Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, February 18, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-02-18-2018

This is devotional thought number 14 in our devotional series titled, “Wisdom for the Ages.”

“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; Neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:11–12).

Since God loves us, He needs to correct us sometimes. Why? Discipline is painful. Let’s see what the Bible says further and we will discuss it. “Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:7–10, NET).

We have said it many times before. God is not up in the sky looking at His naughty or nice list, trying to figure out whom to punish. He’s not storing up lightning bolts to strike those who make one false move. Were that the case, we all would have been destroyed by now. His essence is a consuming fire. Sin cannot exist in His presence, and yet we still are alive. He inhabits eternity. Heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. If He did not shroud Himself in mystery and separate the fullness of His holiness just enough so we could have mercy, we would not make it any more that we would if the sun were just 100 feet closer or farther to or from the earth than it is. God loved us so much, that instead of condemning us as we deserve, He gave His Son to give us eternal life, if we keep faith in Him.

Therefore, especially when we are in a living relationship with God, we must accept His perspective on godly discipline. Think about it, if God did not love us, when we did wrong, He would simply allow us to continue down the path until we meet our certain demise. Think about someone who’s about to be taken out to sea or drowned in a heavy current. If a lifeguard were to rush out to rescue the near drowning victim, and that person began to fight in a panic, what would the lifeguard need to do? In order to save the person’s life, the lifeguard may need to knock the person unconscious so his or her body could go limp and be more susceptible to saving. One who fights the rescuer while the current is towing both under, will die. Full stop. Whatever method the lifeguard uses to create this effect may not feel wonderful at the moment, but for the greater good, it is necessary. Life is weighing in the balance.

Unlike our limited analogy, what’s weighing in the balance when our loving God uses discipline for our good, is our eternal life. If we continue to rush out into the sinful current of life and then avoid God’s correction, we will lose our souls. We will separate ourselves from God eternally, and drown in our sins. God’s correction is intended to save us from that so we can share in His holiness. Well corrected people learn to appreciate their loving heavenly Father, and their characters represent Him in all things.

God is not out to get you. Accept His refining chastisement if and when it comes, and give thanks for His willingness to do all He must to save you.

A word to the foolish is wasteful. A word to the wise is sufficient.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)