Here is a promise from God to everyone who loves Him and belongs to Him: Hebrews 12:5-6 states 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” If you are Gods child, and you choose to continually, deliberately sin, HE WILL DISCIPLINE AND CHASTISE YOU! Count on it! The same God who has made and keeps all of those wonderful promises you turn to when you are hurting also promised this! And He will follow through. It is not pleasant, it is not fun, nor does it engender immediate feelings of warmth, peace, and security! When those times of discipline come - and they will if you are truly Gods child and you have been acting in defiance to His will - then remember these words AND COME BACK INTO SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL no matter how painful it seems or how far away it appears to be from what you want! His will is always BEST! Submit to Him as quickly as you can. Although God is always eager to forgive, this does not mean that He will remove all or any of the physical or social consequences of your choices ... of your rebellions! These He will use to train (discipline) you even more. Dont let this reality discourage you. Instead lean into it because you know He is going to use it for your good (Romans 8:28, 29). The only way this promise will ever become null and void is if you choose to neglect so great a salvation and keep on turning your back on your Father. Then, Hebrews 10:26-27 becomes your reality: 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. I am not thinking of any one particular person as I write this meditation out; I am thinking of a number of particular persons. And I myself am taking seriously this clear warning from the Lord! The good news in all of this is that God does not abandon us --- even when we sin --- even when we deliberately sin on an ongoing basis. Revelations 3:20 shows Jesus on the outside of the door of the heart of the apathetic Christian knocking! The Spirits primary function in our lives is to develop the character of Jesus in us. God has way far too much invested in our relationship with Him to give up on us easily. He is in it for the long haul. But one thing He will not do is violate your freewill. He will not force you to come home. He will search for you - like the shepherd did with his lost lamb. He will eagerly forgive, accept, and welcome you fully home as His child and throw a great party on your behalf - like the father did for the prodigal. But He wont drag you home kicking and screaming! Hell leave you alone in the pig pen and even allow you to eat pig slop .... if that is truly what you decide to do. But start to turn His direction, and God runs to you! Even before you complete your confession of wrong,Father is smothering you with sweet kisses. Before you know it, you are cleaned, dressed, eating and drinking and dancing in Gods party as a fully restored child. Thats the end game plan of God and His discipline and chastisement! Reconciliation! And He fully expects reconciliation between husbands and wives, children and parents, friends, and churches! The gospel without forgiveness and reconciliation is not good news at all!
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 05:56:12 +0000
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