Many years ago, I overheard someone say that bad times had fallen on a person because of the way they were living. I believe the exact words were, “they are being punished for being so judgmental of others.” Wow! That scared the daylights out of me. I had not accepted Christ yet and to be honest I remember thinking I didn’t want to get involved with a group who would say something like that about a fellow christian. Time went on and I accepted Christ as my Savior. I was eighteen years of age. It took a lot of sermons by a wise pastor, before I could sort out my thinking about why difficulties visited the believer. He was a wise mentor and the one who dipped me down into the baptismal waters.
We can come under discipline from our Heavenly Father. It is more painful than any remarks of gossip that might be said of us. We may also have times of testing and trials from God or from the world, because of our stand for Him. Or, we can have outright attacks from our enemy, satan. Satan can visit either to thwart us in our walk or if sin has slipped in. No matter the form it comes in, it brings pain and instruction. It is also invaluable in strengthening our walk with Christ. Let’s concentrate on the discipline of God.
Whether you call it chastening or discipline, it hurts. I have been disciplined for attempting things outside the will of my Father. Believe me when I say that I have history. God will discipline us for disobedience. He will discipline us when our plans are not in synch with the plans He has for us. We all can recall times when we tried doing our own thing outside the will of God. Like an unruly child, we think we know better. Reminds me of the experience of trying to caution a young person and they talk over you like they don’t need that bit of wisdom you are sharing. They know best. It is perfect soil for planting a time of future reprimand to turn us in a better direction. It is often an embarrassing moment of very honest soul-searching.
No child likes to be disciplined by an angry parent. We should be concerned if we are living in direct disobedience to God and do not undergo discipline by that parent. A red alert to check our status in the family. I want to be His child, don’t you? A child valued by his Father will face discipline. A Father who has no blood ties to a child will not always be wiling to become involved in purging his or her sins. It is of the utmost importance that we seek assurance that we indeed know Christ as our Savior. No discipline? Scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We cannot call ourselves sinless creatures. There was only one who could claim that status.
As my birth family members began to have serious health issues and one by one went to reside with Jesus, there were some long nights of serious cries to my heavenly Father. I felt I was being disciplined and/or punished for past behavior through wave after wave of grief. Quite simply, Jesus took me by the hand and slowly walked me through the darkness, deep into the light of His word. It left an indelible impression my life.
Thought For Today:
When our first parents disobeyed God in that beautiful garden, our options changed drastically. Sickness would become the enemy of the body as would sin. Death sadly became a part of life. Many times it comes far too early and the suffering time often lasts far too long. The only thing I could call good about death was eternal life. Knowing Jesus in this life, assured me that I would see my loved ones again one day. My prayers for healing for all four of my family were answered for them. But what about me and this pain? Early one morning, while writing to my Father, I realized that He did hear me. He did take care of them. He stepped to the door, reached out His hand and they each walked into paradise healed, beautiful and happy, looking into the face of Jesus. Their struggle was over. They each had run their race and victory was theirs. Rarely, does a day go by that I don’t think about them and the void left behind. Would I want them to come back to the suffering they were in? I no longer pause at that question. I am confident that once they saw the face of Jesus the memory bank was wiped clean of all the sadness, pain and struggle they suffered here. There was surely a praise Jesus dance going on in heaven!
I concluded that loss of my loved ones was neither discipline or punishment. Rather, it was a series of tests and trials to bring me closer to Him and His word. To be quite frank here, I would never have had a reason to cry out in the darkness for God to come to me. I was faced with something tragic that I could not fix myself. God took my loved ones by the hand and guided them home and at the same time He took my hand and lifted me to His shoulders like the lamb in distress. He showed me His word like I had never seen it before. Each of their journeys brought pain and sorrow to them and to me. He helped me see that each journey was an act of mercy to transition their suffering into victory. Most definitely a victory for them but also for me. Isn’t God good in all things? Even on the most difficult of days.
Scripture For Today:
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. (NKJV)”
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! Thank You for being a good Father to us. Your discipline in our lives is always just. We are Your blood children through Jesus Christ. We pray that we stay close to You and in Your will. Help us search for and find the things that might be slowing our walk with You. We pray that daily seeking of Your word would be realized in the new year before us. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
© 2015 Kathy Ledbetter all rights reserved