Thought for Tuesday, January 24th

January 24, 2012

Enduring Discipline

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Hebrews 12:1-8

Quote of the Day

“Life is always a discipline, for the lower animals as well as for men: it is so dangerous that only by submitting to some sort of discipline can we become equipped to live in any true sense at all.”

-          Havelock Ellis

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Many a good Christian is quick to quote; ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’ when referring to someone else’s children and spiritually speaking when it comes to all God’s other children: specifically giving ourselves a pass on the need for a little Godly application of the paddle of wisdom to the seats of our better understanding.

No one will readily admit that they enjoy discipline: whether it is a child or an adult.  No one likes being scolded: told they are wrong and most certainly most don’t relish paying the consequences that might result from our choices and actions.

While God is quick to forgive our sins: He doesn’t always spare us from the by products of what our sin creates.  And sadly often it takes a little interventional discipline from God to sometimes get our attention before we are willing to humble ourselves and repent.

However, as Christians, if we truly desire the fullness of God’s best in our lives: we must accept the reality that arriving at God’s best for us and becoming all God wants us to be, is going to require a little bit more than a little discipline from us and discipline being administered to us.

While we may not relish the process: we can be assured we will be a better person if we will but head, learn from and grow from our disciplinary experiences.

And I’m almost sure that when God has to discipline His children:  it does hurt Him more than it hurts us.

Today’s Prayer

Father, you amazingly patient, abundantly kind and excessively gracious: but thank you that you are also lovingly concerned enough that you are willing to discipline when that is what is needed.  Help me to learn from my mistakes and failures and may I be quick to respond and willing to learn from those times when your correction and disciplinary interventions are needed.

“If men live decently it is because [God’s] discipline saves their very lives for them.”

-          Sophocles

“Let my Lifesong sing to You”

- from ‘Lifesong’ by Casting Crowns