wants us moving forward in His kingdom, so the attitudes and sins we have need to go. There's where the discipline steps in. Yes, at times, we think we don't need it, it's not comfortable, it's a change and sometimes for the moment it hurts. We have another option, we can live in denial that God disciplines. We can live in denial that we need the discipline. We can avoid the verses that talk about it, we can avoid people who might be being used by God to show us where changes need to be made. We can stay puffed with pride in thinking that we don't need it....which is sin itself. 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 1:30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 1:31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. And my verse that God has given me: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Ps 51:10 For God to create a clean heart in me, there will be discipline, because I am human and as most of the non-perfect humans even though Christians, I would avoid the cleaning or even deny it needs done. That cleaning/ discipline renews the right spirit within me. God loves me enough to do it anyway. Thank you Lord for Your Love and for Your Discipline! |
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