Our Father disciplines us because he loves us (Proverbs 3:11). Discipline is painful and not very fun. Though he can use them and sometimes does, God does not always use illness, financial reversal, disasters or calamity to discipline or punish his children. How, then, does God discipline his children? I believe the most preferred method of discipline our Father uses is his Word. Our Father, through the Holy Spirit, uses his word to teach us how to live for Christ. We don’t always get it right, however. We’re stubborn and rebellious children, aren’t we? We fail God in so many ways on so many days.
It is during these times when God uses a message from the platform, a teaching in small group, a passage from our devotion time with God, or a gentle rebuke from a friend reminding us of God’s truths, to convict us so we can set things right in our lives. Paul says that the Bible is useful for teaching, conviction of sin, setting things right in our lives and discipline in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). If we hear his word and respond to the sharp prick of his word with repentance, then we share in God’s holiness, bear fruit of right living and look more and more like Jesus. (Hebrews 12:7ff). If we don’t respond to his word favorably, then God might have to resort to using other methods of discipline (I will discuss other methods God uses in my next few posts). Even then, he sometimes delays his discipline to give us a chance to turn from our sin and run to him. Lord, thank you for your grace! Next time: How God uses the knowledge of his grace to discipline us.
In what areas have you sensed God’s loving and corrective training (discipline) with his word in recent days? How have you responded to his correction? What have you learned?
cleaning up his room
separating the recycling
picking up his clothes
helping with other household chores
going to bed on time
Because Micah had been irresponsible in smaller things, what made him think that we could and would trust him to be responsible in greater things. When he showed greater responsibility in smaller things, then we would be more apt to give him greater responsibility in bigger things. I think we miss opportunities of greater things because we cannot be trusted with the smaller things.
However, sometimes I think God gives us greater responsibility, not because we are deserving or even because we are the most responsible people he could have chosen. Sometimes I think he gives us greater responsibility simply because he is a gracious Father and desires to bless us. But, I think he also gives us greater responsibility to expose our inability to handle the greater responsibility without him and to move us to break ourselves on his unconditional grace, creating the habit of humility.
I am readmitting today that, without God, not only can I not do the greater things, but I can do nothing. His help is not just nice, but it is absolutely necessary.
What assignments have you been given? How responsible are you in carrying out those assignments? What do you need to do to be more dependent on God in carrying out those assignments?
This prayer expresses a healthy distrust in my own ability to resist temptation or stand up under trial. It acknowledges my inclination to sin and to run away from trouble and adversity. This is a prayer of humility and total dependence on God to preserve me under heavy trials and seductive temptations. When I trust myself to always make good and godly choices in the face of trials, temptations, and distractions, I live a delusional existence and typically fail miserably.
This is a prayer that recognizes and exposes my spiritual weaknesses, flaws in character, a desperate need for God’s daily deliverance from the power of sin. Moreover, it is a prayer for guidance and strength to live close to Jesus through the Word of God, community and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I hope you will join me in praying this prayer.
What is your take on this prayer? What part of it is most relevant to you?
And ENDURE this:
And CLIMB and BATTLE this:
In order to ENJOY the view of this:
And be OVERWHELMED by the beauty and power of this:
And EXPERIENCE the refreshment of this:
What “This” have you had to go through, endure, battle and climb, in order to get to the “This” of breath-taking scenery and refreshing natural pools? Remember, this is still “sponsor me” week. So, leave a comment.
Last week, as my wife and I were driving home from taking our kids to camp, we saw the darnedest thing – a small car was pulling a big truck. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? This kind of thinking comes from someone who can become easily impressed with the big and not so impressed with the small. This picture taught me several lessons:
Small doesn’t always mean weak and powerless.
Big doesn’t always mean powerful and strong.
Small things, with the more than adequate power, can accomplish big tasks.
The big will sometimes be dependent on the small.
I should not despise or show contempt for small things.
God uses small things, and seemingly insignificant people to accomplish big stuff (I am fully aware he uses the big as well). In the past, we have seen God use small babies to deliver a big number of people (Moses and Jesus), a small rod to part a big sea, a small rock to kill a big giant, small boys to run big kingdoms (David and Josiah), and a small band of twelve men to start a big movement, the church.
Are you feeling small, insignificant or unimportant? Are you feeling like your influence, money, education, and accomplishments are too small to accomplish anything big? Remember, God uses small things to accomplish big stuff. He has done it in the past, and he desires to continue it through you today. Submit your weaknesses and inadequacies to his divine power and watch him do amazing things in, through, and with your life.
What weaknesses do you think God wants you to submit to him today?