Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tuesday’s Devotion: God and Discipline


Hebrews 12:8-11 MSG My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

I like the way the Message translates this scripture. I know that once we grow up we tend to resist discipline.  We want to be in charge. We have bosses at work and for some our parents still exert a degree of influence. We have to live in compromise with our spouse. Where we can we want to be in control. But God often has other ideas.  If you’ve never felt God’s discipline, you might want to work harder to be in relationship with God.  It might not be fun to have God trip you up in front of others but it is a good feeling that God loves you enough to help you walk the best path by correcting you.

Holy God, thank you so much for your discipline. We know you want the best for us.  Help us to lower our resistance and to follow your lead.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a great day,
Paige

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